VOGONS


First post, by Danger Manfred

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Hi!

The internet is full of comparisons of OPL2/OPL3 vs one or two approximations like ESFM or CrystalFM.
But what I haven't seen anywhere yet is a comprehensive list of all different hardware FM synthesizers for the PC.

I know of the following:

Yamaha OPL2
Yamaha OPL3
Avance Logic ALSFM
Analog Devices FM
Creative CQM
OPTiFM
ESFM
CrystalFM

Also I have read in another thread about an Aztech FM, but couldn't find anything about it, to my knowledge all Aztech cards have either OPL3 or licensed integrations.

Does anyone know if that Aztech FM is real, and if so, on which cards we may find it?
Am I missing any other hardware FM synths?

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Reply 1 of 11, by Shponglefan

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There is the Yamaha YM2164 (OPP). It was used in the IBM Music Feature card and the Yamaha FB-01, along with other Yamaha synths/keyboards.

Another one is the Yamaha YM2151 (OPM). It was used in Yamaha keyboards, arcade machines, and is included on the TexElec SAAYM sound card.

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Reply 2 of 11, by Grzyb

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There was also the original OPL - YM3526.

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Reply 3 of 11, by mkarcher

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Check https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Yamaha_ … cts#Sound_chips for a quite extensive list of Yamaha sound chips. All those starting with "OP" like OPL, OPM, OPN, OPS are FM chips by Yamaha. On the other hand, as this thread is aimed at FM synthesis used on classic PC sound cards, I guess the list of relevant Yamaha chips is indeed complete with OPL2, OPL3 and the OPP used in the Music Feature card. Once AdLib was "the standard", all consumer FM synthesis implementations were expected to be OPL2 compatible, so you mostly find OPL2/3, unlicensed clones ("LS244", "LS262") or patent avoiding re-implementations like the ones mentioned in the initial post.

Reply 4 of 11, by Danger Manfred

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mkarcher wrote on 2024-06-09, 20:48:

Once AdLib was "the standard", all consumer FM synthesis implementations were expected to be OPL2 compatible, so you mostly find OPL2/3, unlicensed clones ("LS244", "LS262") or patent avoiding re-implementations like the ones mentioned in the initial post.

The latter is exactly what I am looking for, though.

OPL2/3 compatible offerings by other manufacturers are the most interesting to a lot of people, for comparison purposes.
Even though most DOS game music of the time was composed to be listened to with a Yamaha OPL2 or OPL3 chipset based sound card, FM synthesizers may sound better to a person subjectively (as long as they hit the right notes all the time, which not all of them do).

Some people actually insist that they prefer CrystalFM (the later correct one, not the faulty one that sounds comically bad) or ESFM over OPL3.
Haven't heard the same of CQM, although that at least doesn't get notes wrong.

My pile of defective hardware that I'll fix if one day my hands stop shaking

Reply 5 of 11, by wbahnassi

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MSX Music, which uses YM2413 a.k.a OPLL.

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Reply 6 of 11, by Shponglefan

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Danger Manfred wrote on 2024-06-09, 21:11:

The latter is exactly what I am looking for, though.

Aureal Vortex 2 is another one that comes to mind. Though I'm not sure if it's their own implementation or possibly something they licensed?

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Reply 7 of 11, by SuperDeadite

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wbahnassi wrote on 2024-06-09, 22:24:

MSX Music, which uses YM2413 a.k.a OPLL.

Quite sure this thread is just about IBM PC clones. If we add MSX, it has just about everything now. Lol. 😀

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Reply 8 of 11, by Danger Manfred

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Shponglefan wrote on 2024-06-09, 22:46:

Aureal Vortex 2 is another one that comes to mind. Though I'm not sure if it's their own implementation or possibly something they licensed?

Isn't that software emulation, though?

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Reply 9 of 11, by Ydee

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Danger Manfred wrote on 2024-06-09, 19:23:

Also I have read in another thread about an Aztech FM, but couldn't find anything about it, to my knowledge all Aztech cards have either OPL3 or licensed integrations.

Does anyone know if that Aztech FM is real, and if so, on which cards we may find it?
Am I missing any other hardware FM synths?

http://dosdays.co.uk/topics/Manufacturers/aztech.php

Reply 10 of 11, by appiah4

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You are missing ForteMedia FM801's FM synthesis: ForteMedia FM801 FM Synthesis

Reply 11 of 11, by jtchip

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Analog Devices PSS (Personal Sound System), most likely implemented in the ADSP-2115 DSP, found in the Orchid SoundWave32, Cardinal DSP-16, and Beethoven ADSP-16. Only OPL2-compatible and different from the implementation in their later chips. Has a pseudo-stereo effect by panning instruments to left or right channel.