basic64 is a free (donations accepted) VST plug-in for Windows. You can see the full specs on the developer site, but let’s skip straight to what sets this one apart:

• Oscillator sync
• Ring modulation
• Pitch envelopes
• Tempo-synced arpeggiator
• MIDI learn on everything

Pretty powerful for free. It’s not a full SID emulation, but then, I think an “inspired” version is better anyway. Now, enough blogging, I’m off to go play with this thing. And yes, lots of weird and wonderful plug-ins is one excellent reason to use Windows, even if just a justification for throwing XP Home on Boot Camp on a MacBook.

basic64 on de La Mancha
and lots of other free/donationware plugs from them

Via the good peoples of Sonic State

I’m busy finishing — count them — 5 feature stories at once today (coffee, please?!), so that means it’s time to check in on the rest of the blogosphere.

It’s “I love the 80s” time again on this week’s Best Music Blog. Words cannot describe the geeky goodness of the new Commodore 64 Music Blog. That’s right, it’s C64 music all the time: 24/7. And you thought the Bass Fishing Network on cable TV had a focused audience.

Believe it or not, aside from pointing to lots of cool gear, modern musicians devoted to the C64, and bizarre vintage toys like the C64 Sound Sampler, the blog actually has some useful advice — like using a spare C64 as a MIDI monitor or rack-mounting it as a synth. Start hitting the yard sales, because at about $10 it’s hard to find a better music bargain.

Previous C64 coverage here on CDM:

C64 as a PCI card for your PC/Mac

C64 in VST form

C64 Synthesis, Revisited

Roland Emulated on Commodore Emulated on Mac

See also: W. Brent Latta on oldskool game music as art

CDM Exclusive: Reflexaudio tells us that they’ll be manufacturing the HardSID Quattro PCI card, a PCI card featuring authentic vintage SID chips as used in the original Commodore 64. (European readers may be aware the HardSID product has been available over there for a while, but Reflex will bring manufacturing and broader North American distribution.) Pop this into your Windows or Mac desktop computer, and you can run four of these mean analog-style synth chips simultaneously with full MIDI control. Why? Aside from being able to make C64-style game music with incredible accuracy (if you’re into that sort of thing), you’ll find the SID is a very capable synth instrument for all sorts of music — something you might not guess from middling software emulations.

Compatibility: Windows / Mac OS X; PCI slot
Availability: June 30 (estimated / unconfirmed)
Cost: Estimated at US$250 starting retail (with one installed Commodore SID)

History and — why do I want to do this again? Did you say C64?! Click ‘read more’ for a look at the history behind the Commodore 64’s synth, and how and why this ancient digital chip wound up on a PCI card for modern computers.