davebot

oh, ha ha! I guess I should have been more specific! I believe the bankstick had a bad solder joint. I still was not able to upload patches. But I think that's a problem with the software I'm using, not the midi box. -dave

fixed.

There's no more new stock of the sid chip. It's really very old. You could use a "broken" c64 though.

Hello, the 1.7303 seems to work very well. my bankstick however is not working so well. I tried wiring up another bank stick, and it's still not working. I have only one patch memory. I can save, and upon powering up the memory is still OK, the patch is there...... I will have to inspect more closely why the bank stick is not being found. thanks for your help. -dave

I currently have it set at 750ms. And for the setup files, it seems to work well. When I choose SAV from the menu, it shows this: #B #P do! A 1 Internal Patch It gets hung up on this . I assume pushing the button under do! saves the patch. Is that right? What's #B and #P? There didn't seem to be anything in the tutorial about the save page. -dave

hello again! I'm having some trouble loading patches. I've downloaded the sysex files. And I'm using snoize's sysex librarian for mac osx (http://www.snoize.com/SysExLibrarian/) to send the midi. I am able to load the various sid programs with it. But when I send the patch sysex nothing happens... Any ideas? Thanks! davebot

Hi there, Well if you like the sound of the c64 you would like the midibox sid. It's built around the sound chip (SID) from the c64. However it's a project to build a midi controllable synthesizer. If you have intrest in music making or midi, then it's great! Typically to use the midibox sid, a sequencer is used, either on a computer or hardware, to send midi data (notes and controller data) and the output of the synth is fed into a mixer or recorded into a computer for futher editing. Long story short, this project destroys a c64 in it's "use". Hope that answers your question. -dave

The case is a little rough, but I was anxious to start using it! Thanks for all the help. I've learned a lot doing this. (Updated by TK: changed subject, and moved to "MIDIbox of the Week" section

Good News!! I just finished clocking the Sid from the core. Very easy. Then just reheated a few of the connections, and viola! A working, singing Sid!!!! Thank you all so much for help. I will post the finished result when done with my control surface. I already have the panel layout done. I have to recommend ableton live ... with the CC envelope modulations on a loop, whoa dude, as we say on the west coast. thanks again. dave

OK here's a couple pix... one of the bottom of the sid board, and one of my power circuit, just for fun. What a mess! http://www.davebot.com/images/sidboard.JPG http://www.davebot.com/images/power.JPG I hope that helps! thanks, dave

I'll try to get that tonight. It's a Smash TV board.

Yes I actually thought of that, and gave it a dedicated ground wire from the power supply.

OK. The problem is in the audio out. When audio was applied, there was some output, but it was very quiet, "poppy" , low frequency and heavily distorted. Kind of "farty". When I run midi into it. I can hear the sid reacting and making little audible pops. Could this be the transistor? Thanks good ideas! -dave.

GREAT IDEA! I'll let you know how it goes. -dave

Hello, At one point, using my volt meter (I had all chips in the sockets, the unit was plugged in) I had a small electrical arc between my volt meter and one of the legs of the voltage regulator. Is it possible that I could have fried the sid? I'm going to try another sid and see if that fixes it. Thanks for all your help!

hello again! I have finished the optimized power circuit, and I am now getting the correct voltages. However, no sound. I ran the interconnection test, and all pins checked out. Although, I did have 10mV on the #CS pin, instead of absolute zero. I'm guessing that doesn't matter. Here's a question: if the interconnection test works, does that say anything about whether the sid is OK or not? Just wondering if I fried my sid chip while trouble shooting. Anyway, making progress! Thanks, dave

Thanks very much! That gives me some direction. I'll post back when I have any news.

Oh, by the way, I'm using the 7812 regulator with the 6581 sid. thanks!

Hi there, Well, I've just about finished the project when I've hit a wall. This morning the midisid was responding to midi notes and CC ... very nice. But I noticed there was a problem with the long bridge on the bottom of the sid board. When I pushed it down, the sid would stop making noise. So I replaced the wire with a shorter piece and now I've lost all sound! So I've begun looking for the problem, with no success. My voltage on IC 2 & 3 on pins 16 is 4.8V The voltage on IC 1 pin 25 is 4.8V But the voltage on IC 1 pin 28 is only 9.7V even though when I check the voltage across the C10 cap is 11.0 V. I'm using an old C64 psu. Is that a problem? It's strange that it was working... Any help is very much appreciated!!!!!!