PIC32 drives SID audio chip
http://dangerousprototypes.com/2011/04/ ... udio-chip/

These guys are trying to operate a SID chip with a Pic and they are blowing them out. It is such a sad thing to see SID chips going to waste. Can anyone offer any advice on how not to blow a SID chip?

I suggested they use low tolerance capacitors.

Or is there a signal protocol that can cause a short condition, much like the homemade pinball groups are discovering that using Linux or a slow embedded causes bad switch detection and burning solonoids by not keeping to timing? Did the C64 use low tolerance caps in the design?

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I bought a Catweasel which uses low tolerance caps so that gave me the idea because the designer probably already figured it out. I looked at it briefly and I believe it uses an FPGA on along with modern components.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual ... _Catweasel

I would have to review the Commodore 64 Programmer's Reference guide to answer your other questions because there is a schematic of the Commodore 64 in the book.

The way I read the article, it was PSU trouble which was destroying the SIDs, not PIC trouble or interfacing trouble.

Small onboard regulators instead of relying on the main might help out. The C64 power supply wasnt any giant compared to some monsters being hoioked up to the pcs and being used on breadboard experiments these days...

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Where's the schematic? I couldn't find it. I kind of doubt the tolerance of the capacitors would do it though.

Garth: agreed. Maybe the SID has tiny current spikes which drive the C64 regulator to a 1 amp limit, and these guys use 30 amp power supplies...?

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