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sammichsid

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The discussion thread where you can read the latest info and post questions about sammichSID kits is here.

sammichSID Low-Down

sammichSID was designed to be the “no excuses” MIDIbox SID synthesizer kit - i.e. for all those people who want a MIDIbox SID but consider building it with modules too time-consuming, too newbie-unfriendly and/or too hard to design and construct a control surface, and where MB-6582 is too expensive, too daunting and/or too hard to source all the parts.

sammichSID therefore has the following design constraints/features, which support each other:

  • cheap
  • small
  • DIY newbie friendly
  • minimal control surface
  • single “walwart”/AC adapter supply, no C64 PSU brick!
  • stereo SID, optimized for 8580/6582A, 6581 optionally supported
  • “sandwich-style” stacked PCB design, no wires!
  • laser-cut 3mm acrylic case by Ponoko, customization possible
  • industry standard 2×20 character LCD with low-power LED backlight, customization possible
  • common control surface parts used, customization possible
  • To be available as a complete kit, including PCBs, components, case, hardware and (optionally) two 6582A SIDs!

MIDIbox SID Synthesizer V2 features

  • One Core module and one stereo SID module, fully integrated on one PCB with power supply.
  • Five “BankStick” slots, so you can store 4 banks of 128 patches, plus 128 “Ensembles” (engine and patch configurations)
  • Jumpers to configure the power supply, allowing a regulated 12V input to power 6581, or unregulated AC/DC input to power 8580/6582A.
  • Minimal control surface with three user-customizable buttons and LED matrix for maximum bling.
  • 2×20 character LCD with support for low-power (25mA) or high-power (250mA) LED backlight.
  • Potential for future upgrade to MIDIbox SID Synthesizer V3 using add-on board

Buying a kit

sammichSID was planned from the start to be available as a complete kit, so all the hard work of sourcing parts, checking for fit, and refining the design has been done already.

Kits will be packed and sold in batches of 25 or 50.

If you want to order now, just email your details (NOT MONEY!) to: Jason.S.Williams@gmail.com

Include your MIDIbox username so I know who I'm talking to!

“Pre-order” just means I collect your email address, and I reserve a kit for you.

There is no commitment to buy, you can cancel or wait for another batch with no bad karma!

When the batch is ready to be prepared, I'll email people to get confirmation and then send out PayPal invoices. That will happen while I order and collect all the parts and put them into kit boxes.

**PLEASE NOTE** I will not have SIDS for new orders! **SORRY!**

I do not recommend getting a kit unless you already have SIDs, they are very hard to find now on eBay or anywhere else.

**FINAL BATCH OF 50 SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 2010**

Batch #15,#16 Final Price (as of 2010-09-29): (actual payment will be in AUD and include 3.5% PayPal fee)

  • full kit, 2x 6582A SIDs: 260.00 AUD (250.81 USD, 185.21 EUR)
  • full kit, no SIDs: 200.00 AUD (192.93 USD, 142.47 EUR)
  • registered post shipping to USA/Canada: 29.50 AUD (28.46 USD, 21.01 EUR)
  • registered post shipping to Europe: 34.60 AUD (33.38 USD, 24.65 EUR)

ALSO Let me know if you're an Aussie, I can help you with a suitable plugpack and give you custom postage cost.

Cases are available in matte black or Arctic Ice (semi-transludent, matte white). Scratch and fingerprint resistant. Please ignore pictures of tinted, translucent (see-through) acrylic cases, this was the prototype and I will not be selling them. The default kit contains an FSTN negative yellow-green backlight LCD and green LEDs, as show above.

LCD, LEDs and case are optional, if you want to source your own. I will deduct cost of parts not included.

sammichSID Build Guide

You can find v1.0 of the build guide here (zipped 6MB PDF):

sammichSID_Build_Guide_v1_0.zip

(I zipped it so you would be forced to download it and not view it in your browser)

Have a read now while you await your kit, you might want to acquire some things before it arrives, like acrylic paint, brush, heatsinking compound, solder…

sammichSID Troubleshooting

If your buttons and/or LEDs aren't working properly this app might help you find the problem.

Here are the PCB layouts in PDF format, for troubleshooting purposes. Note the base PCB has ground plane removed, i.e. pins on the ground plane will be shown without any tracks connected to them, but you can tell on the PCB that they are connected to the ground plane.

sammichSID_Base_PCB.pdf

sammichSID_CS_PCB.pdf

sammichSID Merch

Buy a T-shirt! Available in three printing colours and many fabric colours!

Mine is white on charcoal, only because I have too many black and red T-shirts already.

Click on the picture!

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sammichsid.1300627213.txt.gz · Last modified: 2011/03/20 13:20 by wilba