KVR Audio

braj · Post by **braj** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 3:53 am

BTW, you know you'll need external synths to use if you get a midi interface and application, right? The C64 doesn't make any usable sounds of it's own, and even the built-in synth isn't controllable via the midi apps, I don't believe. And your most basic sequencer on any semi-modern synth (think SQ80) is probably more powerful.

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 3:54 am

braj wrote:I'm not sure you're going to be successful finding midi software for the C64. The only reason I can think of to use the C64 would be nostalgia, but if you didn't use one back in the day, I can't see why it would be compelling.

Using it to play old games seems like a better use of your time IMO. If you want an old computer to tool about with music, see if your friend can find you an old Atari ST.

Nah his company only had a bunch of old commodores.

braj · Post by **braj** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:07 am

Seriously, I think you should just get the idea out of your head. You really aren't missing much IMO.

But I do remember hooking up all those midi cables to my C64, I had the following ancient gear:

Sequential SixTrac
Roland AlphaJuno1
Casio RZ1 drum machine
Boss Dr110 drum machine
Roland SH101 CV'd to the Dr110
Some old Akai analog synth, I don't recall the model
Akai's first sampler (rack mounted with these mini disk things that didn't inspire confidence)
Roland MT32
Kawai K3
Kawai R50 drum machine

All that stuff was awefully hard to carry all at once. Except for the MT-32, none of the synths were multitimberal.

Thinking of this all sure makes me love VSTs and computers. What you can get and runon your computer for free nowadays can definitely get you better results than all that gear circa 1982-1987. It's just amazing.

ammoniad · Post by **ammoniad** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:26 am

braj wrote:
Chase wrote:
braj wrote:I wish I still had my old C64 with Master Tracks and the midi interface card. Those were the days.

I just googled Commodore / master tracks and couldn't find any downloads, but it was a good app from my memory.
Midi interface? where could I get one?

Is "Master Tracks" an audio app for the C64?
Look here for your C64 midi adaptor, I had the Sonus one.

Master Tracks was midi only, I don't believe you could do any audio recording on the C64. I'd be shocked if you could,

The 64 was for 64 bits of memory. My cell phone has more memory.

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:30 am

This whole thing was really just for fun. If I have to buy a $30 midi adapter and learn a bunch of complicated computer bollocks, I guess I'll just introduce this old comp to my new cane

LBN · Post by **LBN** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:51 am

Go here for lots of C-64 information:

http://www.c64.org/

And check out the SIDstuff category. There are several downloadable apps that will let you use the C-64 as a synthesizer. I guess the problem will be how to get the programs from your PC to your 64. There should be solutions on that page as well but they might involve more than you're wanting to spend.

I still have several C-64s and a Moog Music Producer MIDI interface for it. I haven't gotten around to hooking it up but one of these days...

JackDark · Post by **JackDark** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:38 pm

Here's some good C64 stuff:

http://www.prophet64.com/

http://noname.c64.org/tracker/

http://www.lemon64.com/index2.php

odo · Post by **odo** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:42 pm

or you can try this

Odo

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:46 pm

Blow a few bucks on a Moog Song Producer, the most impressive C64 accessory I've ever seen. They usually run $20 to $40 -- less if you get lucky on eBay -- have a heavy steel case, bristle with I/O connectors (including MIDI and lots of individual drum trigger inputs), and come with a crudely printed but pretty good manual in a classy Moog-logo vinyl binder.

Jamestown Bronze Works sells 'em for $35. I bought mine from them on eBay, but paid a little less for it. Wish I could tell you how it works but I've yet to reconnect my old Commie to try it out, and my old floppy drive is probably not in terribly good shape. *sigh* Some day.

Good luck!

Meffy

saulc12 · Post by **saulc12** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:57 pm

braj wrote:BTW, you know you'll need external synths to use if you get a midi interface and application, right? The C64 doesn't make any usable sounds of it's own, and even the built-in synth isn't controllable via the midi apps, I don't believe. And your most basic sequencer on any semi-modern synth (think SQ80) is probably more powerful.

The C64 SID makes plenty of usable sounds - it is a very powerful digital/analog hybrid synth and any body who says otherwise is just too damn picky.

tERMoBLUe · Post by **tERMoBLUe** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:04 pm

these were still times

...the hard-sid-card is a "bonus-sound-card" or a "single-sound-card"?...at all events looks very interesting

...
was this of at all somebody tested here already time?...cya

tro

Modeler · Post by **Modeler** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:11 pm

ammoniad wrote:The 64 was for 64 bits of memory. My cell phone has more memory.

64K, as in 524288 bits. The C64 was way ahead of its time and had a built-in analogue synth with digitally controlled oscillators, which is more than can be said for your cell phone.

Has anyone mentioned QuadraSID yet? Four emulated SIDs in a VSTi, what more could you ask for?

Finding software isn't a problem if you have an XE1541 cable, you can download it from the 'Net and use host software to transfer it to a real C64 disk (Star Commander) or tape (Tapserv). It works, I've tried it. I have a cables if you want one...

cold c · Post by **cold c** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:32 pm

Semi-OT: http://www.heise.de/ct/machflott/projekte/55771

davidv@plogue · Post by **davidv@plogue** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:32 pm

braj wrote:the built-in synth isn't controllable via the midi apps, I don't believe.

Two apps i know allow you to do this:

Triad MIDI Slave Manager:
http://www.df.lth.se/~triad/triad/ftp/MIDI/midislav.txt

M64:
http://gallium.prg.dtu.dk/anyware/

Both of which require one of three different MIDI interfaces,
DATEL / Siel+JMS / Passport or Sequential MIDI-interface

Im lucky to have found a passport
http://plogue.com/davidv/c64/passport.jpg

and a Sequential, but this one is a standalone thing, and has its own built in sequencer:
http://plogue.com/davidv/c64/sequential.jpg

skybax · Post by **skybax** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:39 pm

the c64 is also the most sold personal computer of all time

my recommendations for C64 music editors/trackers:
CyberTracker
John Player
DMC v4.0

there's tutorials for DMC 4 & 5 here:
http://www.redesign.sk/tnd64/music_scene.html

CyberTracker is a more sophisticated tracker-like with graphical envelopes (wow!) etc. but it's not suitable to make packed music for demos. For your own music it should be fine.
Aleksi Eeben of CNCD made John Player, which creates packed music and is very user friendly IMHO.
DMC is more complicated to use (v5 is hardcore) but it's very popular.

Using a Commodore 64