Friday, September 25, 2009

C64M: My Commodore 64 MIDI Interface

This morning I finally got around to designing and building a prototype Commodore 64 MIDI interface. I will be releasing the schematics and programming for it at some stage. My main aim is to have an array of C64s at my control.

5 comments:

plgDavid said...

Hi

Since you mention a unique schematic, you have added different features than the bare datel/siel/passport interface?

(http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/documents/projects/other/C64MIDI-INTERFACE.TXT) I have an original passport interface myself.

Regards

Anonymous said...

Not to be unappreciative for all the amazing things you bring to the community, but I was just wondering when we see some of the eariler interfaces released to the public in some form. I'm very anxious to get my hands on the mega drive and 2600 interfaces and would gladly pay top dollar for them. Hell, I'd be happy as a pig in shit if you just released 'laymen' how build your own guides... like I said though, it's no slight on all the work you do. I just wanted to let you know there are people out there that are anxious to create with the wonderful fruits you sow...

Sebastian Tomczak said...

@ plgDavid: Did I mention a unique schematic? Hmm, I'm not really sure if my schematic or set up is that unique because I'm not that familiar with other Commodore 64 MIDI solutions, but I just felt the need to make a C64 MIDI interface, and since I didn't have any lying around, but I did have enough parts to put something together, I thought I might give it a shot :) I'll have a read through that txt doc and get back to you. I only just started making this thing, so it doesn't have many features... yet.

plgDavid said...

Hi again

I realized after typing my comment that the old schematic requires a Motorola 6850 (ACIA) chip, which depending on how lucky you are, might be hard to come by.

I was lucky to get a hold of a few of them, which I used to populate a VIC-20 MIDI card which uses a very similar design.

But back to the topic, i guess a new schem with modern and easy to find components is a better idea ;)

Regards

cTrix said...

It'll be great to see what you come up with. Multiple MSSIAH carts would be kinda cool (I've only got one) but having something that gets me to the heart of the SID like I'm used to with my 64 tracker apps would be great. Yes, I know you can take the SID out or use a hardSID equiv, but I'd rather not butcher up working machines. Good luck with it! :-)