Jurbo

You also have to make sure you get the degrees right, as there are a million different circular din sockets. The midi socket has 5 pins in a 180 degree arc. Farnell has excellent documentations in their online catalog.

Ok, now I have a Bankstick with 2 memory modules (24LC256) attached... I got the rising sound on startup, plus a steady blip-blip-blip-blip when the machine formatted the Bankstick... I guess it will format the other memory module once I'm able to switch modules (don't have any controls hooked up yet.)... Thanks. :)

Is the SID module supposed to put out a test melody when I turn it on (I think I read something like that somewhere on the forum)? I finally hooked up my first core and SID module, and I don't get any test sounds from it at startup, but I can play the thing using the MidiOx keyboard, getting a loud and clear sound. Should I be worried or is everything ok? ???

Got some new fuses today, thank God the PSU was ok and I had fried only the 1,6A fuse of the AC side! I'm so relieved about that! I took the construction apart and started over, adding a part after another. I did nothing different than the first time (well I changed the order of the filter caps on the 9V line, but this shouldn't matter in a parallel wiring, right?). And you know what, the damn thing works now! So now I'm on the track again. Thanks for the mental support, Pay-C! 8)

I tried to build the circuit to use the C64 PSU for my MBSID project, but ran into problems. After first building the circuit, my output voltages were 5,5 V for both the 5 V and 14 V lines. I noticed a break in the circuit, and soldered it. After this, I lost voltage on the 14 V line almost completely (0,2 V or something). When I measured from the PSU plug, the AC lines didn't show any voltage. ??? Did I just fry my PSU? I haven't opened it yet, and I'm truly hoping that there is a fuse for the 9 VAC line? Could a voltage regulator soldered in a wrong orientation have caused this? What is the pinout for ST 7809 voltage regulator? I built the circuit assuming that when facing the text printing, the left leg would be pin 1, middle 2, right 3 (the ST logo would be above pin 1). And what would be the symptoms of fried capacitors? And should I have connected the "end of the line" cap before I began measuring the circuit? Thanks!

I have a bunch of Voti's encoders waiting to be assembled into a SID Control Surface. I'm thinking of undetenting them. A question: if the "click" is removed, does the enc still send only pulses, so it won't be "on all the time" between the original clicked positions? Another, possibly stupid, question: if I remove the "click" from Voti's encoders, will the resolution be quadrupled (I sure don't want that!)? Thanks for advice. Dual SID CS construction status: Completed 1 core module, 1 SID module, 1 dinx module and LCD module  :)

I have a bunch of Voti's encoders waiting to be assembled into a SID Control Surface. I'm thinking of undetenting them. A question: if the "click" is removed, does the enc still send only pulses, so it won't be "on all the time" between the original clicked positions? Another, possibly stupid, question: if I remove the "click" from Voti's encoders, will the resolution be quadrupled (I sure don't want that!)? Thanks for advice. Dual SID CS construction status: Completed 1 core module, 1 SID module, 1 dinx module and LCD module  :)

Hi! I finally got most of the parts to build my Midibox SID with one 6581 and one 8580, and have been happily soldering away the last couple of nights, so far producing a working JDM and a Core that measures ok. Now I'm nearly finished with my SID 8580 module, but I'm boggled about the capacitors (I bought all the modules as kits from Claudia). The kit came with 6 ceramic capacitors, and 8 are needed. Am I supposed to reuse the filter caps from the c64, as I have done? Now I have two empty slots for caps on the left of the transistor, and one empty slot 1 cm left of the audio input. And I have 1 x 1nF and 2 x 6,8 nF capacitors left, but I can't figure out which slot belongs to which cap or do I have the wrong caps left? Help greatly needed and appreciated!

The audio out pin on your SID module should connect to the tip contact of your 1/4" jack socket, and the grounded pin on the module should connect to the sleeve contact of the jack socket. I suppose your SID to mixer cable is all right - tip connects to tip, sleeve to sleeve? It's fun to hear someone is just about to get his MBSID on the road - I'm still waiting for my parts orders to arrive to begin building my dual SID machine... ;)

Well, I'm more a heavy metal person, but then a lot of the SID sounds have something in common with the electric guitar (my main instrument besides singing). And I suppose that listening to Maniacs of Noise, Hubbard and Daglish tunes as a child must have made an impact on my musical perspective... :) I love the SID sound, always have. My main motivation in this project is to be able to actually PLAY these sounds myself! My 8580 is an R5, too. The S/N of a 8580 is a clear plus, but what I have learned from listening to the demo clips and emulated sounds (well, they are just emulated so I know I shouldn't weigh this too much - I haven't really compared my actual C64's SIDs), I like the 6581 a lot better, especially for the filters in the bass register, that to me sound a lot warmer, fatter and livelier. A far more impressive growl there, than the more metallic ringing sound the 8580 seems to give. But then, the 8580 seems to me a bit clearer and punchier in the treble area. So I'm happy pursuing the 6581/8580 way - to get the best of both worlds. Yeah, there are still a lot of C64's floating around in Finland, but it's all on Huuto.net nowadays - haven't really seen them around where I live. When lucky, the prices are ok...

Well, I'm more a heavy metal person, but then a lot of the SID sounds have something in common with the electric guitar (my main instrument besides singing). And I suppose that listening to Maniacs of Noise, Hubbard and Daglish tunes as a child must have made an impact on my musical perspective... :) I love the SID sound, always have. My main motivation in this project is to be able to actually PLAY these sounds myself! My 8580 is an R5, too. The S/N of a 8580 is a clear plus, but what I have learned from listening to the demo clips and emulated sounds (well, they are just emulated so I know I shouldn't weigh this too much - I haven't really compared my actual C64's SIDs), I like the 6581 a lot better, especially for the filters in the bass register, that to me sound a lot warmer, fatter and livelier. A far more impressive growl there, than the more metallic ringing sound the 8580 seems to give. But then, the 8580 seems to me a bit clearer and punchier in the treble area. So I'm happy pursuing the 6581/8580 way - to get the best of both worlds. Yeah, there are still a lot of C64's floating around in Finland, but it's all on Huuto.net nowadays - haven't really seen them around where I live. When lucky, the prices are ok...

I'm wondering about this too... I'm trying to find the part on Farnell but I can't. Does it matter if I get a "bigger" model, like one designed for 50-100V and 1-2A?

Finland rules... Just not in these Olympic Games! :) I'm going for a MBSID with the full Control Surface. Two SIDS, one 6581 and one 8580. C64 PSU. Already ordered a lot of stuff from Voti and Claudia. Two 6581's was my primary target, but I'm totally happy with getting the 6581/8580 configuration. I might go for 4 SIDs later, but first I'll have to battle my way through building the 2 SID thing and see how I like it! So Moebius - are you saying you stock SIDs? And how do you make the cases for your MB projects? Are there a lot of MB'ers in our luvly country?

Finland rules... Just not in these Olympic Games! :) I'm going for a MBSID with the full Control Surface. Two SIDS, one 6581 and one 8580. C64 PSU. Already ordered a lot of stuff from Voti and Claudia. Two 6581's was my primary target, but I'm totally happy with getting the 6581/8580 configuration. I might go for 4 SIDs later, but first I'll have to battle my way through building the 2 SID thing and see how I like it! So Moebius - are you saying you stock SIDs? And how do you make the cases for your MB projects? Are there a lot of MB'ers in our luvly country?

I guess I'm lucky here too - I have a C64C (an early revision, I'll keep this machine intact - I'll use the PSU though) with a 6581 in a socket, and for my future MBSID I bought two C64C's, one came with a 6581 and the other with a 8580, both in sockets. So I have yet to see a soldered SID... :) By the way, the different revision C64 PCB's are hugely different!

I guess I'm lucky here too - I have a C64C (an early revision, I'll keep this machine intact - I'll use the PSU though) with a 6581 in a socket, and for my future MBSID I bought two C64C's, one came with a 6581 and the other with a 8580, both in sockets. So I have yet to see a soldered SID... :) By the way, the different revision C64 PCB's are hugely different!

I'm using a Korg X2 so there should be no problems what comes to flexible keyboard configurations... So now my hands are REALLY starting to sweat!!! ;D

I'm using a Korg X2 so there should be no problems what comes to flexible keyboard configurations... So now my hands are REALLY starting to sweat!!! ;D

Ok, so is this possible: MBSID with 2 SIDs: Left hand plays chords, one SID generates arpeggios of the chords - right hand plays melody on the other SID with a singing, sustaining sound (this would basically sound like the way a lot of C64-tunes begin). Thanks again!

Ok, so is this possible: MBSID with 2 SIDs: Left hand plays chords, one SID generates arpeggios of the chords - right hand plays melody on the other SID with a singing, sustaining sound (this would basically sound like the way a lot of C64-tunes begin). Thanks again!

Hi! I'm going to buy two PIC18F452's pre-programmed (from Voti) with MIOS Bootstrap Loader for a Midibox SID Synth with 2 SIDs. Should I have two different versions (different IDs or something?) of the Loader file for each of the core PICs? I have no clear idea what kind of files I should make (I think I have read the available information, maybe I just haven't understood everything). My configuration will be: Midibox SID, 2 SIDs, 2x20 character LCD, further uploading will be done through MIDI. Can someone help or maybe even provide the correct MIOS Bootstrap Loader files? Help greatly appreciated, thanks!

Hi! I'm going to buy two PIC18F452's pre-programmed (from Voti) with MIOS Bootstrap Loader for a Midibox SID Synth with 2 SIDs. Should I have two different versions (different IDs or something?) of the Loader file for each of the core PICs? I have no clear idea what kind of files I should make (I think I have read the available information, maybe I just haven't understood everything). My configuration will be: Midibox SID, 2 SIDs, 2x20 character LCD, further uploading will be done through MIDI. Can someone help or maybe even provide the correct MIOS Bootstrap Loader files? Help greatly appreciated, thanks!

Hi, I'm not sure in which forum department to post this question so here goes: I have a question about the kind of polyphony that MB SID provides. A SID has three voices, and two have six voices, that I know (I am considering a MB SID in two-SID configuration). But how does the polyphony work in different situations? Example: I have created a patch that uses 1 voice. If I press several keys on my keyboard, let's say C-E-G-Bb, do I get simultaneus sounds using the same patch, using four of the six available voices? Again, let's say my patch makes a sound using two voices. Do I get a three-note polyphony of the same sound? And more: is it possible to play arpeggios so, that I press and hold for example c-e-g and the synth uses one voice to play the chosen notes arpeggiated, leaving 5 voices unused? Thanks a lot for the information!

Hi, I'm not sure in which forum department to post this question so here goes: I have a question about the kind of polyphony that MB SID provides. A SID has three voices, and two have six voices, that I know (I am considering a MB SID in two-SID configuration). But how does the polyphony work in different situations? Example: I have created a patch that uses 1 voice. If I press several keys on my keyboard, let's say C-E-G-Bb, do I get simultaneus sounds using the same patch, using four of the six available voices? Again, let's say my patch makes a sound using two voices. Do I get a three-note polyphony of the same sound? And more: is it possible to play arpeggios so, that I press and hold for example c-e-g and the synth uses one voice to play the chosen notes arpeggiated, leaving 5 voices unused? Thanks a lot for the information!

Ok - here's more questions: The encoders have a number of impulses or "rastungen", does this mean that it will give for example 30 commands per full circle turned (a bit like gearing ratio)? And how many impulses per round would be preferable in my case?