.- the inexpensive dual-SID/FM replacement that you can build yourself -.

SIDKick pico by Frenetic is a microcontroller-based C64 SID replacement. Analog inputs for paddles and mice are available just as for the original SID.

The 0.224 version includes new features such as:

• The paddle offsetting has been accidentally deactivated in version 0.223, this is now fixed in version 0.224.

Of course it includes all features introduced with the 0.22-series releases:

• A special addressing mode for Ultimate64/Commodore 64 Ultimate which requires a single setup only to play dual-SID or SID+FM
• Advanced SID filter settings plus 19x measured 6581 filter curves (measurements by Antti S. Lankila)
• Support for Pico 2 / RP2350
• Change bus timings (if still necessary at all!) by pressing reset for ~5 seconds, factory reset by pressing reset for >10 seconds
• Optional offsetting of paddle values now via the configuration tool

(I cannot test all 66 firmware variants, let me know if one isn’t working as expected)

Review:

My SID Player plays SID tunes with the SIDKick-pico.
SIDKick-Pico by Frenetic.

Download: SIDKick-Pico Firmware v0.224 (0)

source: c64-wiki.com github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico

.- the inexpensive dual-SID/FM replacement that you can build yourself -.

SIDKick pico by Frenetic is a microcontroller-based C64 SID replacement. Analog inputs for paddles and mice are available just as for the original SID.

The 0.223 version includes new features such as:

• Introduces a special addressing mode for Ultimate64/Commodore 64 Ultimate which requires a single setup only to play dual-SID or SID+FM
• Fixes a bug in the combined waveform emulation

Of course it includes all features introduced with the 0.22-series releases:

• Advanced SID filter settings plus 19x measured 6581 filter curves (measurements by Antti S. Lankila)
• Support for Pico 2 / RP2350
• Change bus timings (if still necessary at all!) by pressing reset for ~5 seconds, factory reset by pressing reset for >10 seconds
• Optional offsetting of paddle values now via the configuration tool

(I cannot test all 66 firmware variants, let me know if one isn’t working as expected)

Review:

My SID Player plays SID tunes with the SIDKick-pico.
SIDKick-Pico by Frenetic.

Download: SIDKick-Pico Firmware v0.223 (39)

source: c64-wiki.com github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico

The KungFuSID is heavily inspired by SwinSID and ArmSID project but this is a open-source alternative to them.

You can read the full project description on the author’s github page.

My personal opinion:

I would have liked to write a little more than usual, but thinking about it, there’s absolutely no point in wasting time writing the same things over and over again.

I still think that any implemented or emulated SID sucks, with the exception of a few very rare exceptions, the FPGASid and alternatively ARMSid.

The KungFuSID defends itself well, especially given its very low price, but we are light years away from an “almost” perfect implementation, so good, but not great.

Gallery:

source: https://github.com/Sgw32/KungFuSID

As i wrote in Kawari’s previous post, specifically in the “TODO” notes, it was already clear that this little job of trust had to be done.

The modifications to the C64 case that were made after removing the RF modulator to make room for the S-Video/Composite Bypass are as follows:

• Put the female Mini DIN MD8 connector (RGB + SYNC + AUDIO + SCART SWITCH) into the antenna hole and secure it with a ring i printed.
• Enlarge the RF modulator channel switch hole to make room for the female HDMI panel connector and secure it with two screws.

I have nothing else to say; the photos speak for themselves and say much more than what i could write and what no one will ever read.

Gallery:

12►

Before i leave you to the description of the Kawari VIC-II card, i just wanted to say that i was very surprised by its features and compatibility.
I’ve tested the Kawari VIC-II with dozens of demos and some old and new games. Everything works perfectly and i haven’t encountered any problems.

VIC-II Kawari is a hardware replacement project for the VIC-II (Video Interface Chip II) found in Commodore 64 home computers.
In addition to being compatible with the original VIC-II 6567/6569 chips, some cool extra features are also available.

This project is meant to replace video chips found in breadbins. A C64-C replacement for the 8562/8565 is not (yet) available.

The PCB interfaces with a real C64 address and data bus through the VIC-II socket on a C64 motherboard.

The board can replace all the functions of a real VIC-II chip including DRAM refresh, light pen interrupts, PHI2 clock source for the CPU and, of course, video output. (NOTE: Light pens would only work on a real CRT using composite.) 

Features:

• Accurately reproduces VIC-II graphics functions.
• Can replace VIC-II 6567/6569 in bread bin models.
• No VSP bug.
• S/LUM + Chroma output.
• Configurable colour palette (for preference and programming)
• Easily switch between PAL and NTSC video standards (software or hardware switch, our boards come pre-set to PAL)
• Four chip models supported (6567R56A, 6567R8, 6569R1, 6569R3)
• Can bypass broken clock circuits.
• Eliminates white line on composite/s-video upscalers.
• DVI (via micro-HDMI connector) and analog RGB (large board only)
• 64K of additional video RAM.
• New graphics capabilities* (80 cols, hi-res, math, blitter and more…)
• Can be flash updated with new firmware.
• It’s not an almost 40 year old device that may fail at any time.

Output Video:

• DVI – Micro HDMI.
• Analog RGB+cS+HV.
• Luma/Chroma/Composite.

Limitations:

• Dot clock is not propagated to Pin 6 of cartridge port when using on-board oscillators
• Large board HDMI port not easily accessible unless RF sheild removed
• Board can be powered by HDMI monitors requiring monitor to be powered off
• ‘Native’ motherboard clock circuit not suitable for generating HDMI (sometimes)

Work in progress on my c64:

• Replace the RF modulator with the S-Video/Composite Bypass.
• Install two output connectors for the HDMI and RGB video signals + Audio.

VIC-II Kawari – COMPOSITE-CRT Gallery:

VIC-II Kawari – HDMI Gallery:

VIC-II Kawari – RGB-CRT Gallery:

VIC-II Kawari – RGB-OSSC-HDMI Gallery:

VIC-II Kawari – SOFTWARE Gallery:

VIC-II Kawari – RGB-OSSC-HDMI Video:

https://youtube.com/shorts/6SFE-y3EEh0?feature=share

source: 

• https://github.com/randyrossi/vicii-kawari
• https://accentual.com/vicii-kawari
• https://videogameperfection.com/products/vic-ii-kawari

The Cartridge PiRTO II DUO made by Aotta is the new version of the PiRTO II multicart for Mattel Intellivision based now on a Raspberry Pi Pico2 for using double RAM.

This version support Intellivision bin+cfg games, including the JLP acceleration and savegames features.

Here are some improvements that i have made to the PiRTO-II Duo cartridge cover:

• Reduced the hole for inserting the Mini SD Card. (Unless you have fingers big as sausages, you can easily remove and insert the Mini SD Card. I’ve seen much worse situations)
• Added new PCB support bracket. (When inserting the Mini SD Card, the PCB flexed downward)
• Added hole for the Raspberry Pi Pico2 button. (Useful for updating the PiRTO-II Duo without opening the cartridge)
• Added hole for the USB connector. (Useful for updating the PiRTO-II Duo without opening the cartridge)
• Increased thickness of the front/top internal cartridge support.
• Slightly narrowed the hole for resetting/restarting the cartridge to use the button cover.

Gallery:

Download STL Files: PiRTO-II Duo reMixed Cartridge Case by Xad/Nightfall (60)

source: https://github.com/aotta/PiRTOIIDuo

The best looking PLA replacement chip for Commodore 64 designed by Pasi Lassila, compatible with all board revisions and all cartridge types (Zaxxon,Epyx Fastload etc)

Programming the PLA is very simple but you need to build your own programmer and purchase an inexpensive FT232H interface (about 7 euros) from AliExpress.

Components for building the programmer:

• 12.0mm Pogo pin.
• Female pin header connector.
• Switch.
• BLU LED (optional).
• Male pin header connector for connecting the programmer.
• Small perforated PCB.

The assembly instructions are published by the project author on GitHub.

The neatPLA was assembled by JLCPCB for a total cost (including shipping and taxes) of 8 euros each.

Gallery:

source: https://github.com/1c3d1v3r/neatPLA

I decided to extract only the SID files in RSID (Real SID) format from the HVSC archive.

Here are the simple commands i used:

find * -type f -print0 | xargs -0 grep -r -i -l -P ‘\x52\x53\x49\x44′ > list.txt
xargs -a list.txt cp –parents -t [destination]

The RSID archive you can download contains 3910 RSID files.

Download: HVSC #84 with only RSID files (85)

The High Voltage SID Collection (HVSC) is a freeware hobby project which organises Commodore 64 music (also known as SID music) into an archive for both musicians and fans alike.

The work on the collection is done completely in the Team and contributors’ spare time and is proudly one of the largest and most accurate computer music collections known.

This update features (all approximates):

• 688 new SIDs
• 15 fixed/better rips
• 2 repeats/bad rips eliminated
• 288 SID credit fixes
• 35 SID model/clock infos
• 4 tunes from /DEMOS/UNKNOWN/ identified
• 4 tunes from /GAMES/ identified
• 19 tunes moved out of /DEMOS/ to their composers’ directories
• 4 tunes moved out of /GAMES/ to their composers’ directories

We have finally reached and surpassed 60,000 SIDs in this update!

Another great milestone thanks to the contributions of many musicians keeping the spirit alive!

Download:

• HVSC Update #84 (70)
• Complete HVSC #84 (93)

source: www.hvsc.c64.org

After my previous 3D print of the Commodore 1541-II floppy drive front cover, i wanted to fix some internal aspects of the front cover that i felt causing glitches in the print.

I also wanted to try printing diagonally with a few supports, and i have to say that the result is definitely better than the previous one.

Download: Commodore 1541-II Frontcover Fixed v3 (STL) (92)

.- the inexpensive dual-SID/FM replacement that you can build yourself -.

SIDKick pico by Frenetic is a microcontroller-based C64 SID replacement. Analog inputs for paddles and mice are available just as for the original SID.

The 0.22 version includes new features such as:

• Advanced SID filter settings plus 19x measured 6581 filter curves (measurements by Antti S. Lankila)
• Support for Pico 2 / RP2350
• Change bus timings (if still necessary at all!) by pressing reset for ~5 seconds, factory reset by pressing reset for >10 seconds
• Optional offsetting of paddle values now via the configuration tool

(I also added a version of the firmwares where the reset-functionality requires ~30 seconds and ~60 seconds reset press, in case the shorter times conflict with kernal switchers or other extensions)

Review:

My SID Player plays SID tunes with the SIDKick-pico.
SIDKick-Pico by Frenetic.

Download: SIDKick-Pico Firmware v0.22 (112)

source: c64-wiki.com github.com/frntc/SIDKick-pico

I thank my friend Andrea for giving me a selection of fantastic PCB of game cartridges for Commodore 64.

Gallery:

I was commissioned to do this little job of trust, the repair of a SHARP MZ-800 that had the following problems.

• The composite video RCA connector was torn out.
• The cassette counter reset button was broken.

After several attempts to glue the broken pieces back together and not finding anyone online who had designed it, i decided to make it myself from scratch and print it, for such a small size, the result is quite good.

Regarding the missing RCA connector, i installed a new one by soldering it directly on the modulator chassis.

Gallery:

Download: Reset Button TAPE Recorder Sharp MZ-800 by Xad (140)

Although i’ve already modified an original VideoPAC game cartridge to fith the PicoPAC by A. Ottaviani, i also wanted to try the 3D-designed case by Yannick Erb but i have modified a few things that i didn’t like.

The final result is good.

Here are the modifications i made to Yannick Erb’s case:

• Enlarged the hole to fith the button cover.
• Hole for the firmware update button.
• PicoPAC logo using VideoPAC fonts (there is also a version with a colored logo)
• Guides to lock the top cover so it can’t be lifted or moved left or right.

Gallery:

Download: PicoPAC Cartridge Case by Yannick Erb mixed by Xad (142)

Source: https://github.com/aotta/PicoPAC