Bob Yannes

# Bob Yannes ## The Sound Architect Robert "Bob" Yannes is an American engineer best known for designing the MOS Technology SID sound chip used in the Commodore 64. His work revolutionized computer audio and laid the foundation for modern digital music synthesis. ## Career at MOS/Commodore Yannes joined MOS Technology in the late 1970s, where he worked on several important chips: - VIC (Video Interface Chip) for the VIC-20 - SID (Sound Interface Device) for the Commodore 64 The SID chip was completed in just five months in 1981, an remarkably short development time for such a complex chip. ## Design Philosophy Yannes was a synthesizer enthusiast who wanted to bring professional audio capabilities to home computers. He deliberately included features found in analog synthesizers: - ADSR envelopes - Multiple waveforms - Filter section - Ring modulation In interviews, Yannes has stated he would have liked more time to refine the SID, particularly the filter section. ## Ensoniq Years After leaving Commodore, Yannes co-founded Ensoniq in 1982, where he continued his audio innovation: - Designed the DOC chip (used in Apple IIGS) - Developed professional synthesizers - Created sampling keyboards ## Legacy Bob Yannes' work on the SID chip created an entire musical subculture. The chip's distinctive sound continues to be celebrated in chiptune music, and original SID chips are highly sought after by musicians and collectors.