Really loving what you guys are doing and i want to get involved with making a MidiBox Sid.
So i was wondering if you guys can help a newbie out with some questions…
I want to keep my controller simple so would it be good to buy the Commodore 64 and just rebuild it into the MidiBox or is that going to be too complicated? The main thing for my first go is i don’t want to have to do too much construction. So either go for something like:
I’m guessing I’m going to need to buy a 64 anyway as I’m going to need the SID chip? or are there full construction kits with everything i’ll need to build the whole thing including the front panel? If so do you have any links and prices?
I’m not an electrician or great at electronics but i can solder components so i should be able to get by right?
Also things will have to be explained really simple as yeah… I’m a bit of a dummy when it comes to all this. But as i say i really like what you guys are doing and i wanna try and get involved
I’ve been reading through http://www.uCApps.de/ But getting quite lost due to the amount of pages and lack of knowledge on the whole thing so yeah any of you guys help would be mucho appreciated!
1 - they are at pretty opposite ends of the construction difficulty spectrum.. you have to choose that one…
2 - You don’t ‘need’ a C64.. the power supply could be handy (Assuming it works)
Search for “Wilba 6582 Sale” and behold the goodness that he’s offering… be quick tho!
3- There are people here who had never even soldered before taking on a SID project.. so, I recon you are OVER qualified.
All the answers are out there, and pretty well documented, you’ll just have to take your time reading everything about DOUT’s and DIN’s and CORES and stuff like that..
Another option is to consider making a MB-6582 which can take up to 8 SID’s..
Even tho this sounds rather complicated, the actual construction is pretty easy and well documented, you will need to self source a few (easy to get) parts.
The only present headache for most of the MB-6582 builders is waiting on ‘cheap’ face panels..
1 - they are at pretty opposite ends of the construction difficulty spectrum.. you have to choose that one…
2 - You don’t ‘need’ a C64.. the power supply could be handy (Assuming it works)
Search for “Wilba 6582 Sale” and behold the goodness that he’s offering… be quick tho!
3- There are people here who had never even soldered before taking on a SID project.. so, I recon you are OVER qualified.
All the answers are out there, and pretty well documented, you’ll just have to take your time reading everything about DOUT’s and DIN’s and CORES and stuff like that..
Another option is to consider making a MB-6582 which can take up to 8 SID’s..
Even tho this sounds rather complicated, the actual construction is pretty easy and well documented, you will need to self source a few (easy to get) parts.
The only present headache for most of the MB-6582 builders is waiting on ‘cheap’ face panels..
Best of Luck!
Regards
Mike
Thanks for your reply Mike!
Right decision time… I’m gonna go for the C64 design… so that means i am going to have to get a C64 now yeah?
What’s the difference between having 8 SIDS and 1/2 SIDS?
the MB-6582 can take up to 8 Sids, and can run them all in fancy ways.. you could have 4 stereo monosynths.. or one 4 voice poly synth.. or drums.. or 303 emulators.. ra ra ra.. heaps.
I’d seriously consider checking out the MB-6582 PCB’s & Kits from Smash.. It’s a nice and simple solution IMHO.
The mb6582 is Wilba’s neat implementation of a 8x MIDIBox SID v2. That means it’s basically 4 core modules, 8 SID modules and the DIN and DOUT modules combined on one PCB. Everything it can do can be done using single modules as well, it’s “just” a really simple and nice way to get there
Difference between 1/2 SID: One SID chip is obviously going to give you a mono synth. 2 SIDs give you either two independet mono synths (if you use one core per SID) or a stereo synth (one core -> 2 sid modules).
Difference between 1/2 or 8 SIDs: You get 8 SIDs means you have either 8 individual mono synths (if you use 8 cores) or 4 stereo synths (which is what the mb6582 is). Obviously more SIDs means more freedom and options when it comes to making patches. Also, with more SIDs you have more polyphony in “SuperPoly” mode.
Again.. read read read… then read some more..
…and when you’re done with that - read some more All the info is there for you, you just need to do lotsa reading before the actual fun
I soldered a few boards and got my skill level to a point i was happy with
Then started an MB6582 board and got carried away and started rushing along
Didn’t read the screen print properly on the board and totally screwed that build up
So yeah read read read uCapps and then when your stuff arrives from Smash read read read uCapps again and then while your building read read read uCapps and the screenprint on the board
Take your time and get into a slow but steady groove of checking as you go and you will be fine
First of all, from what I know it’s good message board etiquette to bump old relevant threads instead of creating new ones. That’s fine here, right?
Second, wow, is this really the easiest SID project to start out on? I remember seeing this a month ago when I was first lurking around, and thinking that an 8-SID module was huge!
I also remember reading somewhere that I can basically build this same module even if I only have four SID chips. I can’t remember where I read that, but is it true?
What do you guys think - build a single core and single SID module, or just go for this?
IM(not so)HO building a single core and single sid without any control surface (an LCD is a good idea though) to get started is certainly a good thing. It’s less to mess up, less money you shred if you decide to quit halfway through and still offers 80% of the satisfaction of a “big” setup.
All the info is there for you, you just need to do lotsa reading before the actual fun 
