KVR Audio

twolegstoneworks · Post by **twolegstoneworks** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:09 am

HardSID just announced a new hardware box-version of the HardSID. Complete with VSTi interface (think Virus TI). Great news for us laptop-rockers with no room for a PCI-card.

http://www.hardsid.com/

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:39 pm

TEMPTING!

I hate being broke 99% of the year.

Then again I'm just seeing that this is only a "breakout box" solution. You still need the HardSID chips or SID chips in general. But like I wrote in the FM thread, they're a rare treasure now. But if those peeps are at Musikmesse, I might bug them to just get SID chips - or I need to hang out more on flea markets.

living sounds · Post by **living sounds** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:54 pm

Why are these chips rare? You can buy a used C64 for next to nothing, can't you?

Jeremy_NSL · Post by **Jeremy_NSL** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:59 pm

So if you buy this, you need to buy a used C64 - open it up, and remove the SID chip. Then solder it or somesuch into the HardSID? Or what kind of procedure is it?

I'd love such an instrument but I'm not sure I'm up for such a hassle. I'd rather buy something 'complete'.

Kingston · Post by **Kingston** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:59 pm

Compyfox wrote:they're a rare treasure now.

commodore 64 is the best selling computer of all time, still extremely common, and cheap as peanuts. Look into your nearest dumpster and there's real chance you'll find one. I know I did.

_oswald · Post by **_oswald** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:26 pm

Between this and Mssiah, I'm creaming my pants.

Srsly.

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:08 am

Kingston wrote:commodore 64 is the best selling computer of all time, still extremely common, and cheap as peanuts. Look into your nearest dumpster and there's real chance you'll find one. I know I did.

Must be living on the wrong side of the globe then. But like I said, have to go to more fleamarkets and maybe even the once-a-month computer basars. Do have an old 8580 chip, however I prefer the sound of the elder 6581 one if I especially listen to the 1:1 demos on ucapps.de

@_osswald:
No pics? Aw come on. Is this some DIY thing like mbSID?

@Jeremy_NSL
Actually you do open up the C64 or C128, remove the SID chip, then insert it directly into the HardSID PCI Card or this new outboard Device (which is just a breakout box without controls on it, kind of like mbSID with with a better VSTi integration). No soldering needed.

If you want to solder however, you can build your own "SIDstation" with the DIY project from ucapps.de (among others, just take a look on Wikipedia for the MROS Technology SID chip)

On both possibilities, you still get off cheaper than with the "original" SIDstation, which is truely rare now, but a nice concept - though it uses one chip only while the HardSID uses 4, and the mbSID can use up to 8 SID chips if you cascade it properly.

Then again, if I look at Wikipedia, and read the comments on the run out patent, not to mention the "reconstruction projects", it looks like the old SID will get a revival soon, with new technic, but with the benefit of the sound from the past. I'm patient and let myself surprise... until then, I have tons of alternatives.

noizetronic · Post by **noizetronic** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:21 am

MSSIAH is the forthcoming of the software-only prophet64; both require a fully functional c64/128 and come as a module cartridge. MSSIAH will combine this with a fully fledged midi port (which will be heaven as it seems). With prophet64, you only had an option to build a funny non-standard cv interface, since the user port was already occupied. Waiting for it..

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:20 am

Then it's kinda uninteresting for me, as I have several sequencer already, and I don't need an extra screen to run a SID chip "system".

Still nice to see such a thing though.

Dogboy73 · Post by **Dogboy73** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:11 am

Looks good. but I don't like the idea of having to install my own SID chip - 299 Neurons for a synth that doesn't come with the synth engine! Anyone else think that sounds a bit barmey? Would you buy a new car that didn't have an engine?! What exactly are we getting for our 299 Neurons?

Patch2006 · Post by **Patch2006** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:48 pm

Jeremy_NSL wrote:So if you buy this, you need to buy a used C64 - open it up, and remove the SID chip. Then solder it or somesuch into the HardSID? Or what kind of procedure is it?

I'd love such an instrument but I'm not sure I'm up for such a hassle. I'd rather buy something 'complete'.

I agree man. this is crazy cool though i checked out the web site and the unit looks very good. I think the revolution of SID music is there. the programmers and the musicians need to ccreate more ideas like we do here, and the companies can manufacture the units. long live the chip!

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:54 pm

Dogboy73 wrote:What exactly are we getting for our 299 Neurons?

A cool settop box, power supply, converters and a VSTi engine for controlling this thing.

If you build it up yourself with a similar setup, though custom user interface and box, you pay about the same. Though you don't have a native VSTi control solution, only third party which controls the device by MIDI only and it's a SynthEdit/Windows Only control surface (though a very cool looking one)

chicken muffin · Post by **chicken muffin** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:14 pm

_oswald wrote:Between this and Mssiah, I'm creaming my pants.

Srsly.

must people talk like this. im a visual thinker, heterosexual, and well, you know.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:28 pm

Looks pretty cool. Not too sure about the higher price for a "studio" edition though. I have a couple of C64's in the garage, just waiting for the right hardware to come along...

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:30 pm

chicken muffin wrote:
_oswald wrote:Between this and Mssiah, I'm creaming my pants.

Srsly.

must people talk like this. im a visual thinker, heterosexual, and well, you know.

Regrettably, I'm forced to agree with Mr. Muffin!

New HardSID model