synth that can create Atari Battlezone guided missile sound?

[shedshrine]

Hey folks,

I am trying to find a/the synth that will let me create the sound used in the old Atari game Battlezone where the guided missile comes down from the sky and makes a beeline for you. Yes, I could look for a sample or software, but I would like to play around with whatever was used to create it as well. Circa 1980 I suppose so it might be prohibitive, but anyway.. Any suggestions helpful. Oh, okay, I'm using it for an aural metaphor for unease, and the unknown okay? Although I suppose it still won't make up for the countless quarters lost.

[joel hamilton]

Possibly something modular is what I would use... like something from harvestman....
along with maybe some other stuff...

I dont know the exact 8 bit action they were rocking... interesting concept.

[tubetapexfmr]

Texas Instruments made a single chip synth that was used in a LOT of video game machines. Blacet had a synth module based on it called the Dark Star Chaos. The chip is the TI SN76477 and here is a link to a DIY version:
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2009/04 ... synth.html

[calaverasgrandes]

There are a few option, track down a sidstation. These are great but can be hard to wrap a head around.
Get an old Atari 800, 1200 or 1040st and learn how to program the sounds in basic. Its pretty easy. IIRC you had params for tone, loudness and pitch, and 4 voices. Use a joystick and an if then statement to plot loudness and pitch.
Pick up a Korg Poly 800 or similar digitally controlled analog synth from teh early 80s.
When I open the filter completly up and use just one osc it sounds pretty similar to the sounds you are talking about.

[Z-Plane]

+1 Sidstation

And also quadraSID is my favourite emulator plug for such things.

If you are feeling hungry for some DIY, here's a whole load of DIY SID info. Also, I have a great Sidstation editor environment for logic if anyone wants it

[shedshrine]

Wow. Hey thanks guys. I?ll read up on that korg and sidstation. The modular stuff is something that I?ve wanted to get into eventually, and eventually kept getting put off.
So yeah, I?d say I?ve got some homework.

Also, I have a line on a Casio CZ101. Would that get me there?

Thanks



FYI, if you happen to be in the area, the Museo Mecanique in Fisherman?s Wharf has a working periscope equipped Battlezone arcade game. Still a quarter a pop.

[kdarr]

Synthcart!

Accept no substitutions. Course you'll need an old Atari 2600 as well.

[<|>]

[calaverasgrandes]

i had the synth cart for a while. It was hard to use and kind of genre specific.
I suppose for some folks it will be cool.

[Wainwright]

lsdj or nanoloop for the old game boy can be fun and cheap

[shedshrine]

http://www.vintagesynth.com/audio/cz101.mp3

[Marc Alan Goodman]

dude, I just downloaded the quadraSID demo and it's blowing my mind. What a weird friggin synth. It's kinda one of those things that I wish had a couple fewer variables (at this point in the discovery process) but it sounds pretty unique and fantastic. Thanks for the heads up!

[CraigS63]

I'd pay a quarter if the picture on the original post would start playing the game when clicked on.

[shedshrine]

I'd pay a quarter if the picture on the original post would start playing the game when clicked on.