Picture this: it’s 2025, and your trusty Commodore 64 is still the centerpiece of your retro computing shrine. But there’s one nagging issue: coaxial cables and finicky video quality. Side Projects Lab (SPL) has stepped in to solve this with their groundbreaking new product: the SPL HD-64 HDMI modulator. This isn’t just another video adapter—it’s a modulator reimagined for the modern era.
Introducing the SPL HD-64
The SPL HD-64 isn’t your average HDMI modulator. In fact, calling it a “modulator” almost feels reductive. This ingenious device digitally generates an HDMI signal directly from the VIC-II chip (or Kawari if you’re running the latest tech mods). Forget the grainy video of yesteryear—the HD-64 delivers full-HD, crystal-clear video output. It’s like giving your Commodore 64 a pair of high-definition glasses.
Let’s get into the juicy details.
Features that Wow
- Perfect Integration: The HD-64 completely replaces the stock RF modulator. It’s a seamless upgrade that channels its HDMI output via a micro-HDMI port in the same RF modulator slot. No external dongles or bulky add-ons.
- Full-HD Output: Whether your C64 is PAL or NTSC, the HD-64 delivers 50Hz or 60Hz HDMI video respectively. And the cherry on top? Stereo audio is baked right in.
- Lightning-Fast Performance: With less than 1ms of latency, even the most action-packed shoot-’em-ups stay buttery smooth.
- Customizable Visuals: Want pixel-perfect scanlines? Prefer a softer “blurred” retro aesthetic? How about adjustable aspect ratios or mono-to-stereo audio? You’re in control with a host of configurable options.
- Enhanced Audio: The HD-64 isn’t just about video. It handles analog-to-digital audio conversion, even for setups with dual SID chips, ensuring pristine soundtracks and effects.
- Compatibility Across the Board: It’s designed to work with all original C64 motherboards, whether you’re rocking a shortboard or a longboard. The shortboard gets its power directly from the modulator pins, while the longboard needs a single additional wire.
- Backward Compatibility: Don’t worry about losing analog video. Composite and S-Video outputs remain intact, with the latter optimized for any CRT that supports S-Video.
- Future-Proof Design: Firmware updates via USB-C mean your HD-64 will keep evolving. SPL is already teasing future features like configurable scaling (hello, integer scaling!) and customizable overscan.
Future-Proof Retro Computing
SPL clearly designed the HD-64 with a forward-thinking philosophy. It’s not just about making your C64 look good on a modern display. It’s about preserving the authenticity of the retro experience while embracing the conveniences of the 21st century.
And they’re not stopping there. SPL has hinted that future firmware updates will bring even more features to the HD-64. It’s not just a one-and-done device—it’s an evolving toolkit for C64 enthusiasts.
Mark Your Calendar
The SPL HD-64 is slated for release in Week 6 of 2025. Pre-orders are already open, and securing one guarantees your spot in the first batch. Given the buzz surrounding this release, it’s safe to say that the HD-64 will be in high demand.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a C64 purist or a modernizer, the SPL HD-64 offers the best of both worlds. It’s a love letter to the Commodore 64 community, proving that even in 2025, this iconic machine can keep up with the times. So go ahead, breathe new life into your C64, and get ready to see your favorite games and demos in a way you’ve never experienced.
Where To Get The SPL HD-64
Pre-Ordering guarantee’s a first batch shipment. You can use either of the sites below.
