The SidStation is a MIDI-controlled synthesizer with realtime controllers. The heart of this synthesizer is the sound generating chip from the classic home computer Commodore 64. Built using hardware of the highest quality. Featuring a powerful operating system with first class MIDI implementation, flexible LFO modulation system, and hands on modulation capabilities. All this puts you in control of a most original synthesizer creating unique and expressive sounds.

Extended information

SID6581

SID6581 is based on subtractive synthesis as known from analogue synthesizers. The technology is effectively a hybrid between digital and analogue. The soundchip SID6581 (Sound Interface Device) was developed in the early eighties by Bob Yannes at MOS technology. At the time the SID-chip was released to the public, it took the computer industry by storm. There was nothing like it. There wouldn't be either, as the development of synthesizers changed direction toward sampling technology. Today, the SID-chip remains a truly unique piece of technology. The SID6581´s three oscillators are phase accumulating and the filter is a multi-functional analogue NMOS filter. The SID6581 is of a unique and powerful character, full of life and sparkling expression.

The Operating system

The secret of the SidStation sound is only partially explained by the actual SID6581 chip. The SidStation operating system stretches the chip to its limits by updating all SID6581 parameters up to 200 times per second. This implies results of a previously unheard nature.

Over 100 customers have bought the beta version of the SidStation, tested it thoroughly and given suggestions on various areas that have been perfected for this v1.0 release. The Elektron staff are confident that what they we have released now is a mature and very stable product.

User interface

On delivery the SidStation is filled with interesting preset sounds with easily accessible key parameters through the four direct controllers. However, great care has been taken to make a friendly and intuitive environment for programming. Sound creation should be fun - not a painful time consuming process. Many customers of the beta SidStation have given it the highest marks for the user interface, and claim it beats any other synthesizer in this regard.

Type of sounds generated

The SidStation is very versatile and many different styles of sounds can be generated. Many people are aware of its ability to make the most extraordinary videogame sounds. But in fact it can do a great wider variety of sounds. Everything from needle-sharp leads to fat distorted basslines.

SID chip supply

The SID6581 chips are in short supply in the world. Therefore the SidStation is a synthesizer which is limited in numbers even upon release. Sound characteristics do vary between different batches of SID chips. The chips used by the SidStation are factory new of the R4 batch, which deliver by far the best audio quality.

Technical specifications

Hardware:

Highest quality in all components
FLASH memory allows the SidStation OS to be upgraded from standard SYSEX files, available for download over the internet
Drummachine style aluminium casing
Alphanumeric 2x16 LCD display with backlighting
Four realtime controllers
Rotary wheel for easy dataentry
Numeric keyboard
MIDI In/Out/Thru
Audio In/Out (Audio In routed through the filter)
100 User patches
Dimensions: W240 x H70 x D200 [mm]
Synthesis:

Powerful and user-friendly SidStation OS operating system
Three phase accumulated oscillators
Three note polyphony or one monophonic sound
Basic waveforms: Triangle, Sawtooth, Pulse, Mixed, Noise
All oscillators syncable through Ringmodulation and Synchronisation
Pulsewidth modulation
Portamento (individual for all three oscillators)
Special C64-style arpeggiator (individual for all three oscillators)
Resonant analogue filter with envelope (Lowpass, Bandpass, Highpass or any combination)
LFOs:
Four individual LFOs
LFO types: Triangle, Sawtooth, Ramp, Square, Random and Flat
LFOs routable to pitch and pulse width for the three oscillators, and filter cut-off
Flexible LFO modulation system with all LFOs mixable and syncable to each other
Speeds up to 200Hz
Sample and hold
Special Interlace function
External control (Depth, Speed, S/H or Interlace) through many different MIDI sources
Special SID-Table feature:
Replays a table of waveforms and notenumbers (fixed or transpose)
With extremely quick replaying this can be used for percussive sounds or weird FX
With slower replaying SID-tables can be used as a basic sequencer with control over waveform, ringmod, sync and pitch
Extensive MIDI support:
External control over 96 parameters using MIDI control messages (no messy NRPN)
The four Direct Controllers send and receive MIDI control messages (the SidStation can also be used as external MIDI control box)
MIDI patch dump
All updates syncable to external MIDI clock
C64 SID song player support