The Commodore 64 computer is no longer legendary for, er,
performance and power, but it is legendary for its built-in synthesizer
chip, the SID. Lovers of this phat-sounding analog chip will go to
great lengths to feed their nostalgia:
- Butcher an actual C64 and build your own MIDI-capable SID synthesizer (via hack-a-day)
- Add a real SID chip with MIDI control via a PC-compatible PCI card, the HardSID (thanks, Carl Lumma!) or Catweasel Mk4 — apparently both work with Mac, as well, via SidPlay
- Run SidPlay (Mac OS X), straight SID emulation software (both it and the ReSID emulation engine are open source)
- Run an emulator and run original music creation software for the C64 — try CCS64 for Windows or the OS X emulators from emulation.net
Any of you intrepid readers doing synthesis — perhaps even on an original C64? Let us know, and, heck, send tracks!
QVC sells the Commodore 64 30-in-1 Joystick. Not only does it play games, but it's got the full Commodore 64 BASIC and SID on board.
If you're the hacker type, apparently it's pretty easy to add on a keyboard, or even a floppy drive, just by opening the joystick.
the QVC link is here: http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp?nest=%2Fasp%2…
Don't forget the fabulous "QuadraSID" from http://www.refx.net
If you wantone (or two) of these, go to KB Toys (if you can still find one open ). They were selling these for $10.
There is no hardware SID in the Commodore 64 30 in 1 joystick, or Direct TV as it is otherwise known. All the original Commodore chipset is emulated in an FPGA. There's no SID chip you could remove and use in a project, sorry guys.
This is so cool. I wish I hade this.
Commodore rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YiFF1n comment3 ,