OPL Studio + Korg NTS-3 + Phantasmal Force generative improvisation inspiration

video upload by Arman Bohn

"Phantasmal Force micro midi controller is available here:

https://distropolisgoods.com/

I haven’t posted in a little while … i’ve been working on the beta firmware for the Phantasmal Force for several months. Here is an improvisational demonstration of the new ARP button mode.

I’m triggering the OPL Studio with three different sequences sent from the Phantasmal Force. The OPL studio is multi timbral so it is capable of playing back different FM tones on each midi channel. It is an amazing device for those looking to explore 80s FM sounds within the context of a hypothetical OS developed to control all of the OPL chip parameters. Truly incredible.

https://www.cheerful.nl/index.html

The NTS-3 takes a bit of learning, but is slowly becoming a fave of mine for adding reverb, delays and interactive effects.  Such a great deal for what it costs.

I’m hoping to release a version 2.0 of the Phantasmal Force firmware within the next couple weeks … maybe even sooner. With that, I intend to release a kit version for sale as well."

"OPL Studio is the ultimate OPL2 / OPL3 synthesizer! It gives you almost limitless control over what you can do with the OPL3 synthesizer chip.

Features of OPL Studio

OPL Studio has a long list of features. To name a bunch of them:

Integrated patch editor to edit predefined instruments and create your own

Load and save instrument banks from popular formats such as *.BNK, *.SB, *.O3, ect.

Patch linking to layer up to 4 instrument patches for even more complex sounds

Polyphonic sequence editor to create up to 32 drum and 32 melody sequences
Quad sequencer to live play up to four sequences

Composer module that lets you create complete songs from your sequences
Midi channel mixer

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Reverse Engineered Yamaha OPL3 FM Synthesizer in an FPGA playing Descent & Doom

Published on Jul 26, 2015 dagoatful

"The OPL3 was a popular FM synthesis chip used in most PCs in the 90s. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_...

OPL3 FPGA code written entirely in SystemVerilog RTL. Music is played back via a port of imfplay from DOS to the ARM Cortex CPU on the Zynq FPGA (running bare metal C++). Music is stored in DRO format captured by running the original games in DOSBox (its essentially register dumps of the OPL3 every 1ms). This particular song is from Doom level 1.

See my github page at:
https://github.com/gtaylormb/opl3_fpga

The 4 LEDs are connected to the first 4 (of 18) channel key on registers."

Sammich FM synthesizer Un-assemble DIY kit Yamaha YMF262 OPL3 sound chip

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

You can find some videos featuring the YMF262 in the archives.

"The Yamaha YMF262, also known as the OPL3 (OPL is an Acronym for FM Operator Type-L), is an Frequency modulation synthesis Sound chip released by Yamaha Corporation in 1988. It is an improved version of the Yamaha YM3812 (OPL2). It was used in a number IBM PC soundcards including Sound Blaster 16 and Pro AudioSpectrum (16bit). It adds the following features:

The YMF262 improved upon the feature-set of the YM3812, adding the following features:[1]

twice as many channels (18 instead of 9)
simple stereo (hard left, center or hard right)
4 channel sound output
4 new waveforms (alternating-sine, "camel"-sine, square and logarithmic sawtooth)
4 oscillator mode, pairing 2 channels together to create up to six 4 oscillator FM voices
reduced latency for host-register access (the OPL2 had much longer I/O access delays)
subtle differences in the sine-wave lookup table and envelope generator to YM3812 (e.g. the modulator waveform on YM3812 is delayed by one sample, whereas both carrier and modulator waveforms on OPL3 are properly synchronized)[2]
YMF262 also removed support for the little-used CSM mode, featured on YM3812 and YM3526.[2]

The YMF262's FM synthesis mode is configurable in different ways:[1]

Its basic mode provides 18 two-operator FM channels.

One setting, common to the OPL line, converts 3 of the FM channels into a 5-channel percussion set.

Another setting, introduced with this chip, causes 12 of the channels to be paired up into six four-operator channels. This trades in polyphony for more complex sound formation.

The two settings can be used separately or in conjunction, resulting in four total modes:

18 2-operator channels
15 2-operator channels + 5 drum channels (drum setting on)
6 2-operator channels + 6 4-operator channels (4-op setting on)
3 2-operator channels + 6 4-operator channels + 5 drum channels (both settings on)
Like its predecessor, the OPL3 outputs audio in digital-I/O form, requiring an external DAC chip like the YAC512."

OPLoid FM-Synthesizer — Recreating the sound of the MS-DOS era in Ableton Live (Teaser)

video uploads by Leise im Kran

Playlist:
OPLoid FM-Synthesizer — Recreating the sound of the MS-DOS era in Ableton Live (Teaser)
OPLoid FM-Synthesizer — Prototype Demonstration (OPL2, OPL3, YM3812, YMF262, AdLib)
Leise im Kran — Döbeln Nord | Waldorf Blofeld + OPLoid | early 1990s 3D visualisation

"░░░░░░░░░░𝙾░𝙿░𝙻░𝚘░𝚒░𝚍░░░░░░░░░░
▒▒▒𝙵▒𝙼▒-▒𝚂▒𝚢▒𝚗▒𝚝▒𝚑▒𝚎▒𝚜▒𝚒▒𝚣▒𝚎▒𝚛▒▒▒

◆◇◇◇◇

The OPLoid will go on sale on 31st March 2022 at:
https://leiseimkran.gumroad.com/

◇◆◇◇◇

The OPLoid is an instrument for Ableton Live.

It adopts the synthesis principles of the Yamaha YM3812 (OPL2) and YMF262 (OPL3) FM chips. These chips were widely used on IBM PC-based sound cards in the late 20th century (e.g., AdLib and Soundblaster) and defined the sound of the "MS-DOS era".

The OPLoid is not an accurate emulation of the OPL 2 or 3, but rather a synthesizer on its own. It closely mimics the OPL 2 and 3 in their principles of operation to stay true to the original chips' characteristic sound and to make it accessible in a modern music production environment. Nevertheless, some parameters have been slightly modified to allow for more flexibility in sound design.

While the OPLoid might be useful for all genres of electronic music, it is probably especially suitable for genres from the Vaporwave spectrum, Dungeon Synth and Chiptune.

◇◇◆◇◇

Features:
- close imitation of the 2-operator FM algorithm from the Yamaha OPL2 and OPL3 sound chips
- 8 waveforms
- monophonic and polyphonic mode
- up to 64 voices of polyphony (depending on CPU power)
- 4 LFOs (vibrato, tremolo, FM depth, panorama)
- pitchbend and modwheel support (up to 6 parameters independently mappable to modwheel)
- over 100 factory presets
- cloud patch database for sharing patches among users

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Demo track: Awareness Boys - Awareness Theme (arranged for OPLoid by Leise im Kran)

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More from Leise im Kran:
Streaming: https://bit.ly/3FDakpN
Physical release: https://monikereggplant.bandcamp.com/...

#Soundblaster #AdLib #OPL2 #OPL3 #YM3812 #YMF262 #FMsynthesis #OPLoid #Vaporwave #Maxforlive #Abletonlive #MaxMSP #msdos"

Isla Instruments Caladan - Dual OPL3 card test..

video upload by Isla Instruments

"SPEAKER WARNING:
A VERY rough demo just messing with the onboard filters and synthesis of our OPL3 caladan card."

OPL3

NERDSYNTH DEMO 2015

Published on Dec 3, 2015 firestARTer

Audio comes in at :35. Additional audio demos below. The NERDSYNTH was first posted here on MATRIXSYNTH back on March 16 of 2014. The engine then was based on the ATMegatron from Soulsby Synthesizers. There's no mention of it below, so I'm not sure if that has changed.

Prototype image to the left. Render below.

"The Nerdsynth is a hardware analogue and digital synthesizer, groovebox, sampler, tracker, visualizer, digitizer, music instrument and experimentizer in one machine.

This video shows the recent development stage around december 2015. The Nerdsynth has 6 polyphonic tracks which are connected to several soundchips/synthesizers. 1 Track to the internal Nerdsynth soundchip, 1 ( with 4 sub tracks ) is used as sampler. The 4 other tracks are connected to external sound cartridges which are inserted in the Nerdsynth. Those are the synthesizer cores and soundchips of the ATMegatron, Meeblip Anode, DSP-G1 and Soundgin. More cartridges are in development like a SID cartridge, YM/AY, OPL3 and several analogue and digital synthesizer designs.
The aim is to make the Nerdsynth a real product but there is still alot to do hard and softwarewise.

ONE MUSIC PRODUCTION TOOL FOR ALL YOUR DESIRES!
The Nerdsynth is a analogue and digital synthesizer, groovebox, sampler, tracker, visualizer, digitizer, music instrument and experimentizer in one machine.

tracker style sequencer (inspired by LittleSoundDJ / LittlePiggyTracker)
6 mono- and polyphonic audio tracks
several tracks free configurable with different sound cartridges (eg. SID, YM/AY, OPL3, online DIY synthesizer projects, digital and analogue)
multi track sampler
dedicated visual track for experimental visuals (video out)
easy workflow, parameters are realtime accessable through several knobs, rotary encoders and a X/Y touchscreen
internal mixer and effect unit
stereo line out, headphone out and dedicated track line outs per track
midi In/Out
portable (with internal accu) and studio use
They are many more features which make the Nerdsynth a perfect music production and experimentation tool not only for trackers but for every musician!"

http://www.nerdsynth.com

OPL3 instruments on a diy synthesizer, YMF262 controlled by an Arduino

Published on Oct 9, 2017 DutchBigEd

"4 operand opl3 sounds played by an Arduino controlled YMF262"

New Twisted Electrons BLASTBEATS

WALKTHROUGH video upload by Twisted Electrons

Twisted Electrons BlastBeats Sound Demo (no talking)
video upload by Limbic Bits

0:00 Electronica
0:48 True Electro Part I
1:50 Hang on
2:48 4am
3:52 True Electro Part II
4:45 Ambient & Bass
5:40 minimal
6:36 90s IDM
7:17 Space Night
8:20 Not a bonus sequence at all

Some effects have been used here and there to add some delay and reverb (Valhalla DSP Vintage Verb / Delay)"

via Twisted Electrons

"At the heart of BlastBeats is a vintage FM chip called YMF-262 also known as the OPL3 chip & previously found in computer sound cards of the early 90s.

These chips were notoriously hard to program and were rarely used to their full potential. However, they can produce surprisingly rich beautiful and utterly dirty sounds with a bit of exploring...

By putting so many parameters within easy reach BlastBeasts makes it fun and easy to master the signature sound of the DOS era!

RYTHM & SYNTH
BlastBeats is a 10 voice groove box offering 6 drum voices and 4 synth instruments.

The many faders offer full control over the parameters of the instruments and can be automated and modulated per step ​

Beats and melodies are a pleasure to program thanks to the high quality illuminated buttons"

CLICK FOR MORE »

New Prototype Synth: Wintermute

video upload by SPHERICAL SOUND SOCIETY

"This is a new prototype synth, called Wintermute.

Its a generative groovebox based on the OPL3 Yamaha FM chip.

Somehow I have managed to run an OPL3 emulator inside an overclocked pi pico.

Once the emulator is running, I have applied the basic strategies of ARCANE and expanded it to drive the emulator. It results in a groovebox that is wild, glitchy and quite imprevisible. It produces all kind of Akira like soundscapes and rhythmic phrases

Currently is in development phase, no idea if it will finish being released.

If someone is interested in getting one prototype as it is now, just send us a message."

MIDIbox FM

"MIDIbox FM utilizies the Yamaha YMF262 sound chip (also known as OPL3) for generating the famous FM sounds known from Soundblaster (compatible) soundcards of the early 90s. In addition to the OPL3 specific features (6 four-operator voices, 5 percussion instruments) some software implemented modulation sources have been added to allow more expressive and very experimental sound creations."

Title link takes you there. Also check out this post for one mentioned on GooGooFish.

FIVE MINUTES With Akemie's Castle

Published on Oct 25, 2019 sonicstate

"Akemie's Castle is a 4-operator FM, Dual VCO module. It has a Yamaha YMF262 aka (OPL3) chip inside. One of the VCOs can be set to preset chords making it an interesting module for filling out a modular soundscape."

Fmseq portable

YouTube via laboratoryf.

Details via this auction:

"The #fm_seq (portable edition) is a compact workstation that uses a special FM synthesis chip to produce tweakable sounds that can be sequenced with the included sequencer software. It uses genuine FM synthesis, not the sampled sounds you find with newer audio cards. It's 100% OPL3 compatible and is able to combine up to 36 operators so you can craft and tweak some extremely unique sounds.

Each channel features:

Main frequency (10 bits)Octave (3 bits)Note on/offSynthesis mode (FM or just additive)

Feedback (0-7, the modulator modulating itself)

For each one of the 4 oscillators: Frequency multiply (can be set to 1/2, 1 to 10, 12 or 15)Waveform (Sine, half-sine, absolute-sine, quarter-sine, alternating-sine, "camel"-sine, square and logarithmic saw)Volume (0-63, logarithmic)Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release (4 bits each, logarithmic)Tremolo (On or off)Vibrato (On or off)Sustain (On or off)Envelope scaling per key (On or off)Volume scaling per key (0-3) Vibrato depthTremolo depthPercussion mode (uses 3 channels to provide 5 percussion sounds)

You can easily maipulate the sounds in a live setting and the workstation itself is very portable. Another great thing about this workstation is that you can sit down and focus on programming your sound without the distraction of a million other programs in the background. This Item is completely unique, I built and modified both the hardware and software so this unit sounds really interesting... Watch the video if you want a good idea of what this workstation sounds like. It doesn't cover even a fraction of what this is capable of but it should give you an idea.
Everything comes setup and ready to go.

The software is incredibly easy to learn and understand....you should be able to start making music within an hour of turning the workstation on. UPDATE: A few people have asked if it is able to produce sounds similar to Commodore 64's chip music. The answer is YES....the sounds from this workstation are VERY comparable and in fact more capable since it uses 36 operators to create custom sounds. This new version is 100% compatible with all previous versions."

Doom E1M1 on Digitone

Published on Mar 1, 2018 0F.digital

"Just got a Digitone! Another awesome synth/sequencer from Elektron.

I decided to set a challenge for myself, to find my way around the machine, and FM synthesis in general.. The challenge was to create a close approximation of the OPL3 sounds in Doom, mostly for that great "chuck" snare that I've loved since I was a kid.

One thing led to another, and I found myself programming the note data in as well.. so here it is, plus a long jam of me playing with various sound settings.

I really love this synth so far, it has a sound so much more lush than any other FM synth I've used."

FrankenKorg 800 Demo

FrankenKorg 800 Demo - Toshiba Libretto and Alesis Nanoverb inside a Korg Poly 800 synthesizer!

YouTube Uploaded by opl3toshiba on Feb 24, 2012

"This Korg Poly 800 keyboard is modified with the Moog Slayer mod, FM 800 mod, 12/24 db filter switch, VCF external audio in, an Alesis Nanoverb, and a Toshiba Libretto laptop computer. An Alesis Nanoverb and a Toshiba Libretto have never been built into a Korg Poly 800 synthesizer, until now. In this video I play the FrankenKorg to demonstrate most of its features and sound possibilities. Every sound is generated inside the FrankenKorg; no external effects were used. At some points during the video, I use a foot pedal I designed that connects to the synthesizer and controls the internal VCF cutoff. The video was recorded with a Sony DXC-327 and the audio was recorded with Pro Tools. A Toshiba Libretto 50CT laptop was designed to fit where the programming decal was on the original Poly 800. The Korg's midi out is connected to the input of the MPU-401 controller in the Libretto and the audio output of the Libretto is switchable to either the VCF ext. in or the input of the Nanoverb. In this video, I used the software wavetable and OPL3 FM synthesis chip in the Libretto. The Alesis Nanoverb circuit board sits underneath the Libretto's keyboard inside the FrankenKorg. Controlling the Nanoverb is accomplished through five of the eight added knobs on the Korg's casing. The Nanoverb's audio out can be routed through its original 1/4 inch outputs as well as the headphone output of the Korg. The Nanoverb provides reverb, delay, flange, rotary and chorus effects."

via ComputerMusicGuide

Isla Instruments Teases new Caladan Synthesizer

via Isla Instruments

"From now on, I shall be known as...
Muad'Dib

Well, today is a milestone, everything is ready and has been sent off to fabrication to make the first hardware prototypes.

Caladan is (will be) an 8-part multi-timbral polyphonic analog / digital hybrid synthesizer.

We are carrying on the legacy of a fantastic, groundbreaking synthesizer called the 'Parva' by FutureSonus. Building on its DNA, we are putting our own twist on it to make it the perfect partner to the S2400.

Same form factor, same aesthetic (yes, same wood sides if you want)

It will bring polyphonic playback of multi-sampled instruments (SF2, SFZ, +) out of the box.
But the special sauce is the 8x expansion slots inside the case which will allow me to go completely fucking nuts with add-in voicecards.

OPL3, SID, SEM, SH-101, MiniMoog, Pro-1, etc etc... all these flavours can be realised on expansion cards and all accessed by a common UI.

Voicecards can of course be analog OR digital. The intention is to open this side of the synth up to allow 3rd party developers to create cards also.

I'm literally creating MY 'Dream Synth' and I want to take you along for the ride.

First hardware should be here in a few weeks!!

Here's a couple of renders of what the prototype will look like.

FUCKIN YES!!!!!"

Theme Ospital soundtrack - Remix with Roland Jupiter 6

Published on Mar 22, 2020 mima14031985

"This is a different video compared to the others I usually do. I did a complete remix of the Theme Ospital's game soundtrack, using custom sounds that I made with my Roland Jupiter 6. For the drum tracks I used the GM drumset of my Roland RD700GX digital piano. My reference on how these tunes sound is them being played by a Yamaha OPL3 FM synthesizer, driven with the standard Windows driver's GM set, this reflects a bit on how some sounds are made. The electric piano and some basses are examples of that. For other sounds I preferred a more classic analog vibe, brasses and strings/pads are typical of the analog world.

To record the soundtrack I used the game's original MIDI files. I imported them into Reaper and did one track a time by driving the keyboards via MIDI and recording back the audio coming from them. To make the final result easy on the ear I added a bit of reverb to the master mix. You'll notice that some parts are in stereo (mainly the electric piano lines and background pads/strings), for these I recorded the same MIDI track two times, with the Jupiter's master tune a little different each time, and hard panned each of the two parts to left and right. This allows to achieve a cool "wide stereo spread" effect.

For those who own a Jupiter 6, here's the patch dump: https://www.dropbox.com/s/q86wd8d7m4a...

To make the video I chose to do a multitrack oscilloscope show, and I made it using the SIDWiz2 program, made by Rolf R. Bakke and RushJet1. This is a neat little piece of computer jargon! Check their Youtube channels, they're full of those awesome multitrack oscilloscope shows.

Here's the playlist:

00:09 - 1) Steady Pulse
03:34 - 2) 6's and 7's
07:02 - 3) Night Shift
10:10 - 4) Atlantis
13:28 - 5) Fortune
15:49 - 6) Doctor Frog
17:21 - 7) Candyfloss
18:47 - 8) On The Mend

As always, I hope you like it. Please feel free to comment :-)"

sammichFM

flickr set by Siempre_La_Luna
(click for more)

"MIDIbox project in sammich format based around the venerable OPL3 chip, also known as the YMF 262, made famous by the Soundblaster audio cards of the early 90's."

Pictured is only one of four prototypes in the wild.

sammichSID & sammichFM Assembly

sammichSID Assembly from Justin on Vimeo.

"A high speed construction video of a MIDIbox SammichSID synthesizer.

From the MIDIbox website:
sammichSID was designed to be the “no excuses” MIDIbox SID synthesizer kit - i.e. for all those people who want a MIDIbox SID but consider building it with modules too time-consuming, too newbie-unfriendly and/or too hard to design and construct a control surface, and where MB-6582 is too expensive, too daunting and/or too hard to source all the parts.

sammichSID therefore has the following design constraints/features, which support each other:

* cheap
* small
* DIY newbie friendly
* minimal control surface
* single “walwart”/AC adapter supply, no C64 PSU brick!
* stereo SID, optimized for 8580/6582A, 6581 optionally supported
* “sandwich-style” stacked PCB design, no wires!
* laser-cut 3mm acrylic case by Ponoko, customization possible
* industry standard 2×20 character LCD with low-power LED backlight, customization possible
* common control surface parts used, customization possible

I forgot to add a music credit at the end of the video. The audio track is djynnx. You might know him from NOMMO OGO. If you don't, you probably should. His music is amazing.

For more turbo-charged soldering iron action check out my Gristleizer assembly and test video here: vimeo.com/​5498812

Or my MIDI controlled Atari game console here: vimeo.com/​4424514

Or a vacuum tube clock here: vimeo.com/​9153860"

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Building DIY SammichFM 2011

YouTube Uploaded by Synthnl on Dec 10, 2011

"This year I build a Wilba SammichFM DIY synthesizer kit. It is bases on the famous Yamaha OPL3 sound chip that was also used on the famous Sound Blaster Pro 2.0 and SoundBlaster 16 ASP sound cards. It is a 4 voice FM synthesizer that sounds a lot like the famous Yamaha DX series. During the construction of the synthesizer I filmed the whole process. This movie is an excerpt of the 4 hours total build time. I made the 3D animations myself in Cinema 4D. The music you hear in the background in a track called 'thermosphere' from my 'AtmoSphere' album that I released in 2008. More information on the album on http://www.synth.nl/AtmoSphere. If you are interested in the whole build process of the SammichFM you can read that back on my blog on this URL: http://synthnl.blogspot.com/search/label/sammichfm"

Twisted Electrons BlastBeats SN BB10244

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"A really cool FM groovebox based on the YMF-262 chip (OPL3) used in the SoundBlaster soundcards of the 90s. 10 tracks (6 drums, 4 synth). Very unique."

You can find demos in previous posts here.

CLICK FOR MORE »