TriYM- YM2203 (FM + YM2149 comp.) Soundcard

[Matej]

There is nice FM chip which got YM2149 inside.
 (3channels FM OPL and 3channels PSG YM).
It was used in Turbosound FM on ZX Spectrum (2x YM2203).

Maybe we can have same standard as little Atari got StereoPokey upgrade (8channels stereo) on 8bit XE/XL Atari but on ST, MegaST,STE... So we will have 2x YM2203 and 1x original YM2149 from motherboard as soundcard.
There is TurboSound soundcard on ZX Spectrum. And on PC is crossplatform TFM Music Maker Tracker (lot of tunes exist and I have 14 000 instruments TFI). So we will have small board as StereoPokey and TFM player on ST as SAP or RMT player is on XE/XL for demos, games. One guy from from Exxos forum made 1x YM2203. So for test it and as start it will be good. Latter we can do V2 version as TFM music maker Tracker use 2x YM2203.
I will write author of tracker Shiru (know Him from Sega Megadrive homebrew) for player sources and TFM module and instrument description.

The YM2203, a.k.a. OPN (FM Operator Type-N), is a six channel (3 FM and 3 SSG) sound chip developed by Yamaha.

The YM2203 has the following features:

- Three concurrent FM channels (voices)
- Four operators per channel
- Two interval timers
- Internal implementation of Yamaha's YM2149F SSG chip

 

Wikipedia:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2203

 

How it sounds only FM 2203?

https://youtu.be/FIeszfJJmjE

YM2203 TFM Music Maker Tracker -
https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=53467

I think we have lot of RAM 1mb or 4mb, Gotek, Ultrasatan, also few of us VOFA ISA STVGA too but no soundcard only Dreamblaster exist. Dreamblaster is perfect but not for Demoscene or new games ideal for Cubase or Adventure games ports from PCs. So we need something with more retro sound (simple like YM, Pokey or SID) and much cheaper (40Euro-50euro solution). Why not FPGA? As it is chip shortage also its not 100% emulation - simulation. FM will give new arcade feeling to games. Original ATARI used FM+YM combo in their arcade systems. Also its huge difference between 3 channels and 9 YM PSG or 6+3PSG. FM will be usable in Demos too(on PC they use softsynths FM sounds little bit similar to it or AceTracker use DSP on Falcon). I own 800XE and its huge difference between 4channel tunes and 8channels. 8 channels stereo are much more amazing!

We have all upgrades now time for classic soundchips SoundCard too. Lets call it TriYM (threeYM). And YM2203 is ideal as it have standard YM inside plus FM feature...

UNSEENMENACE 1X YM2203 OLD VERSION:

 

Here is Atari Forum:
https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=42245

Exxos Forum - 1x YM2203 version
https://exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4124

It sounds really good like Konami Arcade Games or Atari Arcade System or Sega Megadrive / Soundblaster 16 Opl.

Also price is OK 10euro / piece not as Dreamblaster (which sounds beautiful) but cost much more and is Cubase/Notator solution. So complete upgrade will be like 40euro - 50euro.
YM2203+PSG is pure demoscene, homebrew like StereoPokey on 8bit.

I think ST should have good soundcard upgrade after years. And with original YM2203 as it is FPGA shortage. They are common part for Arcades. 

What You think about this FM soundcard idea?

Name:
ThreeYM - TriYM

Edited October 8, 2022 by Matej

[+DarkLord]

I say go for it - as I posted in another forum - I'm interested. 

 

[MrMaddog]

Is this going to be an internal mod or can this be used over the MIDI ports?

 

Since some existing games use MIDI sunths, especially ones that used FM synth chips, it'll be easier than to make new games that use an internal board.

 

Just saying...

 

 

Edited October 8, 2022 by MrMaddog

[Matej]

There is Dreamblaster MIDI. And old soundcards Roland and Yamaha also emulated on RPi. Internal got tweaking ability for demoscene, games. Also internal can play MIDI with own app. External using midi ports needs extra mcu its more like standalone midi than internal connected to bus. But yes internal vs. cartridge.

[oky2000]

Wouldn't MT32-Pi be a better option for support from games that would already work via MIDI and an MT32 sound module?

 

Not a lot of parts from what I can make out, maybe 50 bucks for a Pi 3 based MT32 emulator with MIDI cues.

[Matej]

Well for adventure games yes but demos and classic games is better "demoscene" soundchip. I love real MT32 sound but its very profi synth - Linear + Sample for drums. You can buy Dreamblaster too. More good for Cubase. For demoscene or homebrew games is better something more simple.