webSID-PI

I cannot be bothered to use an actual C64 just to test what a real Sound Interface Device (SID) chip sounds like (see 'webSID-Pi' blog post for why that is), but real SID chips are obviously the ultimate reference to compare webSID's SID emulation against.

Though there are already devices that allow to plug in a SID chip and then make it play C64 music, these often seem to be limited to the use of PSID files (i.e. the communication latency of these devices is usually too slow to correctly deal with the timing precision required for the type of RSIDs that rely on "high" frequency SID register updates and this will then typically result in audible pitch distortions).

The emulation of the SID chip makes up only a small portion of webSID's code base. Other parts deal with the remaining components of the C64, as well as with handling the C64 music file formats. Supposing there was a way to replace the SID-emulation in webSID with a real SID chip but keep the rest, then all types of C64 music could be properly tested with no need for an actual C64.

I did just that in this little "Raspberry Pi 4B" based project: The wiring of the SID chip is simple enough and the chip can be easily addressed using the Raspberry's GPIO pins. The "Raspberry Pi 4" is also fast enough to run the webSID emulation in realtime.

webSID-Pi circuit board

By using the original SID chips as well as the original external filter capacitors the audio results are as close as you can get without using an actual C64 home computer. (Except maybe for the random noise that the C64 would usually introduce into the audio signal.) Check out the above mentioned 'webSID-Pi' blog post for more information.

Leave your comments

0 / 400 Character restriction

Comments

  • No comments found