[sdiy] Re: MIDI controlled SID

[Andrew Martens]

Shoot, I guess I forgot to post the URL to my SID synthesizer project to the
list.  It's since changed a bit, but the basic idea was the same:  front
panel controls (knobs and switches, oh yeah) for as many of the SID's
parameters as possible.  The initial version was going to max out the 16F877
with MIDI, 8 pots, and a bunch of switches, but I was thinking of linking up
a second unit via SPI or some such nonsense.

Anyways, the link to my project is http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~amartens/ - I've
since done some stuff like removing the Tactex touchpad, and... uh, well,
the project's been sitting there for months waiting for me to pick it up
again.  The firmware has been written and debugged in the simulator (though
that doesn't mean much in the real world), and is waiting to be dumped into
the breadboard.  The MIDI circuit is going to need some touching up (I don't
think it works), but the base control of the SID should be fine.  Also going
to put a buffer on the audio in/out of the SID for some measure of ESD
protection (which can apparently kill the SID very easily).

Once I have my SID synth working (it will be renamed from SIDgroove, that
was just temporary), I'll try to throw together some final schematics and
post them on the web.  At that point (or even now), if someone is interested
in producing a proper PCB for the project (and would provide me with one or
two), I'll donate my firmware and would be very happy to assist in
developing it.  Not sure if there's a market for small SID-based-synth kit
(due to their limited availability), but... well, it would be cool.

In an attempt to brag and make myself feel like a big, smart guy, I should
also note that this was using the touchpad before Bob Moog made public its
use in the Minimoog Voyager.  Guess I have to thank my prof (Sid Fels) for
that idea... though apparently he has chatted with Bob about it in the past.

The Tactex pad actually brings up a whole kettle of fish, and another
proposed project idea I had.  Looks like I'll start another thread with that
(assuming I can find the email that I wrote about a month ago).

Cheers,
Andrew Martens