OPL2 vs. OPL3 Audible differences, digital recording comparison \ VOGONS

OPL2 vs. OPL3 Audible differences, digital recording comparison

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First post, by Grue

Posted on 2020-09-30, 16:49

Grue Offline

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Hello, I have connected a logic analyzer to my OPL2 and OPL3 card and recorded title music from 688 Attack Sub. My friend created software to turn these opl recorded signals to wav. Basically I recorded lines connected to the DAC chip. My motivation for this is to solve the real differences between opl2 and olp3, and I need digital signals to rule out analog states of the different sound cards out of the equation.

Here is my test recording, it was OPL3 on the left channel and OPL2 on right. I had bit difficulties to match the sample rates of the recordings, but it's tuned so it should be easy to spot any differences.

https://sid.fi/~grue/688_attack_sub_opl3_left … igital_rip.flac

Now, I need suggestions on Adlib tunes I should record and make comparison to find out the real differences if there are any. It would help if those tunes could be played easily without playing games in to some point.

Picture of my OPL3 recording session while ago.

Last edited by Stiletto on 2020-10-01, 05:12. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 1 of 7, by Jo22

Posted on 2020-09-30, 17:22

Jo22 Offline

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This sounds very interesting, good luck! 😀
I do know many tunes that I like, but I'm not sure what's technically interesting.

Some tunes that come to mind:

The Alibi (by Laxity) as Adlib conversion
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9yyjeTZn2K8

The music in Frederick Pohl's Gateway.
Such as the music of the Beach simulation.
Or of any other location (it's hard to find something poor in this game).
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yv_yfPw8sc

Or the intro music of "Giants of the Sky", an airship simulation.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KY2t572xURw

The music of Descent (shareware) is also nice.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=824mjXG1vIM

The game Lollypop has intetesting tunes, also (by the Vibrants).
However, they likely are not everyones taste.
In menu, there's a sound test, even.

I'm sorry, I'm afraid that's essentially all that comes to mind right now.

There are many more games with interesting tunes for sure.
Zeliard, Dune, Silpheed, Commander Keen, Jill of Jungle, Marble Cooking..

I hope other users can think of some interesting tunes, as well.

Good luck!

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 2 of 7, by Shreddoc

Posted on 2020-10-01, 00:22

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MDFourier is an open source project, specifically for the purpose of empirically analysing and comparing sound hardware.

http://junkerhq.net/MDFourier/

It's an excellent standard for carrying out this sort of true detailed comparison, and showing the results as defined data.

Reply 3 of 7, by dr.zeissler

Posted on 2020-10-01, 06:17

dr.zeissler Offline

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please check dynablaster opl2/3

Retro-Gamer 😀 ...on different machines

Reply 4 of 7, by Grue

Posted on 2020-10-01, 16:17

Grue Offline

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Location: Finland

I have been bit busy but I couldn't resist into peeking some Vibrants stuff, so here is Stardream by Laxity with opl3

https://sid.fi/~grue/laxity_stardream_opl3.flac

Reply 5 of 7, by Tiido

Posted on 2020-10-01, 17:24

Tiido Offline

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I appreciate the lack of sample rate conversion ~

T-04YBSC, a new YMF71x based sound card & Official VOGONS thread about it
Newly made 4MB 60ns 30pin SIMMs ~
mida sa loed ? nagunii aru ei saa 😜

Reply 6 of 7, by Grue

Posted on 2020-10-05, 15:09

Grue Offline

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Location: Finland

This is an analog recording of having OPL2 and OPL3 cards on the same pc, it seems to work without conflicts. The other is a remake of adlib and other sb16 with opl3 on it.

Tune is one of the Edlib editor demo tunes.

https://sid.fi/~grue/Torben_Hansen_Space13_L_ … pl2_R_opl3.flac

There I can hear the difference that those bassy sounds are louder on the left channel, but nothing major, interesting stereo effect in any case 😀

Reply 7 of 7, by FiIosofia

Posted on 2021-08-04, 16:45

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Almost a year has gone by, I don't know if you are still interesting in adlib tunes, but I noticed a big difference when going from a soundblaster 2.0 to a sb16 in the edutainment title word rescue, 2nd level of the first part! And also wolfstein3d.

BGWG as in Boogie Woogie.

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