# 052 - Twitter Is My Lab Notebook

- Show: [Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast)
- Published: 2021-10-26
- Length: 2h 06m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook
- Listen: https://unnamedre.com/episode/52

## Summary

Eric (TubeTimeUS) details his reverse engineering of the original Sound Blaster sound card, leveraging online photos and community help to clone the PCB, and discusses sourcing obsolete components from Chinese brokers. He then explains the design and validation of the MOnSter 6502, a massive discrete 6502 processor built from scratch using NMOS logic and the Visual 6502 netlist. Finally, he describes his reverse engineering of the Snappy Video Snapshot, uncovering its use of an Xilinx FPGA configured via the parallel port, and reflects on engineering ethics, regulatory capture, and the importance of using one's brain for troubleshooting.

## Chapters

- [0:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook#t=28) Introduction: Eric (TubeTimeUS) and Sound Blaster Reverse Engineering
- [7:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook#t=445) Sourcing Obsolete Components and the Gray Market
- [15:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook#t=942) Designing the MOnSter 6502: NMOS Logic and Validation
- [36:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook#t=2201) Debugging the MOnSter 6502: Thermal Imaging and Scotch Tape
- [45:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook#t=2747) Reverse Engineering the Snappy Video Snapshot and Xilinx FPGA
- [52:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook#t=3138) Sourcing Parts: Excess Solutions and Electronics Flea Markets
- [1:01:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook#t=3702) Educational Kits: 555 Timer and 741 Op-Amp Discrete Builds
- [1:14:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook#t=4487) Engineering Ethics, PG&E, and Regulatory Capture
- [1:31:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook#t=5490) Responsible Disclosure and Weapon Systems Ethics
- [1:48:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook#t=6520) Favorite Tools: Saleae, Ghidra, and the Human Brain

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Sound Blaster (product)
- Creative Labs (company)
- MOnSter 6502 (product)
- Visual 6502 (other)
- Snappy Video Snapshot (product)
- Xilinx (company)
- Saleae (tool)
- Ghidra (tool)
- IDA (tool)
- Excess Solutions (company)
- Fry's Electronics (company)
- Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories (company)
- Bill Mensch (other)
- Windell Oskay (other)
- Lenore Rzedzicki (other)
- Bunny Huang (other)
- Herta Ayrton (other)
- Eric Schlosser (other)
- PG&E (company)
- California Public Utilities Commission (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Otiose Ontocyclic Opiniasters](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-01-30-otiose-ontocyclic-opiniasters) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Ken Shirriff](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-09-25-an-interview-with-ken-shirriff) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep109: Cars that Suck, a Synth Packed with 555s, X-ray Letter Reading, and Pecking at a PS/2 Keyboard](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-03-12-ep109-cars-that-suck-a-synth-packed-with-555s-x-ray-letter-reading-and-pecking-a) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep046: Bring Us Your Nonsense, Hack NES Clones, Grasping FPGAs, Music Hacks, & Fish Tank of Random](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-12-13-ep046-bring-us-your-nonsense-hack-nes-clones-grasping-fpgas-music-hacks-fish-tan) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 375: Rebuilding Tech on Our Terms and the Hero Nerd](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-06-26-ep-375-rebuilding-tech-on-our-terms-and-the-hero-nerd) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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