Doctor Octoroc
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Philadelphia

I'm contemplating adding the C64 to my setup and was curious if there is a cart that can be used the same way as MidiNES or Teensyboy Pro (with MGB) in the sense that I can send MIDI out from my computer to the cart/system to control note parameters as well as what notes to send. I've been doing research but it seems that most people (whether with MSSIAH, Cynthcart, Kerberos, etc) use either an external instrument or the onboard tracker program - and either way, they still seem to set the note parameters within the C64 program on the cart itself prior to sending MIDI data.

So is there a feasible solution to this? What cart would people recommend picking up if I want to be able to draw events into a piano roll (in say, FL Studio) to adjust things like pulse width, attack, decay, etc along with penning the notes being sent via MIDI CC? I have heard this is possible and that too much data shouldn't be sent at once - I'm planning to use the C64 in conjunction with a NES/MidiNES and Gameboy/Teensyboy Pro so I'll likely only utilize one or two channels at a time and won't likely be setting parameters often along the course of a given track. Just want to vary the sound in my tracks a bit and the C64 seems like a great one to add but it all has to work together from MIDI out data from my computer.

nummernoll
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If I understand you correctly, you want to use the c64 as a regular midi-enabled synth with midi-cc control over its parameters.
If so, then you can use both mssiah and Station64. I’ve tried both but is most familiar with Mssiah.
Both can receive midi-cc for controlling the sound parameters and midi-note for pitch.
If you decide the station64-route: I use a tapecart sd (cost around 30usd I guess, check you local eBay) and a midi-interface from sharewareplus (£35 plus shipping). Works perfect. Mssiah has build-in midi but it’s midi-interface is only usable with cartridge itself.
I would say that both are great and quite simple to use.

https://sharewareplus.blogspot.com/2020 … e.html?m=1
http://djindikator.net/
https://www.mssiah.com/

Good luck!

nummernoll
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Oops, posted two times

Last edited by nummernoll (May 17, 2021 9:50 pm)

Doctor Octoroc
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Philadelphia
nummernoll wrote:

If I understand you correctly, you want to use the c64 as a regular midi-enabled synth with midi-cc control over its parameters.
If so, then you can use both mssiah and Station64. I’ve tried both but is most familiar with Mssiah.
Both can receive midi-cc for controlling the sound parameters and midi-note for pitch.
If you decide the station64-route: I use a tapecart sd (cost around 30usd I guess, check you local eBay) and a midi-interface from sharewareplus (£35 plus shipping). Works perfect. Mssiah has build-in midi but it’s midi-interface is only usable with cartridge itself.
I would say that both are great and quite simple to use.

https://sharewareplus.blogspot.com/2020 … e.html?m=1
http://djindikator.net/
https://www.mssiah.com/

Good luck!

Thanks for the info, sounds like the MSSIAH is the way to go! I read through the manual and it looks like it does exactly what I need it to do with some limitations common to other primitive sound chips. Perfect! Am I correct in thinking that all I need is a MSSIAH cart, C64 and Midi cable/interface to connect to my computer and FL Studio will recognize a MIDI device I can 'target' with instruments I create with the proper CC #'s associated with them? And audio cables, of course.

Last edited by Doctor Octoroc (May 17, 2021 10:30 pm)

Doctor Octoroc
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Philadelphia

Alright, I pulled the trigger on a C64 on eBay and picked up a modern power supply as well since I've heard the original is an unpredictable monster haha. I'm waiting to see if Kerberos carts go back up for sale in June as the Protovision website says they will because I'm thinking of picking up one of them as well as the Mssiah to see which works better for my needs.

I'll probably grab the SID2SID board with the Mssiah for an eventually upgrade since it's only a few bucks more but I've read that the bread bin model that I got (I'm a sucker for the retro look) can have trouble with the dual SID setup. Anyone have experience in this area that can shed some light?

And any other recommendations for mods or accessories I should pick up? Is there a prosound type mod for the C64 that anyone recommends?

herr_prof
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I think the sid2sid board will cover your prosounding!

Doctor Octoroc
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Philadelphia
herr_prof wrote:

I think the sid2sid board will cover your prosounding!

Right on. I read a bit more about it and watched some other do the mod. I'm done audio mods to my NES and GB without a hitch so this ahouldn't be too bad, just have to hunt down a lot more small components!

DSC
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Remember to check your filter(s) on the SID chip.  Lots of em are bad.

Doctor Octoroc
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Philadelphia
DSC wrote:

Remember to check your filter(s) on the SID chip.  Lots of em are bad.

At this point I'm going to use whatever sound I can get out of it haha. At least for the current album I'm working on, it's mainly going to be supplemental to the NES and GB. I have heard that it's hard to get a good SID these days and there are a lot of fakes out there. Gauging the auction it looked like the person knew what they were doing and demonstrated knowledge of the system that a lot of people don't have so I'm hopeful.

Doctor Octoroc
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Philadelphia

Followup question - I'll eventually want to get my hands on another SID chip to do the dual SID mod - anyone know of a reputable seller who has the chips or is my best bet to get my hands on another system with a working SID?