Just bought a C64 :-)

[Oliver]

If you want to make 303 type sounds, you will probably prefer the 8580 chip.  You may like to put two of them in your c64 as well.  It is possible to put an 8580 chip in a 6581 computer, but it takes a little more work.

You should also have a look at the midibox sid project at midibox.org (follow the micro C apps link), if you're interested in SID chip instruments.  It takes more work again, but it is capable of much more than the prophet64.  For 303ish sounds, you can have a look at the bassline mode.  You can also find info and links regarding the SID chip revisions.

[motorollin]

Thanks Oliver. I'll try the 8580 and see how it performs. As I said I can post-process it once it's recorded if I want to make it sound less clean.

I have found this information on replacing the 8580 with a 6581:

1) The 6581 uses a 5v and a 12v supply, while the 8580 uses 5v and 9v.

2) Different filter capacitors are specified for each chip - 470 pF for the 6581, and 22000 pF for the 8580.  This gives each chip a different range for the filters.

Aside from the voltage supply found on pin 28 (6581 = 12v, 8580 = 9v), the
two chips are pin-compatible.

To make a complete swap, you must provide the proper voltage on pin 28 and swap out the two filter capacitors on pins 1-4.

So if I just replace the capacitors then bend out pin 29, then find 12v from somewhere, could I use a 6581?

Anyway, as I said I'll see how I get on with the 8580. I do want to use the 303 bassline synth so maybe the 8580 will be better anyway.

--
moto

[humppa]

It aparrently lets you use your Amiga as a C64 disk drive. I have never tried it, but it looks like you need to build a circut to connect the Amiga's parallel port to the C64's serial port. Think I'll just get the MMC64 instead. Does anyone know whether I will be able to use the Prophet64 connected to the MC64 passthrough, and whether I can save Prophet64 projects to the MMC card?

Please note that the MMC64 does not allow you to load multifile games (e.g. from D64-files). However, you can start single Programs (.PRG-files), look inside D64-images and start PRGs from there, write back D64-images to your 1541, convert 1541-disks to D64, isten to WAV-files, watch ANIms and pictures, play SIDs and many many other things.

If you also have a Retro Replay, you can make full use of the "Dreamload" plugin, which allows you to also load multifile D64/D71 images. The IDE64-fixed version work fine with it.
I don't know about the Prophet64, but the Retro Replay works fine together with the MMC64.

[Oliver]

I think you will prefer the 8580.  If I remember correctly, the prophet64 bunch actually specify that an 8580 should be used.  I also think the bassline samples they provide, are made with 2 8580 chips, using a dual chip adapter board which they also designed.  You may be able to get such a board from them, but they don't provide the extra chip.

It seems you have come a long way from scoffing at electronica, huh?   :-D  Good stuff.  I look forward to seeing the music you produce.  Oh, also, you may like to know that music production, and home studio establishment can be very addictive.

[arkpandora]

Here is a good technical site about the SID, especially the differences between the successive revisions :

http://sid.kubarth.com/

[kickstart]

humppa wrote:

That's what I did and it worked fine. You can vary a bit with the resistors between 300k and 500k and the strength of the effect will change. The best would be to have a potentiometer for that, so you can regulate it to your own liking.

Nice idea to put a pontentiometer in resistor place and regulate the sound at your taste. Thanks. =)

[kickstart]

motorollin wrote:
Hope I get the 6581  :-(  Though I can "warm up" the sound once I've sampled it in to my MacBook.

You can use 8580 "bug" fixed, have a clear sound and dont seem easy to intall a 6581 in C64C for no benefits.

[foleyjo]

Bodie wrote:

I'am soooo very jealous of you at the moment. My C64 only gives a black screen when it powers on   :cry: .

Open it up and look for the fuse. This problem usually happens when the fuse blows. I thought mine was dead till I realised this.
Then you too could be having 64 fun