High Voltage SID Collection: Update #64
Date: December 23, 2015

Resulting Version: 64
 Previous Version: 63

After this update, the collection should contain 47,518 SID files!

This update features (all approximates):
     672 new SIDs
     132 fixed/better rips
       5 repeats/bad rips eliminated
     812 SID credit fixes
     133 SID model/clock infos
      10 tunes from /DEMOS/UNKNOWN/ identified
       4 tunes from /GAMES/ identified
      22 tunes moved out of /DEMOS/ to their composers' directories
      12 tunes moved out of /GAMES/ to their composers' directories

Merry HVSCmas SID fans, here we are with the 2nd favourite update of the year
with the usual loads of recently made tunes, old scavenged ones and tons of
better SID rips to keep you busy during the cold winter holidays.
Another milestone has been reached with 47,500 tunes, with a total of 650
made this year. Amazing.
This update is dedicated to Ramos/HVSC^Samar who suddenly passed away in
August, at the young age of 39. Thanks for everything, rest in peace and see
you in another life.

We are always looking for others to help make HVSC a better collection.
If you find any errors or have new rips to add, please email:

 iAN CooG  <hvsc (sid) c64.org>


Thanks to all the people who have helped to make HVSC the collection that it
is today, without your help it would be a much tougher task.


SID RELATED NEWS:


#######################
# The FPGASID Project #
#######################

Andi6510 is working on SID related FPGA project based on the Altera MAX10 FPGA.
The hardware replaces the real SID chip and can be used directly in the target
hardware like in a Commodore 64.

More info:

https://sites.google.com/site/fpgasid/project-definition


######################
# SIDin Magazine #15 #
######################

SIDin Magazine #15 has been released. The magazine includes SID news, an
interview with Matt Gray, an article about the inside of Matt Gray's Serpent
Demo player and a review of the JSidplay2 SID player.

Get it here: http://iceteam.altervista.org/sidin.php


#################################
# World's Smallest C64 Emulator #
#################################

Staringlizard started a Kickstarter project with the goal to make the world's
smallest C64 emulator with the original SID chip inside. Unfortunately the
project's funding goal was not reached.
The hardware would have include a MCU chip, RAM, support for microSD card,
support for USB keyboards, HDMI output and a socket for a real SID chip.

More info:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1524339386/worlds-smallest-c64-emulator


##################
# Station64 v2.4 #
##################

Station64 is a live player solution made by DJ Indikator. The program runs on a
C64 and can be controlled via Midi input or C64 keyboard.

New features in version 2.4:

- HerMIDI midi interface support (w/o ASID support)
- Namesoft midi interface support
- Autodetect midi interface (hermidi/datel/passport/sequental)
- Namesoft wrong detected as sequental
- Raw midi can test MIDI-OUT
- Test tone has 2 modes - one note/repeated notes
- Arpeggiator now available

Fixes/changes:
- Rewritten midi engine to CIA 1/100 calling instead of raster 1/50
- Midi interface setup changed (hide useless custom settings from user)
- The "const" parameter unlink from test tone pitch, now CONST PITCH has its
  own value INPUT byte recognizer bug

The new version can be found here: http://csdb.dk/release/?id=142049


########################
# SID Anthology Vol. 1 #
########################

Chris Hlsbeck released a new album called "SID Anthology Vol. 1". This is the
first volume of the SID Anthology, the definitive collection of Original Sound
Version recordings from the Commodore C64 by Chris Hlsbeck. Painstakingly mixed
and mastered to be enjoyed on modern stereo systems as well as headphones while
still preserving the vibe of the original hardware, this C64 music can now be
experienced in previously unheard quality.

Get the album here:

https://chrishuelsbeck.bandcamp.com/album/sid-anthology-vol-1


##########################
# SD2IEC SID Player V2.1 #
##########################

Epy released version 2.1 of his SID player. This program works together with a
SD2IEC device and a SID card on the Commodore Plus/4 and is compatible with PAL
and NTSC.

Changes in this version:

- a new playlist system
- SID card detection

More info: http://plus4world.powweb.com/software/SD2IEC_SID_Player_V2


###############
# Tel Me More #
###############

Jeroen Tel started a project on Indiegogo called "Tel Me More" to get funding
for his new album. The project was 71% funded. The album will include remakes
of his most memorable Commodore 64 video game soundtracks.

More info:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jeroen-tel-tel-me-more-c64-game-music-remakes


################
# CCS64 v3.9.2 #
################

CCS64 V3.9.2 has been released. The following has been fixed/changed:

- Fix: Level of Game Moon Shuttle cannot not be completed.
- Fix: There are several graphical glitches in the demo Edge Of Disgrace.
- Add: New options for Brightness/Contrast have been added to the Palette menu.
- Add: Experimental mouse support in the <F9> Textual Menu system.

CCS64 V3.9.2 was originally released on 30/08/2015 but re-released on
08/09/2015 in order to fix an application hanging issue, due to the handling of
system resources.

Check out: http://www.ccs64.com


###################
# Sidplay64 V1.00 #
###################

Sidplay64 is a C64 program made by GRG / Shape to play back SID files. You can
browse SID files from disk and it also has support for random playback of SIDs.
Sidplay64 has support for 1541 Ultimate I & II, REU, netdrive, iec, cmd, ide64
and Sd2iec.

The following has been fixed/changed in V1.00:

- Support for displaying the song length of the default song of a SID file
- Tool made by Tom-Cat for injecting song length into SID header
- Improved support for 1541 Ultimate II cartridge
- Some fixes

Get it here: http://csdb.dk/release/?id=143743


#################################
# Interview with Matthew Cannon #
#################################

Scott talks to Matthew Cannon about the musical revolution that happened in the
eighties and early 90s in video game soundtracks. Matthew worked at Ocean
Software and composed music for games like Navy Seals, Batman: The Movie,
Elf, and many more. Matthew worked on C64, Amiga, SNES, Megadrive, and other
systems. How did these systems work and what can they teach us about computing
today?

Listenen to the show/interview here:

http://hanselminutes.com/498/sid-chips-and-c64-music-with-ocean-softwares-matthew-cannon


#######################
# PlayEm64 V1.2 Tools #
#######################

TheRyk released a tool collection which include PlayEm64, TimeEm64 and PlayIt64.

PlayEm64 V1.2 is a tool enabling you to play SID files on your C=64.
TimeEm64 V0.9 is a tool for creating custom files with song length information.
PlayIt64 V1.1 is a tool for creating executable PRGs for single SID files.

More info: http://csdb.dk/release/?id=143476


############################################
# Interview with Xiny6581 and Dr.J/Delysid #
############################################

GeoAnas interviewed Xiny6581 and Dr.J/Delysid. Read the interviews here:

http://www.iamretro.gr/a-sid-adventure-introducing-xiny6581-dees-productions-digital-sounds-system-gheymaid-inc-hitmen-sid-ryders-skalaria/

and

http://www.iamretro.gr/a-sid-adventure-introducing-dr-j-delysid/


###################
# SID Known v1.11 #
###################

Wilfred Bos has released SID Known v1.11. This version supports now HVSC #64.
SID Known is a command line tool which you can use to identify SID tunes from
SID and PRG files.

This tool can be used if e.g. you want to know which SID tune is used in a
specific C64 demo or C64 game, or you have a SID tune found or ripped and you
want to know if it is already in your SID collection.

SID Known can be used to identify music but it also helps to find out which
tunes are not in the High Voltage SID Collection. If you find music not found
by SID Known, it would be appreciated if you report this to the HVSC crew
(http://hvsc.de) or post it in one of the CSDb forums (http://csdb.dk) like
"SIDs that aren't in HVSC yet".

Get the tool here: http://csdb.dk/release/?id=143841
