HDD Synth
Making hard disk drives loud again!
Most retro PCs are retrofitted with a solid-state hard drive these days, due to the rarity, unreliability and inconveniences of using a traditional mechanical spinning drive.
However, that means when using a retro PC you miss out on the full nostalgic experience of hearing the HDD:
- Spin up when you power the system on
- Click and whir as your favourite games load
- Spin down after powering off
The HDD Synth is an ISA expansion card that recreates the sound of a mechanical hard drive for your retro PC
Features
- Sample based recreation of mechanical hard disk drives operating sounds
- Spin up when PC is turned on
- Idle hum whilst standing by
- Access clicks and crackcles
- Spin down when PC is turned off
- SD card to hold multiple HDD sample packs, to recreate the sound of different mechanical hard disk drives
- Volume control to make it very loud or silent
- HDD detection via HDD LED or ISA bus for true plug and play
Roadmap
Prototype MKI [Completed]
Initial ISA PCB test
Prototype MKII [In progress]
Adds volume control, ability to change sample pack, spin down
Prototype MKIII [Planned]
Adds ISA based HDD detection, metal back bracket
Production
Create units for general availability
Planned production models
HDD Synth 1000
The full experience
- SD card with multiple sample packs
- Spin down playback when power is turned off
- True plug and play with no HDD LED cable required)
HDD Synth 500
Cost reduced
- No SD card reader, just a single sample pack
- No spin down
- No ISA based HDD detection, requires connection of HDD LED cable
Links
Credits
- Peter Bridger, Project Lead - hardware/software design
- Mark Angus, Sound Design - creation of audio samples
Support ❤️
If you'd like, you can donate to support this project on Ko-Fi
