Linus Akesson’s C=Tar

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

And Linus Akesson is a very geeky music youtuber that plays music with the Commodore 64.

But not in the traditionnal method of composing a SID tune and playing it back; he builds instruments around the computer and plays them.

His youtube channel is filled with music-related videos with various incarnation of a Commodore-based instrument – theremin, accordion, organ…

2023/09/252023/12/08 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, Audiovideo, C64SID, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geek lounge, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: c=tar, citar, commodore, Commodore 64, Commodore 64C, guitar, keytar, mod, modding, music, musical instrument, retrocomputer, retrocomputers, Retrocomputing, SID, SID chip, theremin

We tried a BackSID on our Commodore 64, here’s how it was

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

And when we built a Commodore 64 we needed something to replace the 6581 Sound Interface Device

MOS 6581 “SID” chip is the audible output of a Commodore 64 computer. It was revolutionary when it was released in the 1980s, and made it’s way in synthesizers and gave its sound to the Commodore 64.

This chip has an analog nature, filtering, and could produce 3 simultaneous voices – much better than anything IBM’s “personnal computer” could produce at the time.

When we built the 250466 reproduction board, the SID was borrowed from another C64. That meant one of the two Commodore had no audio output. It meant silent gaming and no music.

Shopping for a SID chip online has it’s share of frustration and getting a genuine, working one isn’t guaranteed. The scarcity of the chip has the side effect of increased pricing. An 6581R4AR like the one borrowed for the build can fetch north of 100$ on auction sites.

The repro chips are a bargain by comparison. And will be much more future proof than 40 years old microchips.

A question remain – Do they sound the same?

2023/09/042023/08/27 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, C64SID, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: 6581, audio, BackBit, BackSID, C64, commodore, Commodore 64, Commodore 64C, DIY, electronics, MOS, MOS6581, MOS6581R4AR, retro, retro computer, retro computing, retrocomputer, SID, SID 6581, SID chip 6 Comments

Using Commodore 64 to play music

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

And geeks like to listend to chiptunes – music made by computers. The commodore 64 being one of the most popular gaming platform of all time had quite it’s share of music composed for it.

Part of the reason being the Sound Interface Device (SID) chip within the computer. When the SID chip was released, it was re-vo-lu-tion-ary. The chip was used not only in computers, but also in synthesizers. That’s how good it sounded.

Today’s article will explore how to use the Commodore 64 as a SID music player.

2023/06/262023/08/23 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, Audiovideo, C64SID, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geek lounge, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: 100% Geek, 1541 ultimate, C64, C64C, chiptunes, commodore, Commodore 64, Geek, Geekyness, HVSC, music, music player, pi1541, sd2iec, SID, SID chip, Sid tunes, sidplay64, synthesizer, wereallgeeks 2 Comments

Commodore 64 debuging – Diagnostic tools

I’m a geek, you’re a geek, we’re all geeks.

For a geek to repair an old, broken Commodore 64, or to build a brand new one, the best tools are needed when it comes to figuring out defective old chips, broken traces or bad sockets.

Today’s article will discuss the what/how/why’s in diagnosing a defective commodore 64.

2023/05/162024/04/22 by wereallgeeks Categories: 100% Geek, C64Diag, Commodore 64, Computers and technology, Geekyness, Projects, RetrocomputingTags: 1541, C64, cartridge, Commodore 1541, Commodore 64, datasette, Dead test, debugging, Diagnostic, DIY, Electronic, electronics, Peter Schepers, programs, SID, SID chip, soldering, Sven Petersen, tools, utility software, VIC-II 5 Comments