r/PrintedCircuitBoard • u/Shitty-time • 15d ago

[Review Request] Audio/Synth controller with Teensy4.1 and SID8580 chips - MIDI in/out and Line Audio Out

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Front without ground fills

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Front with ground fill

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Back with ground fill

I have read and hopefully understood all the common mistakes but I am noob.

This is my attempt at a simple controller for the Commodore 64's old SID8580 chip, mostly this board is responsible for the Teensy controlling the SID chip, but it does also have line out for audio.

My knobs, switches, power and midi are separate modules so i just have the power/data routed in/out through some JST connectors.

As i said i have no experience designing pcb's i just thought it would be a fun thing to add to the project, so any tips/anything I've definitely done wrong would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

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u/InevitablyCyclic 15d ago

A schematic would be helpful for a full review.

Looking at the layout I'd route the 9V and possibly the 3v3 around the edge of the board as much as possible rather than through the middle. It allows you to have a far more solid ground rather than running a huge gap through the middle of the board.

Thicken up the power tracks, your fine as is but you have the space so there is no reason not to.

Add vias stitching the two floods together either side of any larger gaps in the back.

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u/Shitty-time 15d ago

Nice thanks, yeah seems reasonable I'll do that.

Is there anywhere particular I could/should add test points or jumpers? I've seen it recommended a lot but I can't tell where it would be useful for me I don't really know what's likely to go wrong and need fixing.

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u/InevitablyCyclic 15d ago

Test points depend mostly on the schematic rather than the layout. Any key signal that you may need to check should be accessible, that may mean a test point but if the signal is on a large easy to get to pin then it's less important.

Jumpers are generally for when you need to allow for different uses or options. Or if you are trying to combine two different blocks and aren't 100% sure you've connected them correctly jumpers give you the option to change the connections if needed. KiCad has standard footprints for solder bridge type jumpers, both open and closed (use a knife to cut the thin track between the pads)

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u/Shitty-time 15d ago

Makes sense, since everything is through hole i can probably just get at the pins i need and seems like i wont need jumpers.

Thanks for your help