Electronic Music Software
I worked on version 1 for 2.5 years from 1982-1985 When I retired in 2010 I started again.
FASTFINGERS was originally designed to get the fattest most powerful sound out of the SID chip and it has grown to this massive size by adding several features.
After 3 months of headbanging I finally figured it out yesterday. I had a MIDI RESET routine triggered every time a CMDR or CTRL key was pressed. I kept looking at my MIDI SCAN routine rather than even thinking about my Midi Panic buttons. These things weren't a problem for a vintage c64 but for the Ultimate, for some reason. A few lines of code and problem fixed. I'm glad I added other features while looking for this problem AND....the whole thing still works on a stock C64.
So some light is beginning to shine with my MIDI interface and the Ultimate. I have ONE version of my program working properly ONLY BEFORE I HIT A COMMODORE OR CTRL KEY. Then the same WRONG KEYS are played from the MIDI keyboard.So there seems to be a bit of interference between the CIA for the keyboard and the CIA on the Userport. As I have said many times before, none of these problems exist with a standard C64. I'll be working more on this next week to see if I can come up with a workaround. The thing we all have to remember is that things are much closer together in a FPGA so possibly crosstalk?
05/06/2026
https://rumble.com/v79fvh4-fastfingers-2-u-for-the-commodore-64-ultimate-and-c64.html
FASTFINGERS 2 U FOR THE COMMODORE 64 ULTIMATE AND C64 FASTFINGERS 2 U FOR THE COMMODORE 64 ULTIMATE AND C64 Most things work. Some things don't.
03/24/2026
Another hack
My USERPORT MIDI interface INSIDE the Ultimate
Fastfingers 3 SEEMS TO BE WORKING properly on the Commodore 64 Ultimate
It is not the same for Fastfingers 2
01/04/2026
This is a bit off topic. This song was finished 21 years ago. I did a new remix with the FASTFINGERS C64/YM2149 sounds on one track.
DARWIN....made a monkey out of you. Music video in late 80's style. Darwin is a song I made over 20 years ago. I finally got around to making a music video for it. Lots of synthesizers in this !! Even added an extra C64 YM2149 track for
12/15/2025
So after some very productive experiments. I'm considering making LOW PROFILE versions of my MIDI interfaces using 3.5 mm mini phone jacks rather that 5 pin MIDI jacks and wiring for TYPE A. Any thoughts?
TRS MIDI ADAPTER THOUGHTS AND EXPERIMENTS TRS MIDI ADAPTER THOUGHTS AND EXPERIMENTSWould a few less MIDI cables and adapters help in your studio?
09/25/2025
https://rumble.com/v6zfi86-fastfingers-3-octaversion-and-velocity-demo.html
Fastfingers 3 Octaversion and Velocity Demo Fastfingers 3 Octaversion Sequencer and MIDI Velocity Sequencer Bank Demo using C64 computer along with Roland TB3
07/30/2025
https://youtu.be/4vv29PyixMo?si=_RzlU_wmUYRb02_r
Where Vintage Computers Live On | Short Documentary Each spring in New Jersey, the Vintage Computer Federation hosts a festival celebrating retro technology. The halls come alive with the whirrs and beeps of v...
03/06/2025
Lord willing I will be at VCF East in New Jersey April 4,5,6,
A preview of what I will be displaying .........................................................YM2149 was in Atari 520ST and some old Sega Genesis machines This sound chips along with the C64 SID chip create some FANTASTIC SOUNDS and YOU WILL BE AMAZED.
VCF Vintage Computer Federation
VCF East – Vintage Computer Federation Our mission is to preserve computing history through education, outreach, conservation, and restoration. We strive to accomplish this through family friendly hands-on activities at our museum, at regional and global events, and by fostering and nurturing the expansion of our on-line and in-person co...
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