I received a few emails regarding this thread and the missing photos. I see that I accidentally used uppercase when I moved to my new server. Most of the images should work again now. Oh, and this project (and myself) are not dead, just altered somewhat!
I have been quietly working on the most ambitions project of my entire life for the last 3 years and everything preceding this post is just one small part of it - mainly some of the video circuitry. I didn't want to even mention anything as I had no idea that this insanity would even work until recently when I finally had some time to test out some of the core circuitry.
I can't stay long (so much work on the farm), but will say that this is still a 6502 powered project using only 1980 era logic components, but instead of a game system it is now a massive 16 channel synthesizer and track sequencer that will rival the Fairlight CMI of the same era.
There are currently 17 x 6502 CPUs on the board and almost 800 supporting logic ICs, all 74HC types. There are six main circuit boards, each measuring 10 by 20 inches, so a total of 1200 square inches of hand wired PCB space. I have tested most of the core system on my two massive breadboards, but they seem so small now and can only handle 2 of the 16 channels and the video circuit!
Here I go rambling on.... seriously, need to get back to work pal, keep it brief for now!
So the project is now called "The Lucid Science Syntharion Computer Music Station".
Built in 1980 using basic logic circuitry and multiple 6502 processors, this complete music workstation aims to go head to head with the Fairlight CMI, bringing more power and affordability to the aspiring musician. A partnership with Commodore has helped to keep costs down as the Syntharion now boasts a 640x224 display using CRT from the PET, a fast loading 5.25 disk drive using core components from the 1541, and a responsive keyboard from a VIC-20. An 88 key piano keyboard was custom made by Sequential Circuits. All other hardware is being developed in the secret Lucid Science lab.
Here are some very crude renders showing the hardware layout. Although dimensionally accurate, all of the user controls and final touches are not shown.
Notice the massive circuit boards displayed behind the glass windows. Backlighting and many channel status LEDs will bring everything to life.
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There will be mod wheels, full analog filters on all 16 channels, a spring reverb section, built in amplifier (possibly tube), and a very capable music tracker that focuses on live performance capture rather than boring keyboard editing of song data. A 6502 will power the OS and each channel will also have a 6502 to handle all of the 44Khz sample loading, playback and track data. Each channel is basically a fully functional synth on its own.
Those six 10x20 PCBs are perforated proto boards, and ICs will be hand wired point-to-point on the backside.
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The video generator will be a derivative of the previous work shown here, using the very fast dual buffer system and blitting capabilities. The difference here is that the display is basic monochrome because this is required to display a razor sharp 80 columns of text and to draw the high resolution waveforms and envelopes.
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Currently, I have enough of the OS also done so that I can jam out with 4 channels. No recording or tracking, but I can load samples (up to 256K per channel) from floppy disk. It is super exciting to think about what this synth will be able to do considering how great it already sounds!
Here is the video circuit on one of my huge breadboards. This is the smallest circuit in the project. The sound channels are 32 times this size for IC count.
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For now, I am going to ghost myself again for the rest of summer as I am busy with wood cutting and redoing my chopzone.com website. I will be ordering all of the steel to make this frame soon though and plan to do the welding before the snow flies around here. When I am at that point, I will once again overload this joint with too many photos and long winded text.
Almost forgot to mention... I actually have ALL of the parts for this on my workbench, and that is a LOT of parts!
Well, the two glass panels and cherry wood parts have yet to be cut, but I will do those after the frame is welded in case sizes change slightly.
I have built it to be 70 inches wide as that is all the space I have in my office where it is going to live.
There is also a rolling table that it sits on with storage for the many 5.25 disks that will hold all the wavetable and sample data.
Cheers out to all you retro heads!
I really enjoy tuning into the amazing projects shown here when I have the chance.
Radical Brad