Jaicen

I love you :-[

I second that, boiling etchant is a REALLY bad idea, not least because it releases nasty fumes. As far as i'm aware, normal Ferric Chloride is designed to work best at 30 degrees, whereas Persulphate works best at 50. That's what I was told by a professional PCB manufacturer anyway!

That is brilliant! Have you checked out the real life pong? Not nearly as cool, but does feature a brillaint C64 soundtrack!

I voted for option three, I think that's the most useful to most users. As Seppoman said, i'd use a sequencer for anything more complex anyway. Is there going to be a randomize function for the bassline sequencers? I use Prophet64 a lot, and that has a very cool randomize feature where you can choose certain notes, and it will randomize soom cool patterns. I see the Bassline engine as an improv tool, so something like this would be exceedingly cool! EDIT: Actually I was wondering if you're planning to do a version of the firmware specifically for 303 'clone' use? I've been harping on about this for years, basically, I want a standalone MB-303 with controls for cutoff, resonance etc, and an LCD screen for programming etc. Does this sound like something that could be done with the new engine?

Indeed, if it could be shoehorned into the MBSID application it would RULE. Even if it doesn't sound like a SID 100%, it would be another useful voice. Maybe even good enough to deserve it's own dedicated application??

Brilliant! I must admit that I haven't been following every post in this thread, so in case i've missed it; what will be the final cost for both PCB's and the front & rear panels?

Excellent, in that case i'm going to try and get a PnP ready for it tomorrow. I think i'll make up a PCB for the control voltages as well, which will save me a heap of wiring!

Hey guys, I don't suppose anybody would like to cast a quick look over the layout i've knocked up below. It's for a single CEM3396 chip, working from the schem in the datasheet(http://www.synthtech.com/cem/c3396pdf.pdf). Input and output are buffered by a TL072 type op-amp, and all CV and power connections are routed offboard. I'm pretty sure its correct, but i'd appreciate it if someone else could check it for any obvious errors I may have missed (as does happen!). I'm going to try and get one of these etched at the weekend to test out my ideas for controlling it. I'm making it modular, so that I can make one PSU and one control PCB for multiple modules (since I have 6 chips ;) ). EDIT: The PCB layout is reversed, for use with PnP. I forgot to reverse the lettering though :-[ It should measure 2.7 inches square when printed, so it's pretty small!

Unfortunately, it's going to drive up the price of old SID's and C64's too :( I don't begrudge the exposure though, it's the MBSID i've been waiting for for two years nearly!

Just another quickie ;) I was wondering if anybody had a PCB layout ready for a CEM3396 module? I think I started work on one a while back, but my time right now is very limited, and I'd like to try some stuff out now i've got some chips. I'll be doing some etching soon, so can anyone oblige?

My thoughts exactly! I have a sneaky suspicion that anything I attempt to apply would fall into the latter category though... ;)

I figure this is as good a place as any to ask! I'm looking for a little clarification regarding the actual function of the 3386 waveshaper chip. Can anyone shed any light on the actual function of the waveshaper portion of the chip itself? ie, What sort of signal is it expecting? Can it handle anything other than a perfect square wave?

The wood I've got was cut down at least 40-50 years ago, when prime hardwoods were still abundant. Stocks of really good mahogany, ash and rosewood started to dry up around the seventies, along with embargo's on exports. That's part of the reason that 70's guitars have such a bad rep for being heavy, toneless woods. (can you tell i'm really a luthier in disguise). What this means in practice, is that modern supplies of timber tend to be cut from younger trees, so is usually of a lower quality. i'm located in the UK, I don't know if that's of any use to you. Shipping heavy woods could be expensive. But yeah, it's there if you need it. I think it would be a damn shame if all your work was to suffer through one incompetent carpenter!

If you are struggling to source some, i've got some really really old (in a good way!) mahogany I might be able to send your way if the dimensions are right. I can't remember exactly, but I think it's just under an inch thick, something like 20mm, and about 6" wide. It came from an old buildin, used to be a door jamb I think, but it's really rich and dark looking. You can't get wood like that any more!

Damn you Sasha, you're gonne have one TASY looking MBSID when you're through with this! :P

As TwinX said, for photoetching it would work, but it wouldn't be cost effective. Nor would it work for intricate, small pitch stuff. I don't think you'd be able to use it as a stencil either. I use a photocopier and standard photo paper, which works just fine.

It's a possibility, though I think it's unlikely ;) US/UK have the higher percentage of C64's, so I'd guess somewhere like NYC, simply for the size. Check the Frappr map though, maybe that would tell you.

You could also look at getting printed adhesive rubber. My local place does that pretty cheaply, they can accept CAD so you can have all the holes cut, and then print onto the surface. Instant panel.

My advice would be to locate a second working C64 and leave the one you have intact! You could then use Prophet64 to test the SID's inside the box and decide which you like best. Desoldering is a pretty difficult job, and i'd hate to see you junk a C64.

I agree with regards to the Electribe, they're rubbish. Really cheaply made, and you can tell. As for the encoder issue, it is possible to slow down the rate at which it steps up/down by modifying the code. I recall seeing it done, I forget by whom, but i'm sure TK will chime in here soon.

It sounds to me like a sync'd square wave (both osc's), with PWM routed through the envelope to the pulse width of OSC2 (the slave). I don't even thing that the filter is being used, sounds like it's wide open. My guess, if it's achived like it is on the Prodigy: Set osc 1 to square wave (50%) at 32' , sync it to osc2, Square wave at 16' and assign one of the envelopes to modulate the Pulse width (in the case of the prodigy, you set that to modulate the pitc of osc2).

Someone like, ermm, ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!ME!

I'm speechless, I really am! I really can't believe how nice and neat you've managed to make this. Truly a professional piece if ever I saw one. I'm in for one of the base PCB's, but why aren't you making the CS PCB??

You read my mind!

Actually, tap tempo would be a great idea for stuff like LFO filter sweeps, or arpeggio speeds. Maybe you could have a button each for up/down and one for function, ie, hold for filter on/off, tap for tempo etc. In this instance, I could live with just one LFO controlled via tap. That would be sweet!