The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →USBSID-Pico is a Raspberry Pi Pico-family board that lets a computer, phone, ASID player, or USB MIDI controller drive one or two Commodore SID chips or supported SID emulators. A dual-SID build uses both sockets, configurable address ranges, separate 9 V and 12 V rails, and stereo routing with SID1 on the left and SID2 on the right. Building one reliably requires matching the PCB revision to its documentation, fitting the correct Pico and SID voltage configuration, flashing firmware for the right MCU family, then configuring both sockets with the official USBSID-Configtool.
This guide covers the complete build path, firmware compilation or flashing, stereo setup, browser and player testing, MIDI use, and the failure modes that matter most: wrong SID voltage, ground-loop hum, readmode distortion, RP2040 performance limits, and 250 MHz embedded-mode overclocking.
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What you are building
USBSID-Pico is an open-source hardware and firmware platform built around either a Raspberry Pi Pico/PicoW (RP2040) or Pico2/Pico2W (RP2350). The board has two SID sockets and is designed to interface with original MOS SID chips or compatible hardware emulators over USB. Supported connection modes include WebUSB, custom CDC, MIDI, ASID, and embedded player modes.
The default configuration enables both sockets as a two-SID system. You can instead run one SID, change the address ranges, select mono or stereo behavior, and set chip and clock parameters to match the installed hardware and playback software.
#1 Best Overall
- RPi Pico 2 W Microcontroller Board (pre-soldered header (color-coded)), Based on Official RP2350 Chip, Dual-core & Dual-architecture Design. Upgraded hardware from Pico 2 with wireless communication, onboard antenna, features 2.4GHz 802.11n WIFI and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Adopts unique dual-core and dual-architecture design: dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 processor and dual-core Hazard3 RISC-V processor, flexible clock running up to 150 MHz.
- Onboard Infineon CYW43439 wireless chip, supports WIFI 4 wireless and Bluetooth 5.2.
- 520KB of SRAM, and 4MB of on-board Flash memory.
- Castellated module allows soldering direct to carrier boards. USB 1.1 with device and host support. Low-power sleep and dormant modes. Drag-and-drop programming using mass storage over USB.
Supported controller boards and sound devices
| Component | Supported choices | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Microcontroller board | Raspberry Pi Pico/PicoW (RP2040) or Pico2/Pico2W (RP2350) | Firmware must be built or selected for the installed MCU family. |
| SID socket 1 and socket 2 | MOS6581, MOS6582, MOS8580 | Each device needs the correct voltage and filtering configuration. |
| SID replacements | SIDKick-Pico, ARMSID, FPGASID, SwinSID | Check the selected PCB revision manual for compatibility and power requirements. |
| Default socket ranges | SID1: $00–$1F; SID2: $40–$7F |
Both ranges can be changed through the configuration tool, up to $00–$7F. |
A mixed-voltage pair is supported. The documented example is a MOS6581 on a 12 V socket together with a MOS6582 or MOS8580 on a 9 V socket. Do not infer voltage from the socket position or from another build: set each socket for the actual chip and follow the manual for your PCB revision.
Choose the PCB revision and parts
The project publishes files for revisions v1.0, v1.3 and v1.5c. Before ordering or soldering, choose one revision and use its matching schematic, bill of materials, Gerbers, interactive BOM and PCB-usage manual as a single set. Pin assignments, jumpers, audio details and voltage-selection instructions can vary between revisions.
Parts checklist
- One compatible Raspberry Pi Pico, PicoW, Pico2 or Pico2W.
- A USBSID-Pico PCB for the chosen revision, populated from its matching BOM.
- One or two MOS6581, MOS6582 or MOS8580 chips, or a supported replacement.
- The specified regulators, filters, headers, USB connector, audio jack and other components listed in that revision’s BOM.
- A USB cable and a computer with a supported browser or player for initial testing.
- Headphones or an audio destination that can be isolated from USB ground if hum appears.
Semi-assembled boards are documented through the project’s SmallRun route, while PCBWay is documented for a minimum order of five bare or assembled boards. Availability, prices, preorder totals and reseller terms change, so verify them directly when you buy. A v1.5c preorder notice displayed on October 17, 2026 showed four of ten commitments and a closing date of October 31, 2026; that status is time-sensitive rather than a permanent specification.
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Assemble the board safely
Keep the revision-specific silkscreen, schematic and BOM beside the work area. The SID chips are valuable and vulnerable to shorts, reversed insertion and incorrect supply voltage, so complete electrical inspection before installing them.
Rank #2
- Note: The Pico 2 W comes with no program by default, so you won’t see any lights when plugged in. Please upload a simple blink program to verify it's working.
- Built-in Wireless Connectivity: Integrated Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 5.2 for seamless IoT and embedded applications.
- High-Performance RP2350 Chip: Dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 with FPU and Hazard3 RISC-V cores, delivering double the speed and flexibility of the RP2040.
- Increased RAM: Equipped with 520 KB of on-chip RAM, facilitating efficient data handling for complex applications.
- Expanded Flash Storage: Provides 4 MB of onboard flash memory, suitable for storing extensive codebases and data.
- Identify orientation. Confirm the Pico’s USB connector direction, the SID socket notch or pin-1 mark, header orientation, regulator orientation and audio-jack placement against the manual.
- Populate the low-risk parts first. Install resistors, capacitors, diodes, headers and sockets, then the regulators and connectors specified by the BOM.
- Set socket voltage and filtering. Configure each socket for its actual SID type. A MOS6581 normally belongs on the 12 V configuration, while MOS6582 and MOS8580 configurations use 9 V as documented for the board revision; never substitute a voltage setting from a different revision.
- Inspect every joint. Use magnification to look for solder bridges, lifted pads, cold joints and misplaced polarized parts. Check for shorts between power rails and ground with power disconnected.
- Power up without the SID chips. Insert the Pico, connect USB and verify that the board enumerates and that regulated rails match the manual. If a rail is wrong, disconnect power and correct it before inserting either SID.
- Insert the chips last. Align every notch or pin-1 mark. Never force a chip into a socket or swap a 9 V and 12 V device without changing the socket configuration.
Build or flash the firmware
Source build requirements
The documented source-build environment uses Pico SDK 2.1.1 and the TinyUSB stack included with the project. Select the platform that matches the Pico installed on your board: rp2040 for Pico/PicoW or rp2350 for Pico2/Pico2W.
- Clone the Pico SDK with its submodules, then obtain the USBSID-Pico source tree according to the project’s build instructions.
- Set the SDK path and your normal CMake and compiler tools for the target platform.
- Change into
pico-sdk/lib/tinyusb. - Run
python3 tools/get_deps.py PICO_PLATFORM, replacingPICO_PLATFORMwithrp2040orrp2350. - Configure the project with the matching platform definition, generate the build files, and compile the desired firmware target.
- Keep the resulting UF2 image identified by MCU family and feature set so an RP2040 image is not accidentally flashed to an RP2350 board, or vice versa.
The project is still under development, so target names, release images and behavior can change. If you do not need a source build, select a release image that explicitly matches your Pico family and follow the project’s flashing manual.
Flash by USB mass storage
- Disconnect USB power.
- Hold the Pico’s boot-select button while connecting the board to the computer.
- Wait for the board to appear as a UF2 mass-storage device.
- Copy the matching UF2 firmware file to that device.
- Allow the board to reboot, then reconnect it normally and check that the expected USB interface appears.
If the device does not appear, try another data-capable USB cable and a direct USB port. Confirm the firmware target before repeating the copy; flashing an image for the wrong MCU family will not correct itself through configuration.
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Connect the assembled board by USB and open the official USBSID-Configtool. The tool writes the hardware-facing settings that players use, so configure it before diagnosing playback software.
Rank #3
- The Raspberry Pi Pico is a beginner-friendly microcontroller board that uses MicroPython to give you a taste of the Internet of Things and microcontrollers. The RP2040 is a well-designed microprocessor that can be utilized in almost any Internet of Things project. It has enough power to complete the task quickly.
- 【Raspberry Pi RP2040 Microcontroller】Raspberry Pi Pico features Dual-core ARM Cortex M0+ processor, flexible clock running up to 133 MHz. With 264KB of SRAM, and 2MB of on-board Flash memory.Supports up to 16 MB of off chip flash memory via a dedicated QSPI bus
- 【Multiple Software Support】Pico has rich and complete software support, it comes with a complete Rasberry Pi official C/C++ SDK, Micropython SDK.The programming and burning of Pico need to be carried out on the computer. Supported operating systems and computers include:Raspberry Pie with Raspberry Pi OS,Other platforms equipped with Debian based Linux system Computer with MacOS, Computers with Windows, etc.
- 【Rich Hardware Interface】Raspberry Pi Pico has 30 GPIO pins, 4 pins for analog signal input and 26 × multi-function GPIO pins, 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 3 × 12-bit ADC, 16 × controllable PWM channels.USB 1.1 supported by host and device, The installation mode can be flexibly selected by users to facilitate welding with other development boards.
- 【Build Project in Tiny Size】Only 2.1cm*5.1cm ( as small as your thumb). Pico has been designed to use either soldered 0.1" pin-headers or can be used as a surface-mountable 'module'.
- Detect the board. Select the connected USBSID-Pico and confirm that the tool can read its current configuration.
- Enable the sockets. Leave both SID sockets enabled for a dual-SID build. Disable the unused socket only when you are intentionally running a single-chip setup.
- Set address ranges. The documented defaults are SID1 at
$00–$1Fand SID2 at$40–$7F. Change them only when your player or tune requires another map; the tool supports ranges through$00–$7F. - Select chip types. Identify each socket as MOS6581, MOS6582, MOS8580 or the appropriate supported replacement.
- Set clock and mode. Match the clock setting and choose stereo or mono to agree with the player. In stereo mode, SID1 is routed left and SID2 right.
- Save and reboot if requested. Disconnect and reconnect USB when the tool or manual asks for a restart, then reopen the configuration tool to verify that both sockets retain the settings.
On v1.3 and later hardware, the board provides an audio switch and software-controlled stereo/mono behavior. The exact switch and jumper positions remain revision-specific, so use the manual rather than assuming v1.3 or v1.5c has the same physical layout as v1.0.
Test playback from simple to complex
WebUSB and ASID
The documented browser test path uses a Chrome-based browser and the project’s WebUSB/ASID tool. Grant USB access when prompted, select the USBSID-Pico, and begin with a simple SID tune. This confirms enumeration, USB transport, chip detection and basic audio before a demanding track adds more variables.
Players and connection choices
| Player or route | Connection described by the project | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Deepsid | WebUSB (Hermit) or ASID (MIDI) | Browser-based or MIDI-routed SID playback. |
| C64jukebox | Supported; documented as beta | Experimental playback with beta-status expectations. |
| VICE, JSIDPlay2, Denise, libsidplayfp, Phosphor, SidBerry | Desktop player options | Testing tunes and comparing player configuration. |
| USB MIDI controller | USBSID-Pico USB MIDI device mode | Live note and control input; MIDI support is described as beta. |
Test each socket separately before stereo. Play a known mono tune through SID1, then SID2, checking that each chip responds at its configured address. Next play a known dual-SID track and verify that the left channel contains SID1 and the right channel SID2. Only after those checks should you test cycle-exact or sample-heavy music.
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Stereo operation and address planning
A dual-SID tune must know where both chips are mapped. If the tune expects the documented defaults, leave SID1 at $00–$1F and SID2 at $40–$7F. If a player exposes its own SID-address controls, make those values identical to the board configuration. A mismatch can look like a dead chip even when power, audio and USB are correct.
Rank #4
- Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W with Pre-soldered Header ,The next big tiny thing,Built Using RP2350 Microcontroller Chip Designed By Raspberry Pi
- C/C++, MicroPython Support,Comprehensive SDK, Dev Resources, Tutorials To Help You Easily Get Started
- Dual-Core, Dual-Architecture,The Unique Dual-Core, Dual-Architecture Capability Of RP2350 Allows Users To Choose Between A Pair Of Industry-Standard Arm Cortex-M33 Cores, And A Pair Of Open-Hardware Hazard3 Cores, Giving Developers A Chance To Experiment With The RISC-V Architecture In A Stable, Well-Supported Environment
- WIFI And Bluetooth Support,Onboard Infineon CYW43439 Wireless Chip, Supports WIFI 4 Wireless And Bluetooth 5.2
- 26 × Multi-Function GPIO Pins,Configurable Pin Function, Allows Flexible Development And Integration
- Left channel silent, right channel working: check SID1 enablement, its address range, its socket voltage and its physical orientation.
- Both channels contain the same material: check that the player is in dual-SID or stereo mode rather than mono, and verify that the two address ranges are not duplicated.
- Channels reversed: confirm the player’s stereo convention and the board’s SID1-left/SID2-right routing before swapping wiring.
- One chip works only after changing its type: correct the chip selection in USBSID-Configtool and verify the socket’s voltage/filter settings.
Troubleshooting failures and noise
Ground-loop hum
Hum can occur when the USB host and the audio destination are powered from different outlets. The project reports this more often on v1.0 and v1.3, although it can still occur with v1.5. Try headphones first, or insert an audio ground-loop isolator between the board and the destination. This is an electrical-installation issue, not evidence that the SID or firmware is defective.
Distortion after changing readmode
Turning readmode on and then off without restarting both the PCB and VICE can leave distorted audio. Turn readmode off, restart the board, restart VICE, and test again from a clean connection. Do not use the distorted output to judge chip health.
RP2040 performance ceiling
Dense cycle-exact tunes may not run at full speed on Pico1/RP2040 hardware. For these workloads, the maintainer recommends Pico2/Pico2W with the RP2350. A faster controller does not fix a wrong address map or voltage setting, so complete the electrical and configuration checks first.
Embedded-mode overclocking
The embedded USBSID-Player and Cynthcart firmware overclock the Pico MCU to 250 MHz. The project warns that passive cooling may be needed. Provide the recommended cooling clearance and avoid enclosing the board where heat can accumulate.
Best Value
- RPi Pico 2 microcontroller board (with yellow Pre-Soldered Header) is powered by Official RP2350 microcontroller chip, with unique dual-core and dual-architecture design, running up to 150 MHz, embedded 520KB of SRAM and 4MB of on-board Flash memory, as well as 26x multi-function GPIO pins
- Adopts unique dual-core and dual-architecture design: dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 processor and dual-core Hazard3 RISC-V processor, flexible clock running up to 150 MHz
- 520KB of SRAM, and 4MB of on-board Flash memory
- 26 × multi-function GPIO pins. 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 3 × 12-bit ADC, 24 × controllable PWM channels
- Castellated module allows soldering direct to carrier boards. USB 1.1 with device and host support. Low-power sleep and dormant modes.
No USB device or intermittent connection
- Use a known data cable and connect directly rather than through an unpowered hub.
- Check that the Pico is seated correctly and that the USB connector has no cracked solder joints.
- Re-enter boot-select mode for flashing, then reconnect in normal run mode.
- For a source build, confirm that the generated image uses the installed RP2040 or RP2350 target.
Power and compatibility decisions
The most consequential choice is the SID supply voltage. MOS6581, MOS6582 and MOS8580 are not interchangeable from a power-config standpoint. Follow the chip-detection and socket-voltage guidance in the manual for the selected PCB revision, especially when combining a 12 V MOS6581 with a 9 V MOS6582 or MOS8580. If you cannot positively identify a chip, do not power it until its marking and required voltage are confirmed.
For a new build intended for demanding cycle-exact material, the RP2350-based Pico2/Pico2W is the safer performance choice. The RP2040-based Pico/PicoW remains suitable for ordinary playback and is the direct target for firmware built with the rp2040 platform setting.
A repeatable commissioning checklist
- Match the PCB, schematic, BOM, Gerbers and manual by revision.
- Install the correct Pico family and populate the desired SID sockets.
- Configure each socket’s voltage and filtering for its actual chip.
- Inspect soldering and measure rails before inserting SID chips.
- Flash firmware built or selected for RP2040 or RP2350.
- Use USBSID-Configtool to enable sockets, set addresses, choose chip types and select stereo.
- Test SID1 alone, then SID2 alone, then a known dual-SID tune.
- Resolve hum, readmode distortion or performance limits before judging the audio path.
When these checks pass, the board is ready for WebUSB, ASID, desktop players or USB MIDI control. Keep the revision manual with the finished synthesizer: it remains the authoritative reference for jumpers, voltage selection, audio routing and pin details.
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Can I use two different SID chip types in one USBSID-Pico?
Yes. The board supports mixed-voltage pairs, including the documented combination of a 12 V MOS6581 with a 9 V MOS6582 or MOS8580. Configure each socket for its actual chip and follow the selected PCB revision’s manual.
Is a Pico2 required for every dual-SID setup?
No. RP2040 Pico/PicoW boards are supported, but dense cycle-exact tunes may not run at full speed. The project recommends RP2350 Pico2/Pico2W for those workloads.
Why is one stereo channel silent?
Check that both sockets are enabled, the silent socket has the correct voltage and chip type, its address range matches the player, and the tune is actually dual-SID. Stereo routing is SID1 left and SID2 right.
What should I do if the audio hums?
Try headphones or place a ground-loop isolator between the USBSID-Pico audio output and the destination. Ground-loop hum is more common on v1.0 and v1.3 but can remain on v1.5.
Quick Recap
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