UPDATE: My SID is finished

[Foona]

On the SID module between regulator input and gnd i get 3.7VDC and 0.02 or something VCA.

On the C64 PSU OPT. curcuit between regulator input and gnd i get 4,8 VDC..

So what have i done wrong here?

[buhler]

Of course you are correct, and i just realized that.

Then why am i only getting 4,5 volts out of a 9volt regulator when im feeding it with 9 volts?

Am i supposed to get the right voltages on the IC-sockets even if the SID module only gets

4,5 volts from the to the J1 connection?

it's definitely your PSU.  i wouldn't plug it in again until you've got it right.  from the J1 connection on the SID PCB, i wouldn't go as low as 4.5V.  i would try and get it as close to 5V as possible.  it sounds like something isn't right with your wiring on the PSU.  make sure the right leads are soldered to the right places on your 7809.  that could be one problem.  also, since you have three c64 PSU's, if you get the same reading from all three, then it's definitely your optimized PSU circuit.  you're lucky that you have three working c64 psu's.  i have 5 and only 2 work at the moment.  i would definitely start with the +14V(+9V in your case) because that seems to be where the SIDs problem may be.  i hope that helps.

[buhler]

On the SID module between regulator input and gnd i get 3.7VDC and 0.02 or something VCA.

On the C64 PSU OPT. curcuit between regulator input and gnd i get 4,8 VDC..

So what have i done wrong here?

what Junction do you have the PSU plugged into on the core?  did you remove the 7805 and plug it into J2 or whatever that was?

[Foona]

I also believe iv'e done something stupid with the OPT curcuitry.

I have connected the wires from my C64 OPT circuitry exactly as shown in this schematic.

And the only regulator removed is the one on the CORE board.

Just like the schematic says.

But you're probably right, i seriously need to check my OPT cuircutry.

Before i go completely stir

[buhler]

I also believe iv'e done something stupid with the OPT curcuitry.

I have connected the wires from my C64 OPT circuitry exactly as shown in this schematic.

And the only regulator removed is the one on the CORE board.

Just like the schematic says.

But you're probably right, i seriously need to check my OPT cuircutry.

Before i go completely stir

i would definitely check the optimized PSU circuit.  start there.  i was so anal about it that i built it THREE times!!  if you have subbed in components that aren't in the actual schematic, then you should check with someone if those are valid substitutions as well.  i really think all signs point to the PSU circuit.  i would start with the DIN jack and work your way back through.  make sure the right pins are going the right places...

[Foona]

..ok im almost at the point of surrendering to this project..

Im in need of your eyes. Sometimes you do so much stuff,

you get completely blind from it.

Even the most obvious mistakes can be overseen.

You have all been very helpfull and patient, i admire and respect that.

So please have some more patience with me.

Iv'e made a drawing of the OPT cuircutry that I have made on a protoboard.

Is there something wrong with it that i am unable to see?

The red connections are wired on the top side (component side) of the protoboard.

The black connections on bottomside (copperside).

NOTE: diodes are regular 1N4148's.

and the Electrolytic for the 5VDC is a 25v instead of 16v.

This is exactly how i have made my curcuit.

[buhler]

at the 5VDC junction you are getting close to +5V correct?  if so i would 1.  switch out the diodes for a Bridge rectifier (i don't know if that would make any difference but that's what the schematics call for) and 2. check the pinout on the male 7 pin DIN from the c64 psu and find out if you have the correct pins connected.  after all this, if you are still not reading ca. +14V at the SID junction, you may have a problem with your regulator... that's my best guess.  i hope that helps.  i'm not an expert, but i would definitely try to get the circuit as close to the schematics as possible.  the 25V cap should be fine but the diodes i have no idea...

[edit] i don't know if this is just an error on your drawing or not but the 2200µf cap's +(positive) side is not connected to the 100nf cap on the +5V circuit..

[Foona]

Thanx for the pointers! I'll try it out.

[edit] i don't know if this is just an error on your drawing or not but the 2200µf cap's +(positive) side is not connected to the 100nf cap on the +5V circuit..

hehe drawing error i can assure you.

[Foona]

Regarding the Bridge rectifier, would this do?

B80C1500R

[nILS]

Assuming you're really feeding it 9VDC you don't need the rectifier at all.

Yes the link you posted is correct.

My suggestion : Take another look at this http://ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_8xsid_c64_psu_optimized.pdf (same as your circuit, just easier to read), and build it 1:1. I don't really see why you wrote up a new schem (by hand!) for that circuit ;)

Regular diodes should do the job just as well as the bridge rectifier is just 4 diodes.

Since you're schem and TK's schem (except for the missing connection already pointed out) are exactly the same: Check you wiring and connections on the PCB and the Pinout of the PSU (see related forum posts)

[Foona]

Assuming you're really feeding it 9VDC you don't need the rectifier at all.

Im not.

Im feeding it 9VCA.

The right pins of the C64 PSU are connected to the rigth pins on the OPT cuircutry.

Iv'e checked probably hundred of times, and im still checking the connections,

every time i measure something.

Thats why this problem im having so confusing. It doesen't make any sense.

I must be missing something.

My suggestion : Take another look at this http://ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_8xsid_c64_psu_optimized.pdf (same as your circuit, just easier to read), and build it 1:1. I don't really see why you wrote up a new schem (by hand!) for that circuit ;)

I didn't.

I used the original OPT schematic when building the curcuit using a protoboard.

In the end my protoboard looked different from the OPT curcuitry.

And just to make it easier for others to see what iv'e done,

i wrote a schematic on how my curcuit looks.  :)

[Foona]

Iv'e rebuilt the OPT curcuitry, and now i did it so it looks exactly

like the C64 OPT schematics.

Now im reading 5.23 volts between 14+ and ground.

What voltage am i supposed to read here?

<edit>

For the fun of it i tried swapping the 9V regulator for a 12V regulator..

Im still reading 5.23 volts..............

Ok thats it!

Im giving up. Im gonna go bang my head into a wall.

And then, if im still alive, im gonna call a friend of mine.

He's an electronics expert, and if i let him compare the schematic against my curcuit,

just mabye he'll be able to tell me whats wrong.

He can't be blind too.

[seppoman]

Now im reading 5.23 volts between 14+ and ground.

What voltage am i supposed to read here?

How about 14V? :D

S

[Foona]

14 volts...at a 14 volt output....you must be joking.. :P

[Foona]

Iv'e been over to my friend now, and he had a look at my curcuit.

He couldn't see anything wrong with the circuit either.

So we started measuring, and we got random voltages.

He got so irritated he threw the curcuit in the trash..

Well the story doesen't end there.

He pulled out new components and gave me a protoboard.

He then told me to make the curcuit while he was watching.

It was somewhat embarassing..

After completion we checked all the voltages, starting with the C64 PSU

and forward. Then came the BIG one. Measuring between 14+ and GND.

And the result..

14VDC

Now that this is corrected i'll hook it up and try to get some noise out of my Shebeast.

I want to thank all of you for your support!

[buhler]

Congrats Man!!! ;D  good luck!!

[Foona]

Thanx Buhler!

Im am shure that you and many others here understand perfectly what im feeling now.

Well celebrating is over.

Now it's time to even out the rough edges on my beast.

In this topic further back in post #57,

i uploaded this Soundclip, and it contained noise.

This was when my SID stoped playing sounds.

The only sound i got was this noise.

At that point i realized i had forgotten to put in that last 2200uF cap,

between Vs Vc at J2 on the SID module.

I corrected this error.

But the background noise did not dissapear.

I've got three soundlips here for you:

This one tells me every thing is fine =) (exept for the background noise)

First the init *blips*..then wait a few seconds...then a melody.

Clip1

This is just the same melody with my own first lead preset.

Nothing fancy..added some chorus and delay.

Oh, some drums to. Drums come from the Scope fusion Platform.

Clip2

Here one can hear whats going on in the background.

And those two sound spikes in the beginning is me changing presets with the encoder.

The clicks don't bother me. This is a SID trait right?

Either way, I don't like that sound from the background though.....

Clip3

Well, the background noise in clip3 is there from the moment i turn the beast on.

And it stays there untill i turn her off..reluctantly...me..turning..her off..

..i don't like doing that..

Anyone here that might know where this sound is comming from?

[nILS]

Congrats Foona! :D

Anyone here that might know where this sound is comming from?

Welcome to the world of 50Hz buzz. Search the forum for some ideas on how to get rid of it. Some general hints:

* Check for ground loops

* Make sure the power and audio cables are as far apart as possible

* Use isolated cables

[Foona]

Congrats Foona! :D

Thanx nILS!  ;D

Welcome to the world of 50Hz buzz.

Ah =)

Im on it now.

Thanx for the advices!

<edit>

I just noticed you avatar hahaha  ;D

Any special reason?

<edit>

I've exchanged the 24awg cables for a shielded HiFi cable for the audio output.

And iv'e moved the audio output as faar away from the power cables as possible.

Result: Clip4

But i still have a very very low output volume.

I had to use the preamp in my Focusrite VoiceMaster Pro,

to give the signal a full 60+dB boost on the input.

I  also added a full 6+dB on the Focusrite output. And still the signal is a bit low.

Is it like this for everyone?

<edit>

wait...before you answer that, i'll check on the volume settings first.

[nILS]

I just noticed you avatar hahaha  ;D

Any special reason?

See http://www.midibox.org/forum/index.php/topic,11147.msg88656.html#msg88656 ;D

But i still have a very very low output volume. [...] Is it like this for everyone?

I doubt it's the volume setting of the SID, which is by default at a decent level (at least for me). I'd check the components that are between the SID's output pin and the actual output header as well as everything that's between the SID box and your recording device.

I still see a bit of 50Hz buzz in the mp3 btw ;-) But if the mp3 is the +60db boosted signal than the noise is pretty low - with the signal being as low as it is the SNR isn't incredible yet though.

[Foona]

Ah!  ;D

---

Iv'e been playing around with my beast and come to some conclusions.

1.The 6581 im using now has a dead filter.

Really nothing i can do about it, just wanted to share this uncomfortable fact  ;)

2.No sound out of the Bass engine.

3.Iv'e got loads of latency when using the Multi engine.

I have no idea what's casing the latency. No problems at all playing Lead engine.

4.Regarding the Drum engine. say im playing BD1.

I then change parameters. Playaround some more,

then suddenly sound dissapears. All other Drum instruments play.

I keep playing drums then suddenly SD1 dissapears to.

---

Regarding the volume. This isn't really a flaud functionality.

Just very annoying. In the settings the volume it's maxed out.

And i just don't think it's enough.

"Damit scotty, give me more power"

Iv'e googled for schemtics concerning "volume boosters"/amps.

But most of the curcuits i found is either big and bulky or very noisy.

And some have both of these traits.

Anyone here who has implemented a prefeable noiseless volume amp into their SID machine?

[stryd_one]

Welcome to the world of 50Hz buzz. Search the forum for some ideas on how to get rid of it. Some general hints:

* Check for ground loops

* Make sure the power and audio cables are as far apart as possible

* Use isolated cables

Good advice. Also a big "Don't" - Don't cut ground cables. See my sig, rule #7 ;)

[Foona]

See my sig, rule #7 ;)

"Sig rule #7"?

[MTE]

stryds Golden Rules of Troubleshooting

1 Patience 2 Fix one thing at a time 3 RTFM. Again. Search. Again

4 Everyone wants to help when you are respectful 5 Give full, clear explanation, and copy/paste error logs

6 Defining the problem = finding the fix 7 Workaround != fix 8 Share the answer

His signature like your "knowledge is power" ;)

[stryd_one]

Now wikified! :)

"Golden Rules of Troubleshooting"