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In this post I would share my config.txt file that allow a raspberry Pi 0 W v1.1 (old model) to work properly with th 1541pi emulator by Steve White

On the web there are many resource and video that explain how to configure many raspberry pi models to use as 1541 drive, but here I would show the proper setting to use raspberry Pi 0 W v1.1. This is an old model that is still available on many webstore. Due the raising ICs price, now a raspberry pi zero w 2 cost over 100€! The price of raspberri zero w v1 instead is about 40 € less. Obiouvsly the new version is more powerfull, it have a ARM quad core Soc at 2.4 GHz vs single core at 1 GHz of the old model.

But if your scope is to use raspberry as 1541pi, the old rpi zero w 1 is OK.

Other than the raspberry pi you have to buy or build yourself a 1541pi hat that hallow to connect the raspberry pi to the commodore64 (or other models), show the directories, moving and mounting d64 images.

I found a very well made PCB from the huckup.net. This PCB mount a an additional 7406 inverter IC that is used for driving the output signals from the Raspberry Pi to the serial bus. Using this solution, multiple devices on the bus should no longer be a problem.

After you have properly setting the SD card and edited the options.txt file in accorthing to the step-by-step guide on 1541pi website, you have to overclock the rpi. This is necessary to guarantee cicle exact emulation of the original 1541 drive.

All you have to do is edit the config.txt file as shown:

kernel_address=0x1f00000
arm_freq=1150
over_voltage=2
sdram_freq=533
sdram_over_voltage=1
core_freq=515
temp_limit=75
force_turbo=1
disable_auto_turbo=1
boot_delay=1

Litlte photo gallery

I have make also a short video that that show the 1541pi in action. In the end of the video I show how to mount multiple disk images, so take a look!

Here we are with my new fresh c64 program. I have spend many time to study SID registers and how to play sounds with it 🙂 I’m owner of an old cmk49 keyboard by Siel (very similar to wersiboard keyboard). My goal was to make a synthesizer like the famous cynthcart that was able to play music not only using the c64 keyboard but cmk 49 keyboard too, in mono or polyphonic mode. After I have discover how to cmk49 works, I started to write the routine to read keys from the cmk49 after that I have study the rob hubbard sid player routine and used that for my synthesizer. I have added portamento, transpose, filter modulation effect and put PAL and NTSC frequency table.

The program allow to edit any single SID registers and modify any sound effects. In in monophonic mode there are 26 preset instruments, and 12 instruments in polyphonic mode.

There are two PlayPiano64 programs: playpianoM.prg and playpianoS.prg. M stand for mono SID and S stand for stereo SID (second SID at address OxDE00).

The GUI (graphics user interface) is quite easy, anyway I have put many text to guide in the use of the program and an HELP that explain in more detail some functions.

Links to download the files:

Source code are available from here:

You can listen a very rough demo live performance played with a seal cmk 49

Below some screen shoot

PS As recently I’m join to Hokuto Force Group, I have make frontend with Hokuto Force logo. The the program was release on CSDB on 02 May 2022

GeoPlayer is a commodore 64 program that play wave file. In order to use this program you have to use a Georam memory expansion cartridge and a 1541disk drive emulator like SD2IEC. GeoPlayer may reproduce sound in two manner. The first is using register 0xD018 of the SID (sound interface device 6581 or 8580), the second and the better is using DigiMax that allow to reproduce sound at 8 bit resolutions. The supported sample rate is 8, 11, 16, 22KHz, sample resolution 8 bit (16 bit is supported too but the program make a downsampling during the upload the file in the GeoRam memory. To create compatibile wave file I use audacity or sox (command line program for unix like os).

Other than play wave file tha program have other feature like play .sid file, show koala image, and last but not least an old fully works assembler monitor SuperMon64 written in the late 1980 by famous guys beind the commodore scene like Wozniak, Baum Jim Russo, Bill Seiler and Jim Butterfield.

The routine that play wave file was from Greg Nacu, the the file browser is a ported of GeoUplod by Skoe ( the aouthr of the famous easyflash cartridge).

If you want to try GeoPlayer without real hardware you can use vice64 emulator. In VICE is possible to emulate all necessary hardware devices like GeoRam, DigiMax, 1541 drive etc.

But if you have solder electronic skills, I suggest too build your own devices. You can find DigiMax gerber in the Vanessa archive, and on HuckUp.net website all neccessary file with step by step istructions to to build a NeoRam cartridge (a GeoRam clone).

The GeoPlayer program can be downloaded from CSDB

I made a video that you can see on YouTube at this link

Have fun 🙂

Here I post a project that I build some time ago. For you that like SID music, this is a very cost effective and fun solution. The author of the project is Branko Simic (Bakisha) and you can find all source in your github repository. From here you can download my customized version with with a small i2c oled screen that show information about the current sid tune played.

You can compile the source using the official STM32 core that you can install from arduino IDE or using Roger Clark arduino STM32 core. If you use Roger Clark core you can overclock your bluePill (STM32F103C8) at 128 Khz but you have to use an ST-LINK v2 adapter to upload the code

Bellow some pictures that haep in wiring the hardware and compiling the source.

You can view a small video about my stm32 sid player published on youtube

Have fun 🙂