COMPUTE!’s Gazette – Volume 1 – Issue 1 – July, 2025

Andrew Fisher

One of the most enduring legacies of the Commodore 64 is its revolutionary sound, powered by the legendary SID chip. The July issue of COMPUTE!’s Gazette pays tribute to this musical heritage with two incredible features: a comprehensive guide to the iconic SidPlayer music system and an exclusive, in-depth interview with its co-creator, Craig Chamberlain.

COMPUTE!’s Guide to SidPlayer

For many Commodore fans in the 1980s, SidPlayer was their gateway to creating and enjoying sophisticated music on their computers. In this detailed guide, writer Andrew Fisher explores the history and technology behind this groundbreaking software.

A Musical History:

• The Origins: SidPlayer was devised by Craig Chamberlain and Harry Bratt , evolving from their earlier work on the “Pokey Player” music routine for Atari 8-bit computers.
• The COMPUTE! Connection: The player and its editor first appeared as type-in listings in Chamberlain’s book, All About The Commodore 64 Volume Two, published by COMPUTE! Books in 1985. An Enhanced Sidplayer book and disk combo followed in 1986.
• Going Online: Before the modern internet, SidPlayer music flourished on early online services. The first dedicated SidPlayer section was on Delphi, and files were also shared widely on CompuServe and Q-Link (which later became AOL).
• Technical Marvels: The guide details how SidPlayer gave users control over the SID chip’s three independent voices, waveforms, and sound envelopes. It also added software controls for advanced effects like portamento (sliding between notes) and vibrato. The system even evolved to support stereo music with the addition of a second SID chip via hardware like the SID Symphony cartridge.

The guide also provides a breakdown of the various file extensions (.MUS, .STR, .PIC) and points to modern resources where you can explore thousands of SidPlayer tunes today, such as the Gazette SID Collection (CGSC) and the DeepSID website.

A Conversation with Craig Chamberlain

Complementing the guide is a rare and exclusive interview with Craig Chamberlain, the co-creator of SidPlayer. He shares fascinating stories about the dawn of home computing and the development of his influential software.

Highlights from the Interview:

• The Creation Process: Chamberlain reveals he worked from Commodore’s official Programmers Reference Guide and his experience developing for the Atari. He wrote the core machine-language playback routine, while his high school friend Harry Bratt created the user-friendly BASIC editor.
• The Path to Publication: The journey to COMPUTE! began when he was contacted by editor Scott Card (who would later become famous sci-fi author Orson Scott Card). Chamberlain, on the advice of Mapping the 64 author Sheldon Leemon, pivoted a proposal for Atari books to focus on the new and promising Commodore 64.
• Online Stardom: Chamberlain reflects on the surprising explosion of SidPlayer on services like Q-Link. He was told by a sysop that at one point, about half of the platform’s entire database of downloadable files consisted of SidPlayer songs.
• Creative Pride: While proud of the technical achievements, Chamberlain says his greatest satisfaction came from users who created original compositions with his tools.
• A Lost Simplicity: He looks back fondly on the accessibility of 8-bit computers, noting, “there’s just something so simple about turning on the Commodore 64 and you’re right there at BASIC”.

Together, these two features offer an unparalleled look into the musical soul of the Commodore 64, celebrating the innovation that continues to inspire musicians and programmers decades later.

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Read the full story and discover more about the world of retro computing in the first issue of COMPUTE!’s Gazette in 35 years!

• Purchase the digital edition of Issue 1 here.
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