External plug-in replacement
Connects to the Mega ST and Mega STE keyboard port through a 1 m coiled RJ11 6P4C cable, in place of the original keyboard. No opening the machine, no motherboard modification, no soldering.
ATARI MEGA ST
Modern Bluetooth and USB input for your Atari Mega ST or Mega STE, with full IKBD behaviour and your original Atari mouse and joysticks still plugged in.
What you get ↗
External IKBD keyboard emulator for Atari Mega ST and Mega STE
The SidecarTridge Soufflè is the external member of the SidecarTridge Keyboard Emulator family. It connects to the Mega ST and Mega STE keyboard port through a 1 m coiled RJ11 6P4C cable, taking the place of the original keyboard and behaving like the IKBD the computer expects. A built-in USB hub brings modern keyboards, mice and gamepads to the machine, while two native Atari outputs keep your original mouse and joysticks working. It is a strong fit for any Mega whose original keyboard is missing or no longer works.
From €41 plus taxes. Ships from Spain. For the Atari Mega ST and Mega STE keyboard connector.
Key features
Built-in 4-port USB hub
Four USB-A ports on board for modern keyboards, mice and gamepads. Plug in the input devices you already own and use them on the Atari with IKBD-native behaviour.
Native Atari mouse and joystick outputs
Two DB9 outputs keep your original Atari mouse and joysticks fully working, side by side with the modern USB devices. Nothing about the classic input path is lost.
Modern Bluetooth input
Bluetooth Classic and BLE support for keyboards, mice and gamepads. Pair wireless devices straight to the Mega and keep the machine behaviourally honest, built around the IKBD model the computer expects.
Wi-Fi web configuration
Set pairing, keyboard layout, mouse speed and auto-fire from any modern browser. Soufflè exposes its own Wi-Fi access point on first setup and joins your network afterwards.
Field-updatable firmware
Firmware updates land through the on-board micro-USB connector. New features and fixes stay one cable away, with no JTAG, no programmer and no Atari-side rituals.
What you get
SidecarTridge Soufflè dongle
from €41 plus taxes
- Soufflè dongle fully assembled and tested, latest stable firmware preloaded
- 1 m coiled RJ11 6P4C cable for the Mega ST and Mega STE keyboard port
Ships from Spain with the latest stable firmware preloaded. The 4-port USB hub is built into the board. You provide your USB or Bluetooth input devices plus a micro-USB cable for setup and firmware updates. A modern phone or laptop is enough to run the web configuration interface.
Installation overview
- Power the Soufflè over micro-USB first and open the Wi-Fi web setup from any modern browser to choose its operating mode (USB or Bluetooth) and pair your input devices.
- Power off the Atari and unplug the original keyboard from the Mega ST or Mega STE keyboard connector.
- Connect the Soufflè coiled cable to the keyboard port using its RJ11 6P4C plug.
- Plug in your input devices: USB devices into the built-in hub, and your original Atari mouse or joysticks into the DB9 outputs if you want to keep using them.
- Power on the Atari and start using it.
Full step-by-step in the Soufflè quickstart. Reference for Bluetooth pairing, keyboard layouts, mouse speed and firmware updates is in the keyboard emulator documentation.
Compatibility
| Atari model | Status |
|---|---|
| Atari Mega ST | Supported |
| Atari Mega STE | Supported |
| Atari 520 / 1040 ST / STF / STFM / STE (internal 7-pin keyboard) | Use the internal Croissant board instead |
| Atari TT | Works in theory, use at your own risk |
| Atari Falcon | Not supported (different keyboard architecture) |
Soufflè is the external option for the Mega keyboard port. For machines with the internal 7-pin keyboard connector, the internal Croissant board is the right fit.
Specs
- Connector to Atari: 1 m coiled cable, RJ11 6P4C, in place of the original Mega keyboard
- USB input: built-in 4-port USB-A hub for keyboards, mice and gamepads
- Native Atari outputs: two DB9 outputs for the original Atari mouse and joysticks
- Wireless: Bluetooth Classic and BLE, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
- Input behaviour: full IKBD emulation, multiple keyboard layouts, adjustable mouse speed, programmable auto-fire
- Configuration: browser-based, served over Wi-Fi (access point and station modes)
- Firmware update: on-board micro-USB
- Microcontroller: RP2350
- Board revision: SOUFFLE-IKBD REV1.2.0
Frequently asked questions
Hardware & compatibility
What Atari models are supported?
Soufflè is designed for the Atari Mega ST and Atari Mega STE. It plugs into the external keyboard connector of those machines through its RJ11 6P4C coiled cable.
I have a regular ST or STE. Can I use Soufflè?
Not the right product. Machines with the internal 7-pin keyboard connector are served by the internal Croissant board. Soufflè is the external variant for the Mega keyboard port.
Do I have to open the machine?
No. Soufflè is fully external. It connects in place of the original keyboard with no opening, no shield removal and no motherboard modification.
My original Mega keyboard is dead. Does that matter?
Not at all. Soufflè replaces the original keyboard outright, so it is a clean way to bring a Mega back to life when its keyboard is missing or no longer works.
Input devices
Do my original Atari mouse and joysticks still work?
Yes. Soufflè provides two native DB9 outputs that keep your original Atari mouse and joysticks working, side by side with your modern USB input.
Can I use USB keyboards, mice or gamepads?
Yes. Soufflè has a built-in 4-port USB hub for modern keyboards, mice and gamepads, and it also supports Bluetooth Classic and BLE devices.
Why IKBD behaviour and not a simple key-translation layer?
Atari ST-family software talks to the IKBD for keyboard input and everything else routed through that controller. Emulating the IKBD protocol keeps compatibility with software that expects the original controller architecture. A simpler translator would feel close, but it would also break corner cases that matter on the Atari.
Configuration & firmware
How do I configure or update it?
Initial setup and normal configuration run through the Soufflè web interface over Wi-Fi. Firmware updates are installed through the on-board micro-USB connector.
Where do I find pairing, layouts and other settings?
All of it lives in the web configuration interface, documented in the keyboard emulator documentation. Keyboard layouts, mouse speed and auto-fire are configured there.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are evil and I wear a tinfoil hat when they’re on. Is this device for me?
Probably not. Soufflè is meant to be joyful and stress-free, and it spends its life chatting on the 2.4 GHz band. Make peace with radio waves first, then come back and we will still be here.
Community & policy
Is this product for me?
Yes, if you run a real Atari Mega and you want a modern input path without giving up your original mouse and joysticks. Soufflè is a homebrew product built for hobbyists who like experimenting. If you want a sealed appliance with a single-vendor warranty stack, this is not that.
Where do I report bugs or contribute?
Open a ticket from the contact page so we can route it to the right place. Hardware-side support for the boards we sell is handled directly by SidecarTridge.
Why can’t I access the store even though you ship to my country?
Access to our products and community spaces requires basic respect. We have zero tolerance for harassment, personal attacks, abusive behaviour or defamatory content toward our team or community. The principle is simple: don’t be abusive. If that principle is violated, access is revoked. We build for people who enjoy experimenting, not for people creating hostility.
