Sunday Jam #75 : Dungeon Level : SID music and the puzzle game that inspired it

video upload by MIDI IN

"This kind of puzzle game is my bag and this one has a dungeon theme, which inspired the music I've made this week.

I packed the music into a .sid file which will play on a real single-SID commodore 64 or emulator, dedicated .sid players or even modern music players that support the format such as VLC.

Here's the file. There are two main SID types with different characteristics - 6581 and 8580. If you have the choice, switch to 6581
https://peacockmedia.software/sid/dun... [direct download link]

The game I am playing is
https://rgcddev.itch.io/gravitrix

That game is a remake of an older game, Brain Death (not officially published)
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64...

0:00 the talkie bit
0:30 history of the game Gravitrix
2:11 my music and some gameplay"

Custom MB8582 SID synth - C64 - Round Robbin - MikeSynth

video upload by Mikus Pilatus

"Quick demo of all 8 SIDs (4x Stereo Pairs) playing in round Robbin with 4 different instruments ."

Custom SID Synth - Chip Tunes - C64 - MikeSynth

video uploads by Mikus Pilatus

"Showing off that digital noise oscillator"

"I built this nearly 20 years ago - still works !
8 SIDS - but in this video you add only hearing one pair (2 SID) in true stereo."

Custom SID Synth - Chip Tunes - C64 - MikeSynth

Sunday Jam #55 : Halloween special : 4am again with visualisations

video upload by MIDI IN

After last week's effort I'm kicking back a bit this week and have spent the time on a visualisation. The music is something I first posted in 2020 [video below], at that time with a compilation of some spooky C64 and Vic20 games.

0:00 intro
0:16 talking about Dr.VIP 2040 board
0:42 talking about the visualisation
2:05 the track

"4am" - Original music, with Spooky Vic20 and C64 games (listed in description)

video upload by MIDI IN

"Original spooky music, all sounds are produced by a real C64 (6581 SID). Accompanied by me playing some of my current favourite games on Vic20 and C64.

This time I used the C64 as a midi instrument (via Datel MIDI cart and my own software) and recorded around 30 sounds separately, and mixed them using minimal post-processing (a little reverb and eq).

All of these games have their own music, by better musicians than me. This isn't an attempt to deprecate their music. I've enjoyed the games and the visuals make a great accompaniment to this piece of music.

I am a fan of using real hardware and usually play these games on original computers. However, I don't have a capture device and pointing a camera at the screen looks crap, so I resorted to emulators for the purposes of making the gameplay footage.

Games shown:
Zombie Calavera Prologue, Vic20, from Digital Monastery https://majikeyric.itch.io/zombie-cal...

Pumpkid, Vic20 from Hewco https://hewco64.itch.io/pumpkid

The Isle of the Cursed Prophet, C64 from Icon 64 https://psytronik.itch.io/cursed-prop...

Luna, C64 from Shallan https://shallan64.itch.io/luna"

Walkabout at the Synthesized event, Cambridge

video upload by MIDI IN

"I wasn't able to do the usual musical Sunday video this week, I was at the Synthesized event at the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge.
Tony the organiser had caught everyone for interviews which will be on the museum's own channel here: (link when available)
So I just picked a quiet moment for a walkabout to show the variety of musical technology on display."

Also see Synthesized Festival 2023 - Cambridge Centre For Computing History & Making Drums For Modular Synth

Elektron SID Station SN F10100780-81

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

"This VERY RARE Sid Station MOS 6581 Synth by Elektron is a unique synthesizer with a rich history. The device was originally designed as a tribute to the sound chip of the Commodore 64, the MOS 6581 SID. It has since evolved into a powerful stand-alone synthesizer with a distinct sound. Unit is in near-mint cosmetic condition and I’ve pointed out any scratches in the photos. Sounds and works perfectly.

Featuring a variety of functions and controls, this synthesizer is perfect for musicians and producers looking to create authentic vintage C64 sounds. Whether you're using it in a studio or live performance setting, the Sid Station MOS 6581 Synthesis by Elektron is as authentic as it gets.

The sound of SidStation is, of course, very similar to that of the original Commodore 64. The SID chip is well known for being noisy. By design, the oscillators never stop outputting signal—even while not in use. It's this flaw, however, that is part of the character and sound of the SID chip. Tuning stability on this unit’s particular chip is the best I’ve ever heard.

The SidStation is capable of producing all the waveforms of the C64, Triangle, Saw, Pulse, Mix (which is a mix between Saw and Pulse) and variable Noise. Besides this is the synth, a 4-part LFO-modulation system which can be used with Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass and various combinations of these filters (including a Notchfilter). All of these are controllable by the four knobs on top of the SidStation."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Let's Make 80s Computers Talk | 1980s Commodore Speech Synthesizer

video upload by Kari

"Today, I take a non-technical look at a couple of speech synthesisers from my collection on my C64 from the 80s. Specifically, the Commodore Magic Voice and Currah Speech 64."

You can find additional posts featuring the Currah speech synthesis here.

Sequential Circuits Model 64 Sequencer for the Commodore 64 w/ Original Box

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Twisted Electrons TherapSID MK1 SID MIDI Synth w/ Commodore 5.25 Utlity Disk

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Note auction links are affiliate links. See the site's privacy policy for more info.

"This listing is for an original mint condition Twisted Electrons TherapSID MK1. This powerful desktop synthesizer features all the stock features of the TherapSID, along with upgrade version of the Commodore 6581 SID compatible Nobomi ARMSID chip installed, which capable of producing all the classic SID mesmerizing sounds, without all the background noise of the Commodore 6581/6582/8580 SID chips.

This MIDI synthesizer comes with knobs for easy manipulation and offers a unique sonic experience that will take your music production to the next level. From France-based brand Twisted Electrons, this synthesizer is perfect for both professional audio equipment and musical instrument enthusiasts.

Whether you're a seasoned musician or a beginner, this particular TherapSID MK1 is an excellent addition to your musical toolkit. Explore the endless possibilities of sound creation with this upgraded, state-of-the-art, tactile synthesizer module.

Features include:

5-pin MIDI input
1/4 audio input/output jacks
Nobomi ARMSID upgrade installed, Commodore 5.25 utlity disk and instruction sheet included"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Endless Sands ( Commodore 64 & Sid Factory II )

video upload by Avrilcadabra

"Hi here is a SiD track I made using Sid Factory II.

listen to this on Deepsid https://deepsid.chordian.net/?file=/S...

download the sid from drop box https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r48yid...

Learn about Sid Factory II https://blog.chordian.net/sf2/

Find my content entertaining or helpful? you can make my day by buying one of my songs at https://avrilcadabra.bandcamp.com/rel..."

Introducing Chipsynth C64

video uploads by Plogue Art et Technologie, Inc.

Playlist:

1. Introducing chipsynth C64 - "great overview of OPS7 from @tssf"
2. chipsynth C64 launch demo (PAL C64C capture)

"The great chipsynth C64 launch demo from 4mat!
Running on an ACTUAL PAL C64 and captured using a RetroTINK 2X-Pro and generic HDMI capture for video. Audio was captured using our reference M-Audio M-Track then manually resynched.

Code and Music: 4Mat
Graphics and concept: 4Mat and Plogue.
The actauly binary is shipped with the product, but should (and can) be spread outside no worry!
Enjoy!"

3. Exhausted dev noodles with the "EMU" tab in chipsynth C64.

As is now customary each time we release something, an exhausted David tries to show some of the product's feature candidly and without filter (pun indented)

Emulating the SID the HARD way.

video upload by plgDavid

"emulation SID 6581 8580
chipresearch episode 0x08

00:00 Intro
01:04 What's a SID?
01:56 "Fake SIDs" and sidbench
02:46 Reading OSC3/ENV3 registers
04:11 "Old" bank: Monitoring filter capacitor voltages
04:31 "New" bank: gigabytes of DC recordings per chip
06:20 Listening test preliminaries
07:23 Advanced SID Engine issues
08:11 QA Song Choice
10:21 The "Unicorn" R1
10:45 MDFourier C64 edition

Get chipsynth C64 here {SOON}

Listening test songs are a mix and match of PAL and NTSC speeds we know.
(our emulation can do both)

Tracks used:
chipsynth C64 - 4Mat.
From the official old-school C64 "chipsynth C64" demo from 4Mat"

via https://plogue.com/...

"The new reference for SID emulation

FASTLOAD chipsynth C64 into your music software and RUN the biggest, baddest sound of the 8-bit generation!

Put a tantalizing cascade of thick pulse width modulation, smashing digital drums, soaring arpeggios, and unidentifiable twerky groaning warbly dins under your giddy fingertips.

Skip over the need for obscure tools full of big columns of hexadecimal numbers, and instead load up your favorite music software with the easiest way to get the C64 sound. A vast preset library will fill your heart with an infinite tessellation of big tones that twist and turn and tumble.

Want to make patches with deep, unusual modulations hitting any parameter you can think of? Perhaps you want to modulate pulse width at audio rate? Do it all using our intuitive chipsynth graphical modulation system, which lets you do all of this without needing an engineering degree and easily join the culture of extremely animated sounds found in SID music!

CHIPSYNTH C64

Plogue chipsynth C64 brings forward the deepest SID sound chip emulation ever. The fruit of years of laborious research, it bears our legendary desire for emulation perfection. Real chips in the field vary wildly in sound - every slight deviation in silicon composition radically changes the character of the filter - and we went all out on capturing this.

We reproduced no less than 32 different SID chips in excruciating detail, covering the full rainbow spectrum of SIDs: every revision of 6581 and 8580 from R1 to R5, every tone from warm to bright to clean to distorted and gnarly.

This is a full, REAL emulator that can actually play original songs natively and accurately, with a full-featured SID file player capable of playing even exotic songs with multiple-SID setups, sample playback and hard filter overdrive.

They said it was all bleep bloops. But it's GOOD bleep and bloops! And we couldn’t be happier. And, as always, no samples are used, it's all true emulation!"

Song Made On A 1984 "Portable" Computer - Commodore SX64 Dual Sid Chip

video upload by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

"This song was made on MSSIAH on the SX64. Dual Sid chips
Download the song .WAV and .MP£ here :-
https://www.patreon.com/posts/lmnc-sx...
--------
Here is a Video about the computer :-" How Portable Is The 1983 Commodore SX64???

How Portable Is The 1983 Commodore SX64???

video upload by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

"Today we see how portable the 1983 Commodore SX64 portable computer actually is! and make some music on it!!! if you'd like to see more videos on this project/livestreams and Download :- https://www.patreon.com/lookmumnocomp..."

COMMODORE HEXAGON C64 SID SYNTHESIZER SHOWCASE [Retro Gadgets]

video upload by Retrozentrum

"Prepare for the future!

Dive into the futuristic soundscape of the HEXAGON, a Synthesizer powered by the unparalleled Commodore 64 SID Soundchip from MOS Technology!

From the smooth Triangle tones, the edgy buzz of a Sawtooth wave, to the unique vibes of a Pulse wave and the wild randomness of noise - with HEXAGON Commodore is bringing you the tones of tomorrow! Experience 4 breathtaking waveforms each full of power and volume - But what is better than one oscillator? Right - Another one! Just one switch away and you are able to play two notes with one key, no problemo! Or set both oscillators to the same pitch and feel the power of two voices combined! We bet you won't ever release a key to make this beast playing music forever!

Tailor every note to perfection! With full control over the tones even out of space-time, you are ready for the future! Be able to adjust Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release to craft sounds that are beyond this world. Even make your notes slide and sway and dive into sonic realms with a chaos generating Pitch Modulator...And by chaos we mean absolute madness. This thing is a demon in creating mental sounds! But hold on - Of course you can also create wonderful chords with it - We won't let you down, no matter what type of noise you want to create!

But don't worry if you don't know anything about waveforms or Envelopes or Amplitudes or Giana Sisters or Bubble Bobble or Camel or Impossible Mission..The HEXAGON makes it so easy to make music and create noise but comes with a high quality soundchip that is state of the art! - The one and only SID! Normally it costs a lot of knowledge and practice to get yourself deeper into the great SID composing with a C64 but here is your solution!

Why just play when you can compose? With an ultimate capacity of 64 Kilobytes HEXAGON's innovative Step Sequencer powered by an onboard memory chip is there for you to let you arrange your very own future hits step-by-step and note-by-note. (Yes folks you heard it right, no floppy disks anymore, you are welcome)

HEXAGON - For $595, you get what nobody else can give you for twice the price! So what are you waiting for? Get yourself a HEXAGON!

powered by Commodore International and MOS Technology

...or at least inspired by it :)

Retro Gadgets is a game where you can build and code your own gadgets with several assets like LEDs, Buttons, Screens etc. Check out the Game on Steam Early Access!"

Midibox Sammich SID (Commodore 64 synthesizer)

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Midibox Sammich SID (commodore 64 synth), comes with two authentic 8580 chips and I'll throw in an extra pair of SwinSID chips in case you want to try those. The ASID playback feature is especially fun!

All green LEDs light up and work. Bright OLED display"

CLICK FOR MORE »

MSSIAH Bassline (C64 303)

video upload by Avrilcadabra

"I got a new C64c that looks like the other one!

this one is an 8580r5 made in 1990 so I finally got to hear MSSIAH bassline as intended.

the M8 is sending clock to the c64 over midi. Omx-27 is in M8 mode to mute / solo the drum tracks on the M8.

The box with pots I built. Basically it is just 4 pots (think I used half the value off the actual paddle pots as like half the range did nothing with actual paddles)

and a toggle switch because cynthcarts filter is backwards.

took many years of collecting things and building things and study to make this 60 second video. hopefully someone enjoys it."

COMMODORE C64 with C-LAB SuperTrack (Sequencer & MIDI Interface) (1985)

video upload by Synthesizer Home

ASID player using real C64 (Ode to 64 by Søren Lund) Station64

video upload by Avrilcadabra

"This is not my music. Though this video needs to be on the internet.

lot of this stuff is so niche or lost it just doesn't exist on youtube. it's not really what I usually do on this channel but if not me who else is going to do it.

So what's going on here. The Software on the Laptop is from Elektron's download page for the SID station. it is an ASID player. Basically you load a sid file into it and it sends that data via midi cables (not midi protocol)

so the Sidstation..Midibox sid. (I think Hardsid) can support ASID. probably others. DJ Indikator wanted a way for a real commodore 64 to be compatible with ASID so in recent years they made Station64 which is a full midi native c64 software but it amazing supports ASID. http://www.djindikator.net/c64/

The Elektron software doesn't know what it is sending to. So the c64 is playing it on its 6581r4ar into my mixer. into the little M8 tracker which is being an audio interface for my phone so this video has direct audio.

I was so happy to get this working. had to share. Also more people that hear Ode to 64 the better."

Polykit PROGRAMMED A MIDI SEQUENCER IN BASIC (FOR THE COMMODORE VIC-20)

video upload by Polykit

"I've been playing around with a Commodore VIC-20 from the early 80s and a MIDI interface card. I decided to program a simple 16-step sequencer in BASIC - because there is none.

The BASIC source code can be found on my GitHub site: https://github.com/polykit/vic20-sequ..."

Creepin' around

video upload by MIDI IN

"A creepy tune for a dark and cold January Sunday evening.

As you can see, I've worked within 6 channels with MIDISID as an external instrument so that all of the audio can be captured from the back of MIDISID in one take.

I sat down last night with no ideas but after a little messing around we were almost at this stage. A little more tweaking today."