Difference between revisions of "YM2612"
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The synth patches used by the YM2612 in Mega Drive games are compatible with certain members of the Yamaha DX/TX synthesizers, such as the DX100. | The synth patches used by the YM2612 in Mega Drive games are compatible with certain members of the Yamaha DX/TX synthesizers, such as the DX100. | ||
+ | ==External Links== | ||
+ | *[http://www.smspower.org/maxim/docs/ym2612/ YM-2612 Documentation based on the sega2.doc file] | ||
[[Category:Mega Drive Hardware]] | [[Category:Mega Drive Hardware]] |
Revision as of 00:58, 12 September 2009
The Yamaha YM 2612 FM Synthesis Chip is based on the Yamaha 2151 (which was used in earlier Sega Arcade Games). Ironically, it's of a higher quality then the OPL2/3 FM Synthesis chips produced by Yamaha and used in Creative Labs PC sound cards such as the popular "Sound Blaster" line.
The YM2612 was notably used in the Sega Genesis game console and has the following features:
- Six concurrent FM channels (or voices)
- The sixth channel can be used as an FM or DAC channel (but not both)
- Four operators per channel
- Two timers
- A low frequency oscillator
- Stereo output
Each channel may be assigned to either left, right or both (centre) of the stereo output.
The special sixth channel can act as a DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) by means of the 'DAC Enable' register, this allows the chip to play 8-bit PCM sound samples. Enabling the DAC disables the FM for that channel. Data is written to the DAC via an 8-bit register. The YM2612 does not provide any timing or buffering of the PCM samples, so all frequency control and buffering must be done in software by the host processor.
The synth patches used by the YM2612 in Mega Drive games are compatible with certain members of the Yamaha DX/TX synthesizers, such as the DX100.