High Voltage SID Collection: Update #81
Date: June 30, 2024

Resulting Version: 81
 Previous Version: 80

After this update, the collection should contain 58,697 SID files!

This update features (all approximates):
     549 new SIDs
      28 fixed/better rips
       2 repeats/bad rips eliminated
     372 SID credit fixes
      77 SID model/clock infos
       5 tunes from /DEMOS/UNKNOWN/ identified
       1 tunes from /GAMES/ identified
      13 tunes moved out of /DEMOS/ to their composers' directories
       6 tunes moved out of /GAMES/ to their composers' directories

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.crew (sid) gmail.com>

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:


##############
# CGSC v1.46 #
##############

The Compute Sidplayer Collection has been updated and contains now 16441 MUS
files, 4357 STR files and 5556 WDS files.

Get the collection here: http://www.c64music.co.uk/


#######################################
# Ultimate-64 firmware v3.11 & v3.11a #
#######################################

The Ultimate 64 is a main board for your beloved C64 case. This board is a
hardware implementation (FPGA) of the entire C64, and it includes the
Ultimate-II+ cartridge as well. An all-in-one solution.

SID related changes in the update:

- Fixed issue with possible tune data overwritten by the player code
- Fixed issue with bank not set correctly for some RSID tunes
- Fixed inverse mode to be reset at every line now for MUS tunes
- Fixed issue for tunes that have not enough space for screen output
- ReST API support which allows e.g. ACID64 Player to play SIDs via the network
  (WiFi or wired) on the Ultimate device.

More details can be found here:

https://ultimate64.com/Firmware


#######################
# SIDBlaster-USB Nano #
#######################

Jaakko Oranen released a new version of the SIDBlaster-USB Nano board.

Changes in V1.3:

- Soft start circuit removed as some users reported it was causing connection
  issues with their USB-hubs. It's not actually needed. USB specification
  requires soft start circuit if initial current draw of hotplugged device is
  over 500mA. SIDBlaster-USB Nano doesn't use that much current.

More info: https://cbmretro.fi/product/sidblaster-usb-nano/


###############
# SIDevo v4.7 #
###############

SIDevo is a SID input plugin for XMPlay audio player written by Nathan Hindley.
It's a partial rewrite of the SIDex plugin and it uses the most recent
libsidplayfp library.

Changes since v4.4:

- libsidplayfp library updated to 2.8.0
- sidid.cfg updated to version from 5 May 2024
- WDS files are now shown in the Message window
- Comments from MUS files are now showing in the Message window
- Fixed issue with subsong STIL setting not getting sid comments
- Fixed random scanning of invalid files causing crashes

Get the new version from:

https://github.com/KelticDanor/xmp-SIDevo


########################
# ARMSID firmware 2.16 #
########################

A new firmware update has been released for the ARMSID.

ARMSID is a replacement of the MOS6581 and MOS8580 sound chip used in the
Commodore C64. It is minimalistic (in simplicity of circuit and use, not in
function and power).

The following has been changed in the firmware:

- Fix for 2 MHz mode C128. Since this firmware ARMSID is functional for all
  modes and types of communication with C128 (even those incompatible with
  SID documentation).
- Added to the configuration the possibility to use the EXT IN input (pin 26)
  as an analog input and connect it to the internal mixer, as on the original
  chip. You should expect a slight increase in noise background from this input,
- Also added to the configuration the possibility to change the emulation
  detection threshold of the 6581/8580 according to the input voltage (pin 28),
  so called autodetection. Originally this limit is set to 10.5V, what is below
  indicates 8580 emulation, what is above so 6581. With the new setting, this
  limit can be about 2V, so you can use logic levels of 5V or even just 3V for
  switching the emulation type (pin 28 is not used for power supply in ARMSID,
  only for voltage measurement, no power supply on this pin is required for
  function).

Get the new firmware here:

https://www.nobomi.cz/8bit/armsid/index_en.php


####################
# JSidDevice v4.10 #
####################

A new version of JSidDevice has been released. JSidDevice is a network SID
device which can be controlled by SID players like ACID64 Player. JSidDevice
requires Java 8 or higher.

Check out: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=243464


###################
# JSIDPlay2 v4.10 #
###################

A new version of JSidplay2 has been released. JSidplay2 is an open-source C64
emulator specialized for sound reproduction. It is also a SID player for music
collections like HVSC and CGSC. It is a full C64 emulator and can play games of
the GameBase64 project as well. The emulator is written in Java and runs on any
environment that runs Java 8 or higher and it can run in a browser with
JavaScript or Web Assembly support.

Changelog:

- JSIDPlay2 goes JavaScript:
  https://haendel.ddns.net:8443/static/teavm/c64jukebox.vue
- Run JSIDPlay2 in a browser in JavaScript or Web Assembly (THIS IS NOT JAVA)
- Runs out-of-the-box in all browsers (Chrome is faster than Firefox)
- Only 2MB in size, loads very quick
- Compatible with all SIDs (mono, stereo and 3-SID)
- Plays mono SIDs and ONEfilers on a middle class mobile phone and multi-disk
  demos on a PC
- Runs near to native speed
- Runs completely on the client side in a web worker (once in browser's cache)
- Full emulation quality, no compromise, C64, Floppy and more
- Developed single source in JSIDPlay2 project
- For the first time, embed music or demos in YOUR web-site with JSIDPlay2

Recently the online DeepSID player added support for JSIDPlay2, see DeepSID
section below.

Get it from: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=243463


#################
# SidTool 2.3.2 #
#################

SidTool is a C64 Music Player Emulator Frontend for Windows, build to explore
large chiptune collections. It needs .NET framework 4.8 or higher.

The following has been changes:

- Fixed rare bug when clicking links causing sidtool to run into exception loop

Get it from here: https://sidtool.de/


################
# Prg2Sid 1.20 #
################

Prg2Sid is a tool that attaches a PSID header to a ripped (prg) tune. It
identifies some players and sets init/play accordingly. It also patches
the header and code if needed.

Since 1.15 the following has been changed:

- param 4 only allowed capital "N" for setting NTSC flag, now also lowercase.
- StarBars 1.4: the examples provided in 1.4 are actually made with a previous
  beta version, while the code in the actual composer is slightly different.
  Now both 1.4beta and 1.4 release prgs are correctly identified and patched.
- GRG Tiny4: Workaround to support more variants.
- new players identified:
  DMC 4.x patched (only those needing a patch at $0ff9)
  Anvil
  Whittaker (2 variants)

Check out: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=238521


############
# VICE 3.8 #
############

VICE 3.8 has been released. VICE is an open source cross-platform emulator of
several Commodore machines.

VICE also includes VSID which can be used to play SID files.

SID/Audio related changes:

- reSID: fixed a Noise Init problem
- reSID: filter tweaks
- reSID: The 6581 saw+pulse waveform was wrong
- reSID: tweak shift register reset time for 6581
- reSID: 8580 Filter ringing fix
- reSID: 6581 filters: allow negative values for kVg-Vx
- VSID: Look up STIL info for file passed on command line
- Fix nasty buzz on sun/netbsd sound driver

You can get VICE from here:

https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/


#######################################
# BackSID (6581/8580 SID replacement) #
#######################################

Evie Salomon released new firmware for the BackSID. BackSID is a replacement for
the 6581/8580 SID chip. It's using the ARM Cortex M4 chip to simulate the SID.

Firmware changes since v2.2.1:

- Eased sound triggers to still work on Ghosts 'N' Goblins
- Fixed Robotron 2084 sound triggers

For more info: https://www.backbit.io/downloads/Firmware/BackSID/


#########################
# DefMONRelocator 1.1.0 #
#########################

Don Kichote released defMONRelocator 1.1.0. It's a CLI tool to relocate PRG
music files created using defMON music editor for Commodore 64. Additionally
you can change zero page address used by the player.

Check it out: https://github.com/dkt64/defMONRelocator


###################
# Sidplayfp 2.8.0 #
###################

Libsidplayfp (and its console frontend sidplayfp) is a fork of sidplay2 born
with the aim to improve the quality of emulating the 6581, 8580 chips and the
surrounding C64 system in order to play SID music better.

Changes since 2.5.1 release:

- be explicit if Songlenth DB is not loaded
- look for Songlengths file in data path
- require a c++11 compiler
- added sanity check for filter parameters
- added ability to adjust the uCox parameter
- allow setting the combined waveforms strength
- enable libout123 by default if found
- improved the ALSA backend
- fixed an uninitialized variable
- added filter curve switch plus recommended 6581 filter setting

Get the new version here: https://github.com/libsidplayfp/sidplayfp


#################
# SIDInfo 1.0.1 #
#################

SIDInfo is a simple utility written in C by Matti Hamalainen (ccr), that
displays information about SID files in various formats. Includes support for
PSID and RSID files versions 1-4, HVSC songlengths database and HVSC STIL
database.

Changes:

- Update included th-libs to fix broken function prototypes without void
  arguments. This fixes building with recent clang versions which default
  to -Wstrict-prototypes.
- Backwards-incompatible change in UX: the 'Copyright' field has been
  renamed to 'Released', as it should be per PSID standard.
- Improvements in sidlib.
- Build system improvements.

Check out: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=237857


###############
# SID Toolbox #
###############

Stello Doussis (a.k.a. archON) released SID Toolbox. It's an online tool to
edit and create SID files.

You can find the tool here: https://www.doussis.com/sidtoolbox/


###########
# DeepSID #
###########

DeepSID is an online SID player made by JCH of Vibrants. It emulates music
created for the Commodore 64 home computer. It supports nice features like:

- Toggling between JSidplay2/WebSID/Hermit's jsSID/ASID(MIDI) for SID playback
- SID player and year display for each song
- Create and play playlists
- Rating folders and SID files
- Comment / Discuss SID files
- Profile / CSDb / GB64 / Player / STIL / Piano / Graph view
- Search through HVSC / STIL
- and much more

DeepSID now supports the JSIDPlay2 emulator for playing SID tunes in the
browser.

DeepSID is continuously updated. See the Changes tab for the full change log.

Check it out: https://deepsid.chordian.net/


###################
# SID Known v1.27 #
###################

Wilfred Bos has released a new version of SID Known. This version supports now
HVSC #81. 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
(https://hvsc.de) or post it in one of the CSDb forums (https://csdb.dk) like
"SIDs that aren't in HVSC yet".

Get the tool here: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=243743
