(Automatically translated into English) The discovery of Synthcart for Atari 2600, was a musical revelation, which pushed me to connect my console to an amp to fulfill the function of percussion in my instrumental compositions. But the sound of Synthcart's Beatbox deserved to be mixed with a better quality and I wanted to benefit from stereo effects which one cannot have with a standard console. So I designed a hardware hack dedicated to the 2600 and submitted it to The Silly Walker who made it with attention to detail and special care (thank you Manu!)

(Automatically translated into English) This Ntsc console includes the classic AV-composite mod (yellow, red and white plug) for an ideal display. The real peculiarity of the hack is that the audio plugs (white and red) send a different signal, in stereo. This allows for example, Combat or Outlaw players, to hear the are emitted by their own shot, each on their own. In the case that interests us, it is above all a question of having better musical control of Synthcart. Stereo is also available as a jack output (which automatically deactivates the line output) to connect directly to an amp or a mixer. Being dedicated to Synthcart, this console also includes a “Panel Control” output, in the form of a stereo mini jack, which allows the Game Select and Game Reset buttons to be activated remotely, an essential function for accessing the Synthcart menus. especially during live gaming sessions. And to avoid confusion between this jack and that of the power supply, the latter has been replaced by a DC 5.5 plug of the Sega type.

(Automatically translated into English) Console Atari VCS (Woody) 6 switch Ntsc
amended in six points:

- Composite output (yellow rca plug)
- Audio preamplification
- “Line” stereo output (white and red rca)
- Stereo "headphone / amp" output (jack)
- “Panel Control” port (stereo mini jack)
- Modification of the power supply (DC 5.5)

(Automatically translated into English) Since arriving at the recording studio a year ago, this console has joined the other instruments on the mixer where it occupies two line inputs. The two voices, mixed separately, have been equalized in bass on the left and treble on the right, which makes them respectively play the role of the bass drum / bass-tomes and the snare / hi-hat. The possibility of modifying the console controls remotely offers a new comfort of play, since it is now possible to access the Synthcart menus (mainly to change banks) without having to interrupt or have to go. approach the console while playing. In terms of improvements, we could in this regard extend the scope of these controls to the entire front panel of the console. In addition, a design error on my part led the console to be fitted with a stereo preamp which ultimately causes saturation: it fortunately does not modify the texture of the sound (since the 2600 only produces square waves. ), but always keeps it at a maximum volume level, so that you can no longer apply fades. These last improvement points will be the subject of a future console ... To be continued ...

Synthcart in French
Zeelay's Music (before I play Techno)