FAQ

General
MSSIAH Application specific
SID2SID
Savyour
Ordering / Shipping


General

What is the MSSIAH?
The MSSIAH is a hardware cartridge for the Commodore 64 and contains five different music applications. With MSSIAH plugged in to your C64, the applications load directly from the cartridge.
The MSSIAH Cartridge features an integrated MIDI interface and all five applications have full MIDI modes.

Is it compatible with C128?
MSSIAH Cartridge, Savyour and SID2SID work with breadbin and slimline C64, C64G, C64GS, C128, C128D and SX64.

Does it work on NTSC machines?
Yes. MSSIAH is compatible with both NTSC and PAL Commodore 64s.

Does the MSSIAH applications play via MIDI?
Yes.

Can I send control change messages to alter sound parameters in real time?
Yes. Every application has its own set of messages to change all the sound parameters directly via control change.

What about velocity and pitch wheel?
Velocity is recognized as well as pitch wheel on all six channels (all voices when played polyphonically).

How do I set the MIDI channel?
All of the MSSIAH applications have MIDI settings. You simply choose which MIDI channel to use before going into MIDI mode.
The Sequencer app also allows for individual channels to be turned off (no receive channel) or for that matter, double the sound by using the same channel on multiple oscillators.

Are these applications like sound modules or internal sequencers?
Every application has its specific purpose, Sequencer being an internal Sequencer, Drummer being a drum machine etc., but all of them can be switched into full MIDI mode to function as MIDI modules.
When not in full MIDI mode they still respond to MIDI in different ways, MIDI clock being standard. I.e., you can synchronize their internal sequencers to MIDI etc.

Is there a MIDI out?
No.

Is the MSSIAH compatible with my Datel MIDI interface?
No, and there's no need for that. MSSIAH has its own much more powerful MIDI interface built into the cartridge.

Can I use MSSIAH's MIDI interface with other music applications?
No. MSSIAH is an integrated solution, hardware and software go together and cannot be used standalone.

Can I buy the ROMs?
MSSIAH does not work standalone, it's an integrated solution. Hardware + Software.

Is Sync24 supported?
MSSIAH applications primarily use MIDI clock as external clock. All apps except Sequencer can be syncronized with Sync24 clock via user port pins.

Are potentiometers supported?
Yes.

Do I really need a mouse?
Yes, it's recommended if you plan to use MSSIAH Sequencer. The other applications on the cartridge do not support a mouse controller.
Sequencer supports the Commodore 1351 mouse, Amiga/Atari mouse and Joysticks. 1351 is recommended. If you get a Savyour you can use a modern USB mouse.

Can I operate MSSIAH with a keyboard?
MSSIAH Sequencer has an "emergency" mode (pressing CTRL) where the pointer can be controlled with the CRSR keys. It works though it's a lot smoother with a mouse. With the other applications you use the keyboard to select parameter and a joystick (or Savyour) to change its value. Wave-Player is fully keyboard controlled.

Do I need a monitor? Can I operate the software blind?
Yes, you need a monitor (or regular TV with C64's RF output). It's possible to start up software completely blind but extremely hard. As for MSSIAH Sequencer, operating in blind is not possible since it's controlled by a mouse pointer.
If you are in tight quarters or aim to use MSSIAH playing live and do not want to carry around a big bulky TV-set or old school monitor, a great tip is to get a USB capture device. Those are available on the market for the purpose of capturing old camcorders, video games etc. These devices accept composite video or s-video input (comes out of your C64's audio/video-output) and converts it to a live video feed on your PC or Mac.

How do I save my work?
All the MSSIAH applications use standard C64 OS functions to save/load your work. If you don't have a real 1541 disk drive, get a Savyour and you can use a USB memory stick instead.
Savyour can also burst save/load your Sequencer files for much faster access.

I want to play classic C64 broken chords directly on my MIDI keyboard. Can I use the MSSIAH for that?
Yes. With MSSIAH Sequencer in polyphonic mode, just play multiple MIDI notes with any wave-table enabled instrument and you have that instantly recognizable C64 broken chord.


MSSIAH Application Specific

Does MSSIAH provide both polyphonic MIDI playing as well as multitimbral modes?
Short answer: Yes.
Each application responds to MIDI in its own way, MonoSynthesizer being a monophonic synthesizer, Drummer using a keyboard map etc.
The Sequencer app has three modes of operation: Multi (1-6 individual channels), poly (up to 6 voice polyphony with two SIDs) and Multi/Poly where SID #1 is multitimbral and SID #2 is polyphonic.
Note that the MSSIAH apps (except Wave-Player being 100% MIDI controlled) still operate in their own standard modes. Switching to MIDI mode makes the application respond to MIDI messages only.

Are these stand-alone applications or "plugins"?
No plugins, these are stand-alone applications. You can't run two at the same time. After all, it's a 1 Mhz computer..

Can I load for example, a Drummer file into the Sequencer and play it?
No. The applications are not interchangable in that way. Drummer software is not replicated inside Sequencer or vice versa.

Can I use the Sequencer for making music to a game or demo?
No, MSSIAH Sequencer tracks require too much CPU and memory. There is a stand-alone tool to play the songs though, so you can still send your arrangement to someone without a MSSIAH for playback.

Does the Drummer have filter control?
Yes.

What about the Wave-Player, is it a sampler?
It is a MIDI sample player designed to import samples such as drums and sound fx played back on the gritty SID triggered with your MIDI keyboard.
We did not add the ability to record or edit samples because most people have no access to a C64 sampler, it's better to use a modern PC to record and edit your files. The cartridge would have been more costly if we would have built in a sampler. Recording functionality would have wasted precious memory too...

Does Wave-Player work with both 6581 and 8580 SID chips?
Yes.

Does Wave-Player have an internal sequencer? Does it work without MIDI?
Wave-Player does not come with an internal sequencer, samples are only triggered via MIDI (and previewed with space bar key).

How many sounds can I squeeze into the Wave-Player?
The Wave-Player plays back 4-bit samples at 6Khz. The free memory available allows a total of about 5 1/2 seconds of samples.
You can have up to 16 samples in memory and lay them out on your keyboard in two different keygroups.

Is 5 1/2 seconds really enough?
Percussive sounds and fx are generally quite short and do not require much memory.

What other features does the Wave-Player have?
Three virtual channels each freely routed to either SID #1 or #2 (i.e., up to three voice polyphony). Keygroup samples are adjustable for output, fixed level or velocity and one-shot triggering (plays to end).

Are there any preset samples for the Wave-Player?
Yes. There is a ROM library with 130 preset samples on the cartridge ready to fire away!

Can I use my own samples in the Wave-Player app?
Of course. There are import functions for disk and MIDI dump. The easiest way is to plug in your MIDI cable and dump the samples from a PC audio editing program (such as SoundForge) with an "open loop" dump feature i.e., one-way transfer of MIDI samples using one MIDI cable only.
Another option is to transfer a normal wave file to a 1541 floppy (or Savyour) and import it right away (Wave-Player reads Windows Wave files). MIDI dumps are faster and easier though.


SID2SID

Do I need the SID2SID?
You can still run the software without the SID2SID but if you want 3 extra parts in Sequencer and 3 extra voices of polyphony, SID2SID is a great addon!

Is it hard to assemble the SID2SID?
If you have never touched a soldering iron? -Yes!
If you are an average with a soldering iron, no problems. If you are a complete beginner, you can always ask a friend with better skills..

Do you sell SID circuits?
No.

Do you sell assembled SID2SIDs?
No.

Do you sell components to the SID2SID?
All components you need are included except audio plug and wires (or SIDs). Audio plugs and wires can be found at your local electronics supplier.

On what address do I access the SID2SID should I write my own software?
$DE00.

Does SID2SID work with software X or product Y?
Yes, if the software accessing the second SID uses address $DE00. Check its manual or ask the seller/makers


Savyour

What is the Savyour?
Savyour is a device that plugs in the controller port of your C64/128. In the other end is a USB connector where you plug in a USB memory stick, joystick, mouse or a keyboard. Savyour converts these to signals your C64 can handle (1351 mouse, Amiga mouse, Atari mouse, Disk Drive). So it's a 3-in-1 device really.

How do you pronounce it?
Like the word "Saviour".

Is Savyour only for MSSIAH users?
No. Anyone using a Commodore computer will have use for it:
As a diskdrive loading and saving your stuff on USB memory sticks.
As a joystick converter accepting USB joysticks (or keyboards) to play your favourite games.
As a mouse converter for applications controlled by a 1351, Amiga or Atari mouse.

Is it compatible with NTSC? 128? SX-64?
Yes. About SX-64s, be aware that either Savyour or the internal SX-drive needs to change its device number to work simultaneously.

Do I need a serial cable?
Yes, if you intend to use Savyour as a disk drive. If you do not have an old one from a 1541 you can build one.

Do you carry serial cables?
Not for the moment.

Can I run Savyour on an Amiga or Atari?
Yes, as USB mouser converter. It does not respond to Amiga/Atari disk commands.

Can I run C64 demos with Savyour?
Yes. Savyour has a full disk emulator. Mount a D64 file and Savyour jumps into full emulation mode.

What is mounting?
As you plug in a USB memory stick Savyour first starts as a simple serial protocol emulator. If you access a D64 file on your memory stick the file gets mounted, i.e., the full disk emulator starts.

What mice do Savyour emulate?
Commodore 1351, Amiga mouse, Atari ST mouse.

Does the mouse wheel work?
Yes, MSSIAH compatible pulses are generated for the mouse wheel.

What is the bonus keyboard feature?
A pin header can be soldered onto Savyour and, with some creativity and ingenuity, installed inside the C64 to either replace or complement the internal keyboard with an external USB keyboard. It requires basic soldering/electronics skills.

How does Savyour react to a keyboard when attached to the joystick port?
Plug in a USB keyboard and it will act as a joystick.

How does disk changes work if I run a multidisk game or demo?
Name your D64 files in sequence, i.e., "disk1", "disk2", "disk3" etc, and Savyour mounts the next D64 file in that sequence when you remove and reinsert the memory stick.

Can I use it to transfer files to and from a real 1541 disk drive?
Yes.


Ordering / Shipping

Where do I order the MSSIAH, SID2SID and Savyour?
Right here -> ORDER

How much does it cost to ship it to my country?
Go to the Order Page and fill in the amount of products you want, your country and method of payment. The order form then automatically calculate and shows the total price.
You do not need to actually place the order to see the price.

How long does it take to ship it to my country?
Normally 1 week within Europe, 2 weeks outside Europe. Times may vary and local holidays can also affect shipping time.

From where is the package shipped?
Sweden, Europe.

Do you have express shipping service? Fedex? UPS?
No. Shipping is via local mail carriers.

Do you use my address registered at Paypal or the one I fill in the order form?
The one printed on the address label is the one you submit in the order form but we will verify your Paypal address so they do not differ.

I just ordered. What now? Where do I pay?
Wait for us to process the order. You will receive a payment bill via email.

Can I pay with western union?
No. The payment options we offer are Paypal/credit card (via Paypal) or bank wire transfer.