StrayBoom’s new SID Factory 2 Tutorial delivers a clear, hands-on guide for anyone eager to compose Commodore 64–style music using modern hardware. The video introduces the SID chip—the Sound Interface Device at the heart of the C64—and explains how SID Factory 2 recreates its character across Windows, macOS, and Linux. With this cross-platform editor, users can create authentic SID compositions without needing the original hardware.
The SID Factory 2 tutorial starts with a brief history of SID-based tools like Goat Tracker, CheeseCutter, and SID-Wizard, before showing how SID Factory 2 builds on them with an intuitive single-screen interface. Created by Laxity with contributions from JCH and Youth, the software blends the old-school tracker workflow with the precision and speed of modern development.
Throughout the SID Factory 2 tutorial, StrayBoom walks viewers through everything from waveform selection to filter control, arpeggios, and modulation. He explains hexadecimal input, waveform mixing, and the differences between the classic 6581 and the improved 8580 SID revisions. Each example makes the process approachable while preserving the technical detail C64 musicians love.
As the video progresses, viewers learn how to shape sound with ADSR envelopes, pulse width modulation, and lowpass filters. It also covers advanced functions like hard restart, oscillator sync, and filter priority across tracks—techniques that define the expressive sound of C64 compositions.
StrayBoom demonstrates how to build instruments, sequences, and full tracks step-by-step, explaining every keystroke and shortcut. The tutorial also explores exporting music as .PRG or .SID files, ready for use in games or demos. By the end, the SID Factory 2 tutorial shows how modern composers can bridge the 8-bit past with today’s workflow tools—bringing the SID chip’s voice to new generations of creators.
