Giana 64: Commodore 64 Keytar Published on Feb 25, 2010
"A quick demo of a keytar I built out of a Commodore 64. It uses two SID 6581 chips and was made using the Midibox Sid platform from www.ucapps.de. Better video to follow later." See here.
via this auction
"Up for auction is a unique electronic musical instrument, The Giana 64. Giana is a custom MidiBox SID v2 built into a keytar form-factor using an original Commodore 64 case for the body. The build includes several unique additions to the standard Midibox SID, including an assignable ribbon controller, expression pedal input, CV inputs, and of course the integrated keybed. A full MidiBox SID control surface is integrated into the neck.
I built Giana in the winter of 2010. It was a true labor of love, being one of the first large-scale electronics projects I ever worked on. The first video I posted of Giana went quasi-viral (by 2010 standards) and was covered by numerous synth blogs including Synthtopia; as far as I know it remains the only MIDIbox SID ever built into a keytar form-factor.I tried to design it to look a little like a ghostbusters proton pack—some of the “retrofited” elements, like the rainbow ribbon cable running across the exterior, are not actually functional, but were fit for a hax00ry, cyberpunk vibe.
The instrument can be used flat on a table, or worn upright using the built-in strap buttons. The entire system is mounted onto a single piece of solid wood, and the plastic components are attatched with metal hardware, making it quite sturdy / gig-able.
Please note that for aesthetic purposes, the majority of the controls have been left unlabeled. The neck layouts are uniquely spaced, so that with a little practice all the major functions can be easily memorized. A PDF will also be provided labeling each function, to be used in combination with the official Midibox SID user manual.
Features:
MIDI Box SID V2 including standard MIDI I/O
Full control surface including mod matrix
Dual 6581 SIDs in stereo configuration, hand matched for similar filter characteristics
Integrated keyboard
Assignable ribbon controller (range-centered for use with pitch bend)
3 assignable CV inputs, 0-5V range, diode protected (plug and play with Euro modular)
Assignable expression pedal input
Custom power supply (not a recycled c64 PSU) provides robust power
Ships in custom case with custom foam inserts (see pictures—adapted from a rifle case)
Included Items:
Giana 64 Keytar
Custom PSU
Custom Carrying case
Moog EP-2 expression pedal
Rainbow guitar strap
Interface guide PDF
The instrument is in excellent condition, having been privately owned for 7 years, with about 3 of those years spent in storage. In preparation for the auction I tested every function and all systems are nominal. Since this is a DIY project however, the instrument is being sold as-is. Potential buyers should understand the responsibility that comes with owning a DIY instrument.
The pictures were taken a few days ago and reflect the present condition of the instrument. The linked youtube videos were recorded back when the instrument was first built. Not much has changed since then except for a few minor chips in the paint."
