C64 – de la Mancha releases Basic 64 synthesizer plugin
de la Mancha has announced the release of basic 65, a monophonic synth, inspired by the classic 80s home computer, the Commodore 64 and its legendary SID chip.
Building on the waveforms and signal path of this famous chip, basic 65 adds further features and options to take things a step further.
The double arpeggiator allows complex versions of that retro 8-bit game sound and the modulation options inspire experimentation via the mod envelope and 2 comprehensive LFOs. Pulse width modulation, ring modulation and oscillator detune/sync are key ingredients in the signature sound. Throw in some pitch drift, bit drift, a sprinkle of dirt and randomisation and you have a wide range of lofi, chiptune, retro-tastic sounds at your disposal.
This version is the update to the popular basic 64, redesigned from scratch, with many improvements, new features and all new presets. basic 65 was co-developed with sink, who also made the amazing presets.
Basic 65 features
- Monophonic synth in VST format for Windows based hosts.
- 3 oscillators with pulse, saw, triangle and noise waveforms.
- Pulse width can be modulated by envelope or both LFOs [NEW – pwm modulated by envelope].
- Each oscillator can be sync’d to another and/or ring modulated by another.
- Each oscillator has its own ADSR envelope and can be routed to filter individually.
- Resonant filter with low pass, high pass, band pass and notch modes [NEW – notch mode added].
- 2 tempo-sync Arpeggiators in series for complex arp sounds [NEW – 2nd arp, added arp patterns].
- Arp tempo, range and note length can be adjusted [NEW – more tempo-sync options, note length knob].
- Modulation envelope can control pulse width and pitch of individual oscillators as well as filter and dirt [NEW – modulates pwm, cut-off, res, dirt].
- 2 tempo-sync LFOs with wide range of waveforms, including random [NEW – more waveforms, more tempo-sync options, added phase].
- Both LFOs can control pulse width and pitch of individual oscillators [NEW – individual oscillator pitch and pwm].
- One LFO also controls filter and dirt, the other can modulate the depth and speed of the first LFO [NEW – modulates res, dirt and LFO1].
- Envelopes are non-linear and can be retriggered from zero or smoothed on each new note [NEW – separate smooth for amp and mod envelopes].
- Pitch drift models instability with variable depth and frequency [NEW – depth and frequency added].
- Options for 4, 6, 8, 12 or 16 bit audio with randomising feature [NEW – added randomising, added 4 bit and 12 bit].
- Developed with SE 1.1, so no problems with multiple instances [NEW].
- 128 presets by sink covering arps, leads, bass, drums and lofi sounds [NEW – all new presets].
- basic 64 is also included in the download.
Basic 65 for Windows (VST) is available to purchase for $24 USD. A free copy of dirty harry and PULS is included with a purchase until October 7, 2011.
Updates for the circuit modeled emulation of the legendary SID chip
HyperSynth has released an update of SIDizer, a circuit modeled emulation of the legendary SID chip.
SIDizer is a state-of-art emulation of legendary SID chip in a form of a modern software synthesizer. Using circuit modeling technology nearly all unique features of two versions (6581-8580) of SID chip among their famous flaws are accurately modeled.
Changes in SIDizer v1.2
- Added new modulation source: LFO S/H.
- Added Loop point option for wavetable sequencer.
- Fixed crash while changing filter types.
- Fixed issue with preset manager lock feature that was produced in v1.1.
SIDizer for Windows (VST) is available to purchase for $49 USD.
Main features:
-3 oscillators offering 8 waveforms: Saw, Triangle, Square, Pitched noise, “AND” combinations of them
-Oscillators special features: ring, sync, phase sync, Sqr PW, level
-Wavetable sequencer (8 tracks)
-Selectable 6581-8580 D/A distortion
-3 Amp envelopes ADSR
-12 dB (LP & HP), 6 dB BP SID modeled Filter
-Best matched Exponential-fitted curves for 6581-8580 filter frequencies
-Simulating 6581 half wave filter distortion
-1 Filter envelope + key track for filter freq
-2 LFOs each with 4 simultaneous outputs offering sync and retriggering option
-1 Mod envelope
-Versatile Modulation matrix
-Bug-generator module for reproducing famous bugs: oscillator leakage, ex-input noise
-Bit Cruncher with pre and post filter route option
-Advanced 8 step C64 like arpeggiator
-Master: Pitch and Mod wheel, Porta, Spread, Reverb, Delay
-Easy to use GUI
-Factory soundbank created by Torben Hansen (aka Metal of Vibrants)
Pure synth fans in action: Mail Order Monsters – Fairlight
Mail Order Monsters performing the song Fairlight, live in studio at WKTV.
“We play exclusively through the ‘SID’ chip, taken directly from Commodore 64 computers and placed in a new hand built circuitry that allows greater flexibility, and compatibility with modern MIDI equipment. We utilize over 20 chips in our performances.”
http://www.mailordermonsters64.com
For SID fans: M.S.S.I.A.H
http://youtu.be/ajDsJ54yHTw
In this video:
A new awesome computer has entered my house to help me with project MSSIAH. A big thank’s again to Mark (UKretrogames) for this wonderful mahine ! Truely very grateful. The MSSIAH is a midi interface/sequencer that allows the SID sounds to be triggered / controlled via a midi controller keyboard.
Mark UKretrogames channel : Has lots of cool videos of computer history and interviews www.youtube.com/ukretrogames
Kevins Channel: Not computer related, but very cool self made movie shorts:
www.youtube.com/jamaicanpenguin
Worlds first studio production drum machine dedicated to chip music
DCM8 Patterns
“Worlds first studio production drum machine dedicated to chip music sounds.
Two channel roughly equivalent to two emulated SID chips, with multiple oscillators, numerous waveforms and modulation options, several noise types, digital filter, lo-fi bit reduction, DAC masking and clipping.
Easy to use pattern step sequencer editing and live control modes, hundreds of synthesised preset sounds with adjustable pitch and decay parameters, and a highly versatile user instrument editor for creation of custom chip sounds. Wide range of drum sounds with ranging from traditional electro analog emulations, through a diverse range of chip sounds collected from many platforms, to new experimental interpretations.
Steel case with a brushed anodised surface and hardwood end panels.
Launching June 2011, Vic C.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vxxy/ [slide show below]
http://www.youtube.com/user/vxxynet
http://vxxy.net“
Octatrack vs. SammichSid
The iridescent SammichSid. Inside there’s 2 6580 SID chips from Commodore 64s. Depending on the angle of the light, the SammichSid’s color is purple, blue or gold. Mix those colors and sounds well with an Elektron Octatrack and you get a blend of old and new.
TinySID on a 16 bit PIC
Ater successfully getting the TinySID library running on a PIC32 [1] some time ago, I recently wondered, if the 16 bit MCUs from Microchip would also be fast enough to run the code. It turned out, that they are, at least the 40 MIPS models (PIC24H and dsPIC33F).
A big hurdle is the (compared to the PIC32MX) small RAM on these chips. Since the SID tune must be loaded into RAM, only some small tunes will fit into the 8 kB of the MCU used on the Web Platform [2] I had at hand.
However, the source code [3] and binary [4] are available from Google Code. The PWM output is on IO7, and IO8 is used to switch the tune when pulled to GND.
Have fun,
Markus
[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNu0-M…
[2] http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/W…
[3] http://code.google.com/p/dangerous-pr…
[4] http://code.google.com/p/dangerous-pr…
Via markusgritsch
Promising 64 VST
Quantum 64 is a harsh and aliased digital synth with single DCO and multimode filter. It is inspired by Commodore 64′s SID sound chip but it definitely is no emulation.
Quantum 64 – Free VST synth http://www.vstplanet.com/News/10/Quan…
Developer: Land of Cockaigne
New emulation of the legendary SID chip
HyperSynth has announced the release of SIDizer, a new emulation of the legendary SID chip in the form of a modern software synthesizer plug-in.
Using circuit modeling technology, nearly all the unique features of the two versions (6581-8580) of the SID chip, including their famous flaws, are accurately modeled. This emulation focuses on simulating the nonlinear character of the SID filter and mimicking special 6581 distortion that mainly influences the alternation of the filtered signal in a real SID chip. It offers additional envelopes, LFOs, mod matrix and a routable bit-cruncher for adding extra lo-fi sound quality.
SIDizer’s GUI is inspired by HyperSynth’s HyperSID and offers easy tweaking for all parameters on a single page. It is not only a powerful instrument for creating the chip-tune style but it can produce a unique type of analog sound colored with harmonic distortion that is suited for creating bass, lead and drum sounds.
Features:
- 3 oscillators offering 8 waveforms: Saw, Triangle, Square, Pitched noise, “AND” combinations of them.
- Oscillators special features: ring, sync, phase sync, Sqr PW, level.
- Selectable 6581-8580 D/A distortion.
- 3 Amp envelopes ADSR.
- 12 dB (LP & HP), 6 dB BP SID modeled Filter.
- Best matched Exponential-fitted curves for 6581-8580 filter frequencies.
- Simulating 6581 half wave filter distortion.
- 1 Filter envelope + key track for filter freq.
- 2 LFOs each with 4 simultaneous outputs offering sync and retriggering option.
- 1 Mod envelope.
- Versatile Modulation matrix.
- Bug-generator module for reproducing famous bugs: oscillator leakage, ex-input noise.
- Bit Cruncher with pre and post filter route option.
- Advanced 8 step C64 like arpeggiator.
- Master: Pitch and Mod wheel, Porta, Spread, Reverb, Delay.
- Easy to use GUI.
- Factory soundbank created by Torben Hansen (aka Metal of Vibrants).
Pricing & Availability
SIDizer is currently available for the introductory price of $49 for the first 64 customers. The full price will then be $64. It is available for Windows as a VST instrument plug-in.
SID and chip lovers – look this way
Reason Refill review
Last week I published a post on the new release from Soundcells. It was the bitBumber Reason Refill, a new SID, bit, chip, you name it, refill that I was intrigued to try out myself.
After listening in on hundreds of different refills for Reason it is quite seldom that I find something that feels totally new and fresh, but I am inclined to change my mind on this one. Sure other refills have been published in this space before but rarely with this amount of breadth. There are not just the traditional CMB files and NNXT files that you have become accustomed to but also a several new live performance CMBs that allows you to actually be very creative on stage. I really enjoyed bringing these up during some live jamming in the studio, and to spice things up there are a several really nice Dr.Rex loops also included – and not just endless variations of the same loop in different pitches and sounds but actually quite a nice mixture of experimental, bass and pure chip sounds – I like 
Several of the files has been nicely upgraded from the original using arpeggiators and effects, that either can be activated with automation or set to play as CMB loops. That deep bass sounds paired with either smooth SID strings or whacky FX type sounds.
Soundcells has also added a nice SID/bit section dedicated to Thor, where I must say that they have been able to squeeze quite a lot of those orginal sounds of that synth, but with a twist.
I would recommend this Refill to any composer who wants to get a kick start in making bit tunes or simply spice up a trance, electro song with some of those nostalgic sounds of old computer games. Remeber though that the refill is more on the playfull side of bit music than for any of hard core SID fanatics with the pure objective of recreating everything as faithfull as possible- but I would recommend you to either purchase, download or build your own SID workstation, that are plenty available out there.
DATAMASKIN
