Inventory Archives -

Daughterboards

salient — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 09:48:27 +0000

These are the daughterboards I currently own:

AST Advantage Wavetable card [DB IIA Rev. 1.1] (Card only)

Audio chipset: AdMOS QDSP QS700
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: ??/?? (GM)
Polyphony: ??
Year of introduction: 1995 (?)

Aztech CS9233 [ANSC71007259] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Crystal CS9233
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 190/?? (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1994 (?)

Aztech Sound Galaxy Wave Power (Card only)

Audio chipset: Ensoniq OTTOR2
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1992 (?)

Beepblaster 2.0 (Card) *

Chipset: Dual Atmel Atmega 328P
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1 (GM)
Polyphony: 16
Year of introduction: 2022

* This daughterboard is based on this project. More information can be found here. It has two sound modes, a so called “Beepblaster mode” and a “Beeptable Synth” mode.

Creative Labs Wave Blaster [CT1900] (Card only) *

Audio chipset: E-MU Sound Engine Rev.A
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/18 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1993

* This daughterboard is essentially the same as the external E-Mu Sound Engine module (it even says so on the card) but lacks the reverb/chorus effects.

Creative Labs Wave Blaster II [CT1910] (Boxed)

Audio chipset: E-MU 8000
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/10 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1994

Diamond Monster Sound Wavetable Card [MON SND WVTBL CRD 0.5MB] (Card only)

Audio chipset: AdMOS QDSP QS1000
ROM size: 0.5 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1996

Diamond Monster Sound Wavetable Card [MON SND WVTBL CRD 2MB] (Card only)

Audio chipset: AdMOS QDSP QS1000
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1997

Gallant Wavetable Card [GMW-1000] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM9203
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 315/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: ????

Hizon DB333 [Formosa 16-bit AudioStar Wave] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM9233
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 343/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1995

IBM Aptiva Wavetable Card [S-W1/C] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Crystal CS9233
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 343/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1994

Kinoshita Laboratory MIDI-Guy Rev. 2.1 (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM2695
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/5 (GM)
Polyphony: 64 (38 with effects)
Year of introduction: 2021

Miditemp DoX-1 Wavetable Daughterboard [V 1.10] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Korg “Hi-Synthesis”
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 660/30 (GM/GM2)
Polyphony: 62
Year of introduction: 2006

Miditemp DS-48 CleanWave32 [SOUND CARD VER 1.0] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM9733
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 323/10 (GM)
Polyphony: 48
Year of introduction: 1999

NEC XR385 [Yahama DB60XG Clone] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Yamaha XQ036A0
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 676/21 (GM/XG)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 19??

Pine PT-2030 Vivaldi Xtra Wavetable DB [YMF-704C-S OPL4] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Yamaha YMF-704C-S (OPL4)
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 24
Year of introduction: 1996 (?)

Pine Vivaldi Wavetable DB [PT-202] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Samsung KS0164
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1995 (?)

Roland Sound Canvas SCB-7 [SCD-10] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Roland TC6116AF
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/6 (GM)
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1995

Roland Sound Canvas SCB-55 [SCD-15] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Roland TC6116AF
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 354/9 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1995

Serdaco Crystal Blaster C1 Solder Kit (Card only) *

Audio chipset: Crystal CS9236
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 2020

* This wavetable daughterboard comes as a through-hole solder kit, which means the one SMD component has already been placed.

Serdaco Dreamblaster S1 [SO-01003 REV C] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM2195
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: ??/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 64 (38 with effects)
Year of introduction: 2014

Serdaco Dreamblaster S2 [SO-03011-B] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM2695
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/5 (GM)
Polyphony: 64 (38 with effects)
Year of introduction: 2015

Serdaco Dreamblaster X1 [SO-03002 REV E] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM2655
ROM size: 8 MB (32MB Flash)
Instruments/Drumkits: ??/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 64 (38 with effects)
Year of introduction: 2015

Serdaco Dreamblaster X2GS [SO-03010 REV C] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM5504B
ROM size: 16 MB (ROM) + 48MB (Flash)
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/15 (GM/GS) *
Polyphony: 81
Year of introduction: 2021

Serdaco Dreamblaster X16GS [SO-0309D] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM5716B
ROM size: 16 MB (ROM) + 1GB (Flash)
Instruments/Drumkits: 308/15 (GM/GS) *
Polyphony: 256
Year of introduction: 2023

* This chip uses an officially licenced Roland GS “Sound Canvas” soundset and although unconfirmed it has more than a few similarities to the Roland SC-88. The user changable banks come preloaded with the “Dream CleanWave”, “Buran V1.1”, “OPL3-FM General MIDI” and “GXSCC Chiptune” soundsets. Additionally, there are 2 more empty soundbanks.

Serdaco E-Wave (Limited McOtto Edition) [SO-03058E] (Card only)

Audio chipset: ESS AudioDrive ES6992S
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 2021

Serdaco McFly [SO-03061B] (Card only)

Audio chipset: VLSI VS1053 *
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1 (GM)
Polyphony: 64 (max. 40 sustained, depending on clock frequency)
Year of introduction: 2020

* This chip has a very low-fi, sometimes even FM-like sound to it. It also is not 100% GM compatible and struggles with some more complex (sysex) MIDI files. This manifests itself by just going quiet completely during playback or by hanging notes. This can be heard in some of the recordings on this site.

Serdaco McQub [SO-03068B REV B] (Card only)

Audio chipset: AdMOS QDSP QS1000 *
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/8 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 2021

* The chip and sound ROM on this card are also utilized on the Diamond Monster Sound 2MB Wavetable daughterboard as well as several ISA soundcards with on-board wavetable capabilities.

Serdaco MP32L Raspberry Pi HAT [SO-03076B] (Card only) *

Audio chipset: emulation
ROM size: variable
Instruments/Drumkits: variable
Polyphony: variable (up to 256, depending Raspberry Pi model)
Year of introduction: 2021

* This is technically not a Wavetable daughterboard but an add-on for a Raspberry Pi and to be used with the MT32-pi software. This software uses Munt to (very accurately) emulate the Roland MT-32 and/or CM-32L (appropriate ROM files must be provided by yourself due to legal reasons) and uses FluidSynth to load virtually any type of soundfont for GM/GS playback. Various options for the emulation and settings can be made in the mt32-pi.cfg file, such as max. polyphony, display settings, default soundfont banks, etc.

Serdaco Qwave [SO-03068D REV D] (Card only)

Audio chipset: AdMOS QDSP QS1000 *
ROM size: 0.5 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 2021

* The chip and sound ROM on this card are also utilized on the Diamond Monster Sound 2MB Wavetable daughterboard as well as several ISA soundcards with on-board wavetable capabilities.

Serdaco WP32 McCake CM4 Based Waveblaster Board [SO-03066E] (Card only) *

Audio chipset: emulation
ROM size: variable
Instruments/Drumkits: variable
Polyphony: variable (up to 256)
Year of introduction: 2021

* This is a Wavetable daughteboard that utilizes a Raspberry Pi CM4 and is to be used with the MT32-pi software. This software uses Munt to (very accurately) emulate the Roland MT-32 and/or CM-32L (appropriate ROM files must be provided by yourself due to legal reasons) and uses FluidSynth to load virtually any type of soundfont for GM/GS playback. Various options for the emulation and settings can be made in the mt32-pi.cfg file, such as max. polyphony, display settings, default soundfont banks, etc.

Serdaco Yucatan FX [GSBLASTER-YUCATAN FX-REV B] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM9733
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 354/9 (GM/GS) *
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 2020

* This daughterboard is effectively a Turle Beach Cancun FX clone and uses the exact same sound ROM. Therefore it sounds exactly the same, but also comes with the same “volume/distortion” bug. This exact sound ROM is also used in the Anteg EasyMIDI EM-100 sound module.

Terratec MiniWaveSystem [SOWT-11 Ver1.0] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Crystal CS9233
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 343/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1997 (?)

Terratec MiniWaveSystem [SY-TTWT-11M V1.0] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Crystal CS9233
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 343/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1997 (?)

Terratec MiniWaveSystem [WT64 V1.0] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM9503
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 287/8 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1997

Terratec Producer Wave XTable [TT9708WT V1.1B] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM9708
ROM size: 16 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 492/12 (GM/GM2/GS/XG)
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 2005

Terratec WaveSystem [SCW001-2 VER.1.0] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Crystal CS9203
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 315/8 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1993

Trust Korg Super Sound Module [SCW 020 MPB-000013 VER 1.2] (Card only)

Audio chipset: Korg MBCS35104
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: ?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: ????

Turtle Beach Rio [TBS-RIO-PC00 Rev.3] (Card only)

Audio chipset: ICS WaveFront ICS2115V
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/?? (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1993 (?)

Yamaha DB50XG Sound Daughter Board (Card only)

Audio chipset: Yamaha XQ036A0
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 676/21 (GM/XG)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1995

Yamaha DB51XG Sound Daughter Board (Card only) *

Audio chipset: Yamaha XU947C0
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: ?/? (GM/XG) **
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1998?

* This module came installed by default in the Korg NX5R sound module (A black version of the NS5R with a slightly different LCD display, which does have the wavetable header but comes with no card installed by default).
** This module is said to be a cut-down version of the DB50XG, lacking the QS300 instrument set and has 16-bit output instead of 18-bit, but I can’t confirm this.

The post Daughterboards appeared first on .

External MIDI Modules

salient — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 09:47:49 +0000

In this section is a list with the current external MIDI devices I currently own.

Akai SG01k GM Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Akai S3000
ROM size: 8 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 189/9 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1995

Alesis NanoSynth (Boxed)

Audio chipset: Alesis
ROM size: 8 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 640/9 (GM)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1997

Anteg EasyMidi EM-100 (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM9503
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/17 (GM/GS) *
Polyphony: 48 (34 with all effects on)
Year of introduction: 1999

* This unit uses the same unofficial “Roland GS” sound ROM as the Turtle Beach Cancun FX daughterboard although the GS logo is nowhere to be seen.

Boss Dr. Synth DS-330 (Unit only) *

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 156/8 (GM) **
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1992

* This module is essentially the same as the Roland SC-33 but with slight differences like less internal sounds.
** This module is GM only although the manual states it can be configured to accept GS reset commands albeit lacking some variation tones. A DS-330 with both the GM and GS logo also exists but I am not sure if this has the extra tones the SC-33 has or not.

Casio GZ-50M GM Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Hitachi HG51B155FD-1
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/8 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1998

Creative Midi Blaster MB10 (Boxed)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM9805B
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1 (GM) *
Polyphony: 20 *
Year of introduction: 1993

* Although Creative Labs specified this module as 20-note polyphonic which already disqualifies it as a GM device (which requires 24 at least) the module is in fact only 16-note polyphonic. The fact is that Creative was dishonest about two specific characteristics of this device although after all this time it can never be confirmed whether this was intentional or not.

Doepfer GMX-1 General Midi Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM8905
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/6 (GM) *
Polyphony: 20 *
Year of introduction: 1992

* Because this module has only 20-voice polyphony, it is officially disqualified as a GM device (requires 24 at least).

E-MU Sound Engine Music Module (Unit only) *

Audio chipset: E-MU 8805
ROM size: 4 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 384/64 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1993

* This module is basically the same as the Creative Wave Blaster (CT1900) but with added reverb and chorus effects.

Hammond GM-1000 Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: V.A.S.E. (Versatile Advanced Sound Engine)
ROM size: 8 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 368/9 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1994

Kawai GMega Synthesizer Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Kawai DMS2
ROM size: 3 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/7 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1992

Korg Audio Gallery AG-10 AI2 Synthesis Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Ai2
ROM size: 4MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/4 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1993

Korg NS5R AI2 Synthesis Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Ai2
ROM size: 12 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1049/31 (GM) *
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1997

* This module features an internal waveblaster compatible header, so support for a Yamaha XG board is possible. In fact, the NX5R comes with a Yamaha DB51XG daughterboard by default.

Korg X5DR AI2 Synthesis Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Korg Ai2
ROM size: 8 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 430/8 (GM)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1995

Midiplus MiniEngine USB (Boxed)

Audio chipset: Dream SAM2635
ROM size: 1 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 287/8 (GM)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 2016 (?)

Roland CM-32L LA Sound Module (Boxed)

Audio chipset: Roland LA synthesis
ROM size: 1 MB (2 x 512kB)
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1989

* This module is basically a LAPC-I ISA soundcard in a box, e.g. a 2nd generation MT-32 with the extra sound effects.

Roland CM-300 GS Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 3MB (GS)
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GS)
Polyphony: 24
Year of introduction: 1991

Roland CM-500 GS/LA Sound Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland GS + LA synthesis
ROM size: 3MB (GS) + 1 MB (LA)
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GS) + 128/1 (LA)
Polyphony: 24 (GS) + 32 (LA)
Year of introduction: 1991

* This module has an issue when comparing it to the CM-64/CM-32L/MT-32 where in some circumstances a too fast vibrato on instruments can be audible. This can be fixed by replacing the Control ROM with a patched version and replacing a 12MHz crystal with an 8MHz variant, making it behave the same as the previous models.

Roland MT-32 Multi Timbre Sound Module (1st generation)

Audio chipset: Roland LA synthesis
ROM size: 0.5 MB (1 x 512kB)
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1987

Roland PMA-5 Personal Music Assistant (Unit with leather carrying case)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 306/16
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1996

Roland RA-50 Realtime Arranger (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland LA synthesis
ROM size: 0.5 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/1
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1988

* This module has an MT-32 soundmap and can therefore act like a second generation MT-32 which can be useful for DOS games. However, it does not support the “All notes off” command, which can lead to hanging notes in DOS games. This can be overcome with the SoftMPU utility though and there is even a hardware “fix” by cutting a trace and connecting two IC pins on the mainboard.

Roland SC-7 Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/6 (GM)
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1992

Roland SC-33 Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 226/8 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1992

Roland SC-55 Sound Canvas (GS standard front, Unit only, ROM version 1.10)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 3 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 24
Year of introduction: 1991

Roland SC-55 Sound Canvas (GS front, Unit only, ROM version 1.21)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 3 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 24
Year of introduction: 1991

Roland SC-55 Sound Canvas (GM/GS front, Unit only, ROM version 2.00)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 3 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 24
Year of introduction: 1991

Roland SC-155 Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 3 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 317/9 (GM/GS)
Polyphony: 24
Year of introduction: 1992

Roland SC-88 Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 8 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 654/22(GM/GS)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1994

Roland SC-88 Pro Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 20 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1117/42 (GM/GS) *
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1996

* This module is somewhat (unofficially) compatible with the Yamaha XG standard, albeit very limited.

Roland SC-8820 Sound Canvas (Boxed)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 24 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1608/63 (GM/GM2/GS)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 1999

Roland SC-8850 Sound Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 32 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1640/63 (GM/GM2/GS) *
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 1999

* This module is somewhat (unofficially) compatible with the Yamaha XG standard, albeit very limited.
Also, the GM/GS compatibility is flawed, which makes it a less interesting choice for using it to play DOS games and listening to standard GM/GS MIDI files.

Roland SD-50 Mobile Studio Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 128 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1125/32 (GM2/GS)
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 2009

Roland/Edirol SD-80 Studio Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1050/30 (GM2/GS/XGLite)
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 2002

* This module is basically a slimmed-down version of the SD-90 with the option of saving user patches (which the SD-90 lacks) but without the audio interface.

Roland/Edirol SD-90 Studio Canvas (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1050/30 (GM2/GS/XGLite)
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 2001

Roland SonicCell Desktop Synthesizer Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Roland
ROM size: 128 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 896+256/32+9 (GM2)
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 2007

Tascam Pocketstudio 5 (Unit only)

Audio chipset: ?
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/5 (GM)
Polyphony: 64
Year of introduction: 2002

Yamaha CBX-T3 Tone Generator (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Yamaha YMW258-F
ROM size: 16 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 192/10 (GM)
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1993

Yamaha DTXpress Drum Trigger Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Yamaha AWM2
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/48 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 1996

Yamaha DTXpress III Drum Trigger Module (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Yamaha AWM2
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 128/48 (GM)
Polyphony: 32
Year of introduction: 2004

Yamaha MU2000EX Tone Generator (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Yamaha AWM2
ROM size: ? MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 1396/58 (GM/GS/XG)
Polyphony: 128
Year of introduction: 1999

Yamaha TG100 Tone Generator (Unit only)

Audio chipset: Yamaha YMW258-F
ROM size: 2 MB
Instruments/Drumkits: 192/10 (GM) *
Polyphony: 28
Year of introduction: 1991

* This module uses 12-bit samples instead of 16-bit.

The post External MIDI Modules appeared first on .

Internal Soundcards

salient — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 09:49:08 +0000

These are the internal PC soundcards that I currently own (ISA).

Advanced Gravis UltraSound with 1MB RAM [Rev. 3.4]

Music/Digital capabilities: up to 32 voices Gravis GF1 16-bit/44.1KHz Playback, 8-bit/44.1KHz Recording (Stereo) *
Other: 16-bit recording daughterboard upgrade
Connections: Speaker-out, Line-out, Mic-in, Line-in, Game/MIDI-port
Interface: ISA (16-bit)
Year of introduction: 1991

* Playback 44.1KHz up to 14 voices. Only 19KHz with all 32 voices enabled. Recording can be 16-bit 44.1KHz with optional daughterboard. Note that the UltraSound PnP is based on the AMD Interwave chip instead of the Gravis GF1 and is the only UltraSound card able to play back at 44.1KHz with all 32 voices enabled.

Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 ASP [CT-1740] – DSP 4.05

Music capabilities: 20-voice FM Yamaha YMF262 OPL3 (Stereo)
Digital capabilities: 16-bit/44.1kHz Playback, 16-bit/44.1kHz Recording (Stereo)
Connections: Line-out, Line-in, Mic-in, Game-port (doubles as MPU-401 UART interface), Wave Blaster compatible header, Creative/Panasonic CD-ROM interface
Interface: ISA (16-bit)
Year of introduction: 1992

Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 MCD [CT-1750] – DSP 4.05

Music capabilities: 20-voice FM Yamaha YMF262 OPL3 (Stereo)
Digital capabilities: 16-bit/44.1kHz Playback, 16-bit/44.1kHz Recording (Stereo)
Connections: Line-out, Line-in, Mic-in, Game-port (doubles as MPU-401 UART interface), Wave Blaster compatible header, Creative/Panasonic, Mitsumi and Sony CD-ROM interfaces
Interface: ISA (16-bit)
Year of introduction: 1993

Creative Labs Sound Blaster AWE32 with 2MB RAM expansion [CT-3900] – DSP 4.13

Music capabilities: 20-voice FM Yamaha YMF262 OPL3 (Stereo)
MIDI capabilities: 32-voice E-MU EM8000 (1MB ROM) (Stereo)
Digital capabilities: 16-bit/44.1kHz Playback, 16-bit/44.1kHz Recording (Stereo)
Other: 512kB on-board RAM (expandable to 28MB with SIMM)
Connections: Line-out, Line-in, Mic-in, Game-port (doubles as MPU-401 UART interface), Wave Blaster compatible header, Creative/Panasonic and IDE CD-ROM interfaces
Interface: ISA (16-bit)
Year of introduction: 1994

Creative Labs Sound Blaster AWE64 Gold with 8MB RAM expansion [CT-4390 + CT-1930]

Music capabilities: 20-voice FM OPL3 emulation (Stereo)
MIDI capabilities: 64-voice E-MU EM8000 (1MB ROM) (Stereo) *
Digital capabilities: 16-bit/44.1kHz Playback, 16-bit/44.1kHz Recording (Stereo)
Other: 4MB on-board RAM (expandable to 28MB with proprietary Memory Upgrade Modules) **
Connections: Line-out, Line-in, Mic-in, Game-port (doubles as MPU-401 UART interface)
Interface: ISA (16-bit)
Year of introduction: 1996

* 32-voice hardware based, 32-voice software-based, relying on system CPU
** A modern upgrade board called SIMMconn exists, allowing to upgrade the memory using regular 72-pins SIMM modules

The post Internal Soundcards appeared first on .

Used-to-own

salient — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 19:13:07 +0000

Listed here is the stuff that I used to own.

External (Midi) modules:

Disney Sound Source [Boxed]

Korg 05R/W Sound Module [Unit only]

Roland MT-32 2nd generation LA Synthesis Module [Unit only]

Roland CM-64 LA Synthesis Module [Unit only]

* Photo not taken by me *

Roland Sound Canvas SC-55 Mk II Sound Module [Unit only]

Roland Sound Canvas SC-D70 Sound Module [Unit only]

Roland Music Timer FG-10 Sound Module [Unit only]

Wavetable Daughterboards:

Roland Sound Canvas SCB-7 (SCD-10) Wavetable card [Boxed]

Roland Sound Canvas SCB-55 (SCD-15) Wavetable card [Boxed]

Yamaha DB50XG Wavetable card [Boxed]

PC Soundcards (ISA/PCI):

AdLib [1987 – Boxed]

AdLib [1990 – Card only]

AdLib Gold 1000 [Boxed]

AdLib MCS 16 PnP [Card only]

Aztech Sound Galaxy NX Pro [Card only]

Creative Labs CMS Kit [Boxed, chips sealed]

Creative Labs Game Blaster [CT1300B – Card only]

Creative Labs Sound Blaster 1.5 [CT1320C – Boxed]

Creative Labs Sound Blaster 1.5 with C/MS chip expansion [CT-1320B]

Creative Labs Sound Blaster 2.0 [CT1350B Rev.3 with CMS – Card only]

Creative Labs Sound Blaster 2.0 [CT1350B Rev.4 – Boxed]

Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 Value Edition [CT2740 – Boxed]

Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 Vibra [CT2800 – Card only]

Creative Labs Sound Blaster 32 PnP [CT3670 Boxed]

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Pro 1 [CT1330A Rev.2 – Boxed]

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Pro 2 [CT1600 – Boxed]

Diamond M80 Monster Sound [Boxed]

Gateway Spea V7 Media FX Clone [Rev. C – Card only]

Gravis UltraSound [v3.4 – Boxed]

Gravis UltraSound [v3.7 – Card only]

Gravis UltraSound ACE [v1.0 – Boxed]

Gravis UltraSound MAX [v2.1 – Boxed]

Gravis UltraSound Plug & Play [v1.0 – Boxed]

LABS Blasterboard (DIY Kit)

Music capabilities: 11-voice FM Yamaha YM3812 OPL2 (Mono)
Digital capabilities: 8-bit/62.5kHz Playback (Mono)
Connections: Line-out
Interface: ISA (8-bit)
Year of introduction: 2019

* This is a custom-built Sound Blaster 2.0 clone specifically designed with low-noise in mind. It lacks the game port as well as line/mic inputs but does have a PC-speaker and CD-Audio header and separate volume buttons for all sound sources at the back. The card is based on a real Yamaha OPL2 chip and an Atmel Atmega328P microcontroller.