ODM

The datasheet for YMF262 lists the chip requiring a clock of 10 to 16 MHz. Will it suffer if left unclocked, and should clock be established at the same time as the power supply? Has anyone built a Midibox-FM without supplying a clock for the YMF262 chip?

Temperature controlled stations are so inexpensive these days, if one's already investing hundreds in components it's better to have a proper tool for soldering as well. An used Weller station is usually worth it with a new tip, and Aoyue stations seem good quality for price as well. Plenty of new good looking contenders in the market these days.

Never solder crimped connections! Solder cup connectors are different from crimped connectors. A properly crimped connection attaches both the copper strands and the outer sleeve to the connector. The sleeve connection is for strain relief. If you solder a crimped connection, the solder will wick further than the strain relief, which leaves the solder soaked cable vulnerable to cracking. This is probably not a big issue if you make gear for home use and just keep it on the table or shelf rack. For traveling with your gear, strain relief is crucial against vibration. Loose cabling inside enclosures should be tied down as well.

Thanks! Yes, it is. It was likely since there weren't much reports of SIDs toasted because of supplies. Seems the only problems people have had are outputs blown by accidental shorting. They're growing scarce and I've recently acquired three (R2, R3 and R4), though they're untested. I figured it'd be best to err heavily on the side of caution in this case. :)

Greetings, I'm making my first posting here. I've been pondering the proper power supply sequencing for a SID chip. In some regulator arrangements the 12V supply could come up before the 5V supply comes up, how's this arranged inside a C64 supply brick? Just a 12V linear reg followed by a 5V linear reg, or do they have separate transformer windings? There's no hints in the datasheet of the chip; later datasheets tend to be more explicit about supply sequencing. I've only had the chance to study the usual circulation of old datasheets on the net, so I might have missed a more finished version of the MOS 6581 datasheet somewhere.