Here you will find details of my recently completed Mockingboard clone project. I had this down on my list of "to-do" Apple II projects for quite some time. I finally got around to investigating the project more thoroughly to determine:

a) if the necessary parts were available; and

b) if a better prototyping card could be found as compared to how I implemented my TDX sound card

The project got a kind of kick off when I found a local auction on eBay for a batch of ten 6522 VIA chips of which two are required to build a Mockingboard clone. Finding this auction, I then researched the availability of the AY-3-8910 chips and found a couple of auctions on eBay. During my investigation, I discovered that Yamaha bought the rights to the AY-3-8910 and resold it under the name of YM2149. I also found some auctions on eBay for some ISA prototyping cards that looked large enough to hold the four 40 pin IC's, the 74LS05 IC, the necessary resistors and capacitors.

So having found sources for the parts at reasonable prices, I hit the Buy button on these auctions and embarked upon my biggest hardware adventure yet!

Here is the schematic I based my implementation on. My thanks goes to Bill Garber for drawing up the schematic.

This is the ISA prototyping board I purchased to be the host for my Mockingboard clone. I also bought a dremmel tool to cut the prototyping board to fit inside the Apple II and to remove the extra slot contacts.

As I bought two prototyping boards, here is a before and after shot.

Close ups of the front side of the card.

The back of the card. Where all the hard work was!

The board installed in my IIgs. I was chuffed because the board worked perfectly on the very first run! I can now listen to that 1980's goodness.

I bought two LM386 amplifier IC's, but have not installed them as yet as the board works great with powered speakers as-is. If and when I get around to installing them, I'll provide details.