Internal stereo SID board

Digital Audio Concepts Useful products for your Commodore 64/128

Select build options: What's this?

This Stereo SID board was designed to provide a proper way to mount a second SID inside your C64 or C128 without resorting to the old piggyback hack. It is reasonably feature-filled and fits most C64 and C128 computers. Second SID can be placed at any 32-byte boundary from $DE00 to $DFE0, and it works in the $D420-$D4E0 range also. C128 users can also use $D700-$D7E0. This board is designed for easy, solderless installation. We are currently shipping revision 0.2.2 of the board design.

It works with all stereo-SID-aware software, and should work with virtually all existing hardware expansions. Package includes the Stereo SID board, cover letter where applicable, and Quick Start Guide.

Each board is brand new and hand-built. Build options include the SID type (6581 or 8580), extra filter capacitors, and noise silending (see box at right).

Installation:

This board is an internal device designed to be mounted into the socket normally used for the computer's stock SID chip. Being internal also means you will likely want to drill a hole to mount the included RCA jack onto the back of the machine.

Once that's done, you must insert the yellow wire into the center post on that jack and twist it around. Users who wish to solder this wire into place during installation may do so without voiding the warranty.

Once installed, the four color-coded Micro-Hook clips included with the board must be attached to specific points on the motherboard.

For setup details for fully-assembled boards, take a look at the Quick Start Guide.

For do-it-yourself assembly information for Stereo SID kits, download the full instructions (PDF format). This document is normally included with such kits.

The above documents are large and contain 600 DPI images, and are intended for printing. These files may take a while to download.

Software support:

These boards are designed to work with virtually all existing software that can use a second SID chip, by virtue of the board's addressing options. An example of a program that can use these boards is Stereoplayer v10 by Mark Dickenson. Our update to this program, now bearing version number 10.5, can be downloaded here: D64 image - D81 image - Source code (ZIP).

There are also a number of C64 demos and standalone tunes which can use a second SID (usually at $D420). The Commodore Scene Database has a number of releases catalogued (note: some release names in this list are of questionable taste).

We also provide a rudimentary Amiga Mod player, written back in 2001, which can make use of a second SID. It can be downloaded here: 64 version (Program, Source code) - 128 version (Program, Source code).

Other Notes:

SID chip NOT included.

This variant of the Stereo SID board does not fit into stock C128-DCR's, as the power supply gets in the way. I have a different version of the board in the works for such machines. This board does function properly in such machines, so users whose machines have been modified to move the power supply may be able to use this board, but do so at your own risk.

Super CPU users: There is an apparent resource conflict between that device and the second SID chip when it is placed at $DE00. I am not sure of the source of this conflict, so Super CPU users may need to place the second SID chip elsewhere, such as $D420/40/60... or within the $DF00 page. Flat C128 users may also place it within the $D700 page, if desired.

C64C users: Your computer is designed so that the metal RF shield inside is used as a mounting bracket for the keyboard, with a small secondary bracket on the right in the case of Revision A-D motherboards. You will need to either remove the shield and fasten the keyboard to the underside of the case top, or cut a hole in the shield to make room for the Stereo SID board.