Apple II MockingBoard Gold 2K Replica
Apple II MockingBoard Gold 2K Replica
Demo Video
What is it?
MockingBoard Gold is a modern reproduction of the legendary 1983 MockingBoard stereo synthesizer card. It plugs into any 50-pin Apple II slot (or the auxiliary connector of the //c with the included adapter) and adds three-voice square-wave music plus white-noise generation to games, demos, and music software.
The board carries two vintage MOS R6522A VIA chips for timing and I/O, and two genuine General Instrument AY-3-8910 programmable sound generators — giving six voices in total, fully compatible with every title that supported the original MockingBoard.
Why Was It Made?
Original MockingBoards are scarce, expensive, and often suffer from tin-plated edge connectors that corrode after 40 years. MockingBoard Gold was created so musicians, collectors, and classroom users can experience Apple II audio without hunting eBay or risking static damage to irreplaceable hardware.
A new board with modern PCB tolerances, gold fingers, and socketed vintage ICs keeps the authentic sound alive while surviving thousands of insertions.
What Makes It Special?
- 100% gold-immersion edge connector (ENIG): Zero corrosion, zero wear, rated for >10,000 hot-plug cycles
- 1.6mm FR-4 substrate with beveled edges: Slides smoothly into slots without shaving fingers or damaging the connector
- All ICs socketed: Two original date-code R6522AP VIAs and two New-Old-Stock GI AY-3-8910 PSGs — replaceable and upgradeable
- Universal compatibility: Works in Apple II, II+, EuroPlus, //e, //c (with included short adapter cable), and most clones
- Low power draw: <150 mA from +5V rail — leaves your power supply cool and headroom for other cards
- 100% software compatible: Every game, demo, and music program that supported the original MockingBoard works without modification
Key Specifications
- Compatible systems: Apple II, Apple II+, Apple IIe, Apple EuroPlus, Apple //c (with adapter)
- Sound chips: 2× GI AY-3-8910 PSG (New-Old-Stock)
- I/O chips: 2× MOS R6522AP VIA (original date-code)
- Total voices: 6 (3 per AY-3-8910) + noise channels
- Audio: Stereo, 3-voice square wave + white noise per chip
- Edge connector: Gold-immersion (ENIG), beveled, >10,000 cycle rated
- PCB: 1.6mm FR-4
- Power: <150 mA @ +5V
- Slot: Any 50-pin Apple II peripheral slot
- Includes: //c auxiliary connector adapter