Interesting fact: Master System games on the Wii Virtual Console that support the FM synthesis add on can play with the FM synthesis sound. Turn it on by pressing the - button while playing the game to bring up a menu and select "FM Synthesis on."
Even back in '86 I thought the SMS sound was pretty terrible. It got on your nerves unlike the NES. It was pretty hard going from tunes on SMB and Zelda to Double Dragon and Rampage...
What I really wish though is that they either built the Yamaha FM chip it into the Power Base Converter for the Genesis or were somehow able to tap into the Genesis's FM synth chip. It would have been great to relive all of the SMS games on the Gen around that time, especially after we were used to the Gen sound.
I can see why nobody bothered to by this chip, the SMS is a budget games console, anyone wanting better sound and graphics would have just brought a megadrive / genesis instead of wasting their money on this. The megadrives sound was awesome. Even today some of the tunes still sound great, mainly streets of rage etc.
@leerees Budget system? Not really. You realize the SMS came out in NA in 1986, 3 years before the Genesis and versions of it go back even further in Japan. It wasn't competing with the Mega Drive or Genesis. It was competing with the Famicom and NES. It has better graphics than the NES but most would agree the NES has better sound. The SMS was $200 USD when it launched in 1986 it was no budget system.
@MN12BIRD Well it did turn out that way later on. Especially the cut down Master system 2. I remember seeing Master system consoles for sale for £35 in a catalogue towards the end of the format's life.
@MN12BIRD leerees basically told you what the situation was with the console in Europe from 1991 (that is, after the Mega Drive was released in late 1990) until 1996. Not only the price cut it had was that of a budget system, but it also got lots and lots of games shared with the Mega Drive (downgraded versions) and the Game Gear (converted versions) from that year on. And even with that, it still received some cool original games like Ninja Gaiden or Power Strike II.
Does anybody know if the SMS games that enable the FM YM2413 sound chip can also be disabled so we can still have the choice of hearing the games in regular PSG sound?
@Adam060756 1) If you have a JP Mark III with the FM expansion module attached, then you just have to unplug it in order to have those games back with PSG sound. 2) If you have a JP SMS with FM chip built in, then no. This way you will always hear the game with the FM sound by default and won't be able to go back to PSG sound by any mean. 3) If you have a western console with the FM chip soldered in it through homemade procedure, then you'll have to remove it, which is not as handy as done in 1)
The FM chip does a really good job of bringing out the bass and percussion (two weak points for both the SMS and even the Genesis sound chips). It's a shame they left it out of the US version.
@MN12BIRD True I prefer both or even just FM as it tends to sound More arcade like and I've been to plenty of arcades running 8-bit to 16-bit games (Still) and it sounds exactly the same give or take a few extra FM samples and white noise generators.
Informative video (though could have been edited a bit), but you fail to point out the fact that a handful of north american games did have the FM chip built into the cartridge itself. Phantasy Star and Golvellius are two I can think of off hand.
@gerger72 There are also several games that had FM code in them, but were not released, in Japan, so the whole world never got to listen to they're FM music. (Unless an FM expansion board was installed or they had a Japanese SMS and region adaptor) Rampage is the only game i know that has FM but was never released in Japan, but there are other games too.
@deathworm101 Altered Beast, California Games, Casino Games, Cloud Master, Galaxy Force, Golfamania, Out Run 3-D, Poseidon Wars 3-D, Rastan, Rescue Mission, Scramble Spirits, Shanghai, Tennis Ace, Time Soldiers, Ultima IV, Vigilante and Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap are all the others.
If i'm not mistaken, the master system uses a form of fm synthesis anyways... this probably is a better quality chip and I suspect it layers several voices onto the same channels... my guess is the master system has 4 tracks for 4 synth voices... this chip addon would essentially need to read the same hex code already programmed and would need to know where to make the change.
We all know what Sonic sounds like on the Mega Drive, we also know what Sonic sounds like on the Master System without the FM sound chip. What I want to know is what does Sonic sound like on the Japanese Master System with the FM sound chip fitted? Has anyone uploaded any video demonstrations?
@Lachlant1984 None of the Sonic games on the SMS had support for the Yamaha chip unfortunately. My favorites are Afterburner, Shinobi, and the Japanese version of Phantasy Star. Those really benefit from the chip.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Honestly do you people think that FM synthesis is really an improvemnt to games sound? IMO it's a horrible technology and easily the worst sounding... as a prove the best Genesis soundtracks are all powered by SN chip like Streets Of Rage series... it was a BIG mistake for Sega to put that FM chip into Genesis - it's the weakest point of the system... have a look at Turbograf-X - much much better sound
interesting facts! if SEGA had choosen to release this as a standard feature in the west the Master system would have been superior to the NES sonically as well (or at least in my opinion). they could have used this as sell's argument at the time. Double dragon sounds great! great boost to the kick drum
I am fairly certain that this video is *very* incorrect that a US Master System can have the YM 2413 attached to the expansion port. I have also never seen a shred of evidence that the chip could be soldered to a US SMS. Please, if this is true, provide a link and prevent me from buying a Mark III or Japanese SMS just so I can hear the real output (not Fusion's interpretation).
Man, I see videos about these chips but no one told me where to find one of the plug-in version and how rare they are! Is there anyone that knows where to find one?
no no I don't have FM in mine I was using an emulator to show the difference in sound. With Fusion you have pretty good sound emulation and an option to turn the FM sound on and off.
@MN12BIRD The FM YM2413 in Fusion is OK, But if you compare FreezeSMS with a real YM2413, FreezeSMS is more accurate, and sound almost exactly the same.
The exclusion of the FM chip in western Master Systems makes sense from a historical perspective. While FM chips had been around in home and business computers for quite some time in Japan, computers and video games in the west pretty much all still had crude and simple tone generators when the Master System was released (save the C64 and Amiga (the Amiga still being quite expensive)).
So, the demand for better sound must have been higher in the Japanese market, since they hade been "spoiled."
@drivojulianrobotnik The reason for this is the Creative SoundBlaster AWE64 has a Yamaha YMF-262 FM synthesizer built in. The YMF-262 is, think of it as the YM2413's Younger sister. Both the YMF-262 and the YM2413 are the two offsprings of the YM3812. The YM2413 being a stripped down, cost-reduced version, and the YMF-262 being the more advanced version.
This chip is stupid though, it uses those preset waves kinda like the YM in the Konami VRC7, sounds like a bad Adlib soundtrack. YM2612's FM is way better.
What the fuck! Here in Australia we didn't get that FM sound chip either! So America,England,Europe and Australia only had the standard 8-bit audio chip ah? While Japan gets Mega Drive sound for there Master Systems! That's not fair! We really did get ripped off!
I couldn't agree with you more, Sega should have included the FM chip in ALL versions of the Master System, and all the games that supported should have been released all over the world, as it is, I personally think the Master System sounds worse than the NES.
@tigheklory There is a guy on SMSPower, can't remember his username, but he makes the FM expansion boards, and he has some instructions on how to add it to both the PowerBase converter and the GameGear.
BTW This is the best comment posted to me that i have seen all day. A troll is hanging around my channel for the past 3 days now.
In my personal opinion, the music playback on the SMS is slightly inferior to the NES without the FM Sound chip, it's such a shame that Sega didn't release the US/European versions of the Master System with the FM Synth chip, damn you Sega!. No wonder the SMS was sold to Tonka Toys and eventually went balls up.
this video is too sweet. maybe its just me, but that fm sound, sounds more lo-fi, then the original yamaha fm7 keyboard. which i like... it sounds really unique.
You might be interested in the work i've been doing with soundfont if your card supports it if you like vids such as this one. GM compatable instrument set with 0% real instrument juice *grins* Lo-fi is fine by me
Hey Jake, I remember years ago having my keyboard/synthesizer hooked up to a MIDI card in my computer and playing the now classic Sierra games with it. I have fond memories of playing Hoyle, Space Quest, and Leisure Suit Larry with it. This review reminded me of those days .. Thanks, man .. I am looking forward to future reviews.
Yeah man, it was pretty sweet .. Much improved sound, a lot like the FM chip in the Japanese SMS consoles .. I think there were even a few sound effects, too .. I didn't know about the FM chip until this video though .. Cool stuff. I figured out how to subscribe today. :-) Consider me a fan ..
i've been working on a soundfont (instrument set) for 3 years that brings back the sound of FM and NES sound. Gm compat! :) Take a look and rate, if it's good enough to everyone, i will release it public. Works with sblive/audigy under KX drivers (or regular drivers). Will work decent on an x-fi... but again, you could run this on an awe64 gold if you wanted! 4mb of fm glory!
All the free FM synth options i've come across are either incomplete or just not good enough. There are a few beyond that but are commercial. I wasnt trying to duplicate it however, I wanted to re-invent it a bit...It's own style. Some people just like the way FM sounded all hissy and clangy and whatnot. It's made for people like that, and for those people that dont want have to switch thier applications etc. It's made for creative sblive/audigy/x-fi owners, and those with no ISA slots left :)
I just started working on an FM soundfont too (inspired by yours). It's called MD/FDS FUSION (it uses samples from both MegaDrive and Famicom Disk System. I might release mine soon... btw its my first soundfont.
I think Double Dragon sounds the most improved. I think I like Alterted beast more without it, with the FM chip the flute is gone and the SFX sound muffled.
I also think The Legend of Zelda's music/sound would have been similarly detracted had it used similar synthesis, though I don't know of the Famicom disk system's properties.
The FM sounds sound like some MIDI music on Sound Blaster.
That's what really pisses me off: Japan gets most of the good stuff. And now, I'm running all over the place trying to find a Yamaha keyboard with the YM2413 in it(I know that the Yamaha PSS-170 and PSR-6 have the YM2413 in them). I was going to build my own FM Synthesis circuit, but I guess I can also get the Sega Mark III FM Synthesis unit and plug it into my Master System(not so much "plug in" as it is to take the entire FM Synthesis unit apart and integrate it into a US Master System).
wait what? you are not making any sense. why are you going to get a keyboard just to get a chip. it's a whole lot cheaper and easier to get the chip at a place like radio shack. the ym3812 is basically the same chip too BTW.
from wiki
"The YM2413, also called OPLL, is a cost-reduced sound chip manufactured by Yamaha Corporation and based on their YM3812 (OPL2). To make the chip cheaper to manufacture, many of the internal registers were removed."
OPL2 and OPLL are completely different FM Synthesis chip types, so I can't use a YM3812 instead of the YM2413.
FYI, I have NO RadioShack up in Canada(all RadioShacks up here have been replaced by The Source), and I'm pretty sure that even if there was a RadioShack in my area, there wouldn't be a YM2413(I've checked 2 stores specializing in electronics in my area, and NOT ONE has the YM2413 or the YM3812).
umm you do realize that they are exactly the same thing right? so that mega drive thing and the genesis sound exactly the same. i thought about everyone knew this.
Why didn't they think to at least include this in the Power Base Converter. The Genesis already had the 2612, surely there was a method of conversion, since they sound very similar.
It's such a shame that the US and European/PAL versions of the Master System didn't come with the FM synth chip in them, the FM chip sounds so much better than the standard Master System, I personally prefer the sound of the NES over the Master System, I think the NES sounds better than the Master System.
One thing I've noticed between the Japanese and Western Master Systems is that the Western one has "Base Unit" written on the front.
So could Sega originally have intended that to be an introductory system for the range, like MS does with the Arcade 360 system?
It also adds weight when you see that games only ever released in the west such as Wonder Boy III were FM compatible, so the decision was there at one point, but very final games like Alex Kidd in Shinobi World didn't.
maybe an addon was something they planned if they made money from the SMS, but the gamegear didnt have any FM chip cause it would cost a lot to make the chip smaller to fit the game gear
I reckon it was because Sega didnt have the money, to distribute the master system with a better sound chip, all over the world, Japan is one country, but Sega might have opted to cut costs around the world.
The YM2413 is based on the 3812. It has 15 hardcoded instruments and one user instrument.
douro20 4 months ago
Interesting fact: Master System games on the Wii Virtual Console that support the FM synthesis add on can play with the FM synthesis sound. Turn it on by pressing the - button while playing the game to bring up a menu and select "FM Synthesis on."
therealhardrock 6 months ago
@therealhardrock Ahh that was cool of them to include that option.
MN12BIRD 6 months ago
I came here to listen to SMS and FM Synthesis and all I got was a bunch of video of other game consoles while Sega CD music plays :p
Might wanna remove unnecessary intros like that in the future.
shoemanbundy 7 months ago
@shoemanbundy This video is years old and yes the intro has been changed to a MUCH shorter one on newer videos.
MN12BIRD 7 months ago
I wonder if the Genesis FM chip would work in the Master System
1300l 9 months ago
so the boops and beeps turned into plinks and plunks
SPOONman4000 9 months ago
fancier? perhaps. better? a matter of personal preference. some people like it simple.
moom1000 9 months ago
holy crap it sounds better
madden8021 10 months ago
Even back in '86 I thought the SMS sound was pretty terrible. It got on your nerves unlike the NES. It was pretty hard going from tunes on SMB and Zelda to Double Dragon and Rampage...
What I really wish though is that they either built the Yamaha FM chip it into the Power Base Converter for the Genesis or were somehow able to tap into the Genesis's FM synth chip. It would have been great to relive all of the SMS games on the Gen around that time, especially after we were used to the Gen sound.
videogameobsession 11 months ago
I can see why nobody bothered to by this chip, the SMS is a budget games console, anyone wanting better sound and graphics would have just brought a megadrive / genesis instead of wasting their money on this. The megadrives sound was awesome. Even today some of the tunes still sound great, mainly streets of rage etc.
leerees 11 months ago
@leerees Budget system? Not really. You realize the SMS came out in NA in 1986, 3 years before the Genesis and versions of it go back even further in Japan. It wasn't competing with the Mega Drive or Genesis. It was competing with the Famicom and NES. It has better graphics than the NES but most would agree the NES has better sound. The SMS was $200 USD when it launched in 1986 it was no budget system.
MN12BIRD 11 months ago 2
@MN12BIRD Well it did turn out that way later on. Especially the cut down Master system 2. I remember seeing Master system consoles for sale for £35 in a catalogue towards the end of the format's life.
andyukmonkey 11 months ago
@MN12BIRD leerees basically told you what the situation was with the console in Europe from 1991 (that is, after the Mega Drive was released in late 1990) until 1996. Not only the price cut it had was that of a budget system, but it also got lots and lots of games shared with the Mega Drive (downgraded versions) and the Game Gear (converted versions) from that year on. And even with that, it still received some cool original games like Ninja Gaiden or Power Strike II.
WeskerSega 6 months ago
Does anybody know if the SMS games that enable the FM YM2413 sound chip can also be disabled so we can still have the choice of hearing the games in regular PSG sound?
Adam060756 11 months ago
@Adam060756 1) If you have a JP Mark III with the FM expansion module attached, then you just have to unplug it in order to have those games back with PSG sound. 2) If you have a JP SMS with FM chip built in, then no. This way you will always hear the game with the FM sound by default and won't be able to go back to PSG sound by any mean. 3) If you have a western console with the FM chip soldered in it through homemade procedure, then you'll have to remove it, which is not as handy as done in 1)
WeskerSega 6 months ago
Really interesting episode, nice job.
The FM chip does a really good job of bringing out the bass and percussion (two weak points for both the SMS and even the Genesis sound chips). It's a shame they left it out of the US version.
vjnctn 1 year ago
Your intro is awesome. o_o
tehmariopwner 1 year ago
List of Games to compare
Gain Ground
Echo the dolphin
Funky Bob AKA B.O.B. (Electronic arts lol)
Although, thats the difference between master system, and genesis.
therealquade 1 year ago
does the master system converter support it?
that would be a nice feature
figaro589 1 year ago
Master system was quite popular in my country,it sounded fine even without the FM synthesis.
When I play it on emulators,though I have the option to change to FM synthesis on some games as you know,I still prefer it unchanged.
With FM it sounds too ''midi''which is a bit annoying to my ears.
oyama82 1 year ago
@oyama82 Yeah I've actually heard several people saying that they prefer the PSG sound to the FM sound.
MN12BIRD 1 year ago
@MN12BIRD True I prefer both or even just FM as it tends to sound More arcade like and I've been to plenty of arcades running 8-bit to 16-bit games (Still) and it sounds exactly the same give or take a few extra FM samples and white noise generators.
kawaiifreak860 1 year ago
@oyama82 rave music is also fm, maybe a little more advanced, theres nothing wrong with fm, you just dont know enough about it. no offence.
rouncer81 11 months ago
whoooaaah sounds actualy like genesis.
sega had to promote their console as lichtyears more powerfull then the nes cuzz it really was.
they shut had to come early with the slogan what sega does nintendo,nt,cuzz it,s true.
the genesis was actualy based on mastersystem technology with some expanded memory and a 16bit proccesors!!!!!!
johneymute 1 year ago
Megadrive II for the win!!!
officialshintek 1 year ago
Informative video (though could have been edited a bit), but you fail to point out the fact that a handful of north american games did have the FM chip built into the cartridge itself. Phantasy Star and Golvellius are two I can think of off hand.
gerger72 1 year ago
@gerger72 There are also several games that had FM code in them, but were not released, in Japan, so the whole world never got to listen to they're FM music. (Unless an FM expansion board was installed or they had a Japanese SMS and region adaptor) Rampage is the only game i know that has FM but was never released in Japan, but there are other games too.
deathworm101 1 year ago
@deathworm101 Altered Beast, California Games, Casino Games, Cloud Master, Galaxy Force, Golfamania, Out Run 3-D, Poseidon Wars 3-D, Rastan, Rescue Mission, Scramble Spirits, Shanghai, Tennis Ace, Time Soldiers, Ultima IV, Vigilante and Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap are all the others.
WeskerSega 6 months ago
Jesus Christ, get to the point already, you damn Canuck!
johnnytluxury 1 year ago 2
canadian much? talkin' a boot.
teknokrat1 1 year ago 2
If i'm not mistaken, the master system uses a form of fm synthesis anyways... this probably is a better quality chip and I suspect it layers several voices onto the same channels... my guess is the master system has 4 tracks for 4 synth voices... this chip addon would essentially need to read the same hex code already programmed and would need to know where to make the change.
MrDebauch 1 year ago
We all know what Sonic sounds like on the Mega Drive, we also know what Sonic sounds like on the Master System without the FM sound chip. What I want to know is what does Sonic sound like on the Japanese Master System with the FM sound chip fitted? Has anyone uploaded any video demonstrations?
Lachlant1984 1 year ago
@Lachlant1984 None of the Sonic games on the SMS had support for the Yamaha chip unfortunately. My favorites are Afterburner, Shinobi, and the Japanese version of Phantasy Star. Those really benefit from the chip.
videogameobsession 1 year ago
Wow i only just figured out the song at the start of the vid: the song from the US Sega CD 2 BIOS v2.00
deathworm101 1 year ago
master system is one of the best consoles i have ever seen!
TheMeleemasterX 2 years ago 6
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Honestly do you people think that FM synthesis is really an improvemnt to games sound? IMO it's a horrible technology and easily the worst sounding... as a prove the best Genesis soundtracks are all powered by SN chip like Streets Of Rage series... it was a BIG mistake for Sega to put that FM chip into Genesis - it's the weakest point of the system... have a look at Turbograf-X - much much better sound
maiki60fps 2 years ago
do you own a Yamaha DX7?
M60E4gold 2 years ago
@M60E4gold I own a Roland D-20.
xan1242 1 year ago
interesting facts! if SEGA had choosen to release this as a standard feature in the west the Master system would have been superior to the NES sonically as well (or at least in my opinion). they could have used this as sell's argument at the time. Double dragon sounds great! great boost to the kick drum
realgtro 2 years ago
Does the FM Synthesis for the Master System, makes it's games sound just as good or better than the NES?
dafranx 2 years ago
hey the nintendo super famicom is by japan
arkinod 2 years ago
I'll correct myself. SMS Power! sells the expansion, awesome!
weaponx013 2 years ago
@weaponx013 SMS Power themselves don't sell it, but viletim on the SMS Power forums (who developed the expansion module) does.
ApolloBoy 1 year ago
I am fairly certain that this video is *very* incorrect that a US Master System can have the YM 2413 attached to the expansion port. I have also never seen a shred of evidence that the chip could be soldered to a US SMS. Please, if this is true, provide a link and prevent me from buying a Mark III or Japanese SMS just so I can hear the real output (not Fusion's interpretation).
weaponx013 2 years ago
I give up. Where is this video's intro music from?
Adoincus 2 years ago
Heh Sega CD Model 2 BIOS/Bootup music!
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
HA HA! KNEW i herd that music from somewhere! Good old days with the Sega CD :)
ThePhoneUpdate 2 years ago
whats the sysetem at 0:11 ?
TapionXG3 2 years ago
Either the Sega Master System or the NEC Turbo Grafx 16 right after it not sure what one you're seeing but it's one of those!
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
Man, I see videos about these chips but no one told me where to find one of the plug-in version and how rare they are! Is there anyone that knows where to find one?
mattsprinter 2 years ago
Yeah I saw some guy selling them on a forum but that was awhile ago and I haven't seen them since.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
You should do a video showing it. Or is yours built-in to your master system?
mattsprinter 2 years ago
no no I don't have FM in mine I was using an emulator to show the difference in sound. With Fusion you have pretty good sound emulation and an option to turn the FM sound on and off.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
Oh.
mattsprinter 2 years ago
@MN12BIRD
i have fusion but how can i make it happend?....
nicolaj0154 1 year ago
@MN12BIRD The FM YM2413 in Fusion is OK, But if you compare FreezeSMS with a real YM2413, FreezeSMS is more accurate, and sound almost exactly the same.
deathworm101 1 year ago
yes the optional fm soundchip is awesome cuzz sounds simmilar like genesis.
yes it,s sad that sega removed the enhanced fm soundchip in the west.
i wonder if the gamegear also had external soundpin option.
johneymute 2 years ago
Once again SEGA messed up, outside of Japan the SMS was always regarded as having really poor sound and now I know the reason why.
IF the FM chip had been included, the SMS very likely would have been received quite differently and appraised higher on the retro scene.
Is it easy get hold of the Japanese SMS if you live in Europe?
JayArgonaut 2 years ago
I grew-up without the FM Synth so I actually prefer the tunes without it, as they sound like downgraded Mega Drive tunes with it!
CrazyCartwright 2 years ago 2
The exclusion of the FM chip in western Master Systems makes sense from a historical perspective. While FM chips had been around in home and business computers for quite some time in Japan, computers and video games in the west pretty much all still had crude and simple tone generators when the Master System was released (save the C64 and Amiga (the Amiga still being quite expensive)).
So, the demand for better sound must have been higher in the Japanese market, since they hade been "spoiled."
storerestore 2 years ago
where can you buy the add on for the US model one Master System? I can't seem to find it. The one that just plugs into the expansion port.
Thanks. Love the vids.
masonsushi 2 years ago
Super !
J'ai aussi une collection de jeux vidéos comme toi...
Bonne journée et Alp
grenouil1970 2 years ago
I wonder if any of the Sonic games for the SMS could use the FM sound chip?
Lachlant1984 2 years ago
Double Dragon sounds JUST like Creative Soundblaster AWE64 MIDI DSP!
drivojulianrobotnik 2 years ago
@drivojulianrobotnik The reason for this is the Creative SoundBlaster AWE64 has a Yamaha YMF-262 FM synthesizer built in. The YMF-262 is, think of it as the YM2413's Younger sister. Both the YMF-262 and the YM2413 are the two offsprings of the YM3812. The YM2413 being a stripped down, cost-reduced version, and the YMF-262 being the more advanced version.
deathworm101 1 year ago
Comment removed
mattsprinter 2 years ago
What's the difference between the SEGA master system and SEGA mark 3?
mattsprinter 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
There is no diffrence, just diffrent name.
Adam060756 2 years ago
lots of clickyness in the FM basslines
mitzibishi 2 years ago
This chip is stupid though, it uses those preset waves kinda like the YM in the Konami VRC7, sounds like a bad Adlib soundtrack. YM2612's FM is way better.
KitsuneDarkStalker 2 years ago 2
why is "which" spelled "witch" in the description?
desertman123 2 years ago 2
That's why everybody needs to move to Japan!
NextNate03 2 years ago
What the fuck! Here in Australia we didn't get that FM sound chip either! So America,England,Europe and Australia only had the standard 8-bit audio chip ah? While Japan gets Mega Drive sound for there Master Systems! That's not fair! We really did get ripped off!
Adam060756 2 years ago 2
its racism. pure n simple!
mitzibishi 2 years ago
I couldn't agree with you more, Sega should have included the FM chip in ALL versions of the Master System, and all the games that supported should have been released all over the world, as it is, I personally think the Master System sounds worse than the NES.
Lachlant1984 2 years ago 11
wow, we got ripped off
XKintaroX 2 years ago
What about the powerbase converter -- can you add the FM chip to that?
And the Game Gear is a portable SMS so could the same thing be done?
tigheklory 2 years ago
@tigheklory Yep. That can be done.
deathworm101 1 year ago
@deathworm101 WOW that would be SO awesome! Are you going to do it? I have two power base converters, where would I go to to get the info to do this?
tigheklory 1 year ago
@tigheklory There is a guy on SMSPower, can't remember his username, but he makes the FM expansion boards, and he has some instructions on how to add it to both the PowerBase converter and the GameGear.
BTW This is the best comment posted to me that i have seen all day. A troll is hanging around my channel for the past 3 days now.
deathworm101 1 year ago
@deathworm101 Thanks for the information! I really appreciate it!! I was going to subscribe to your channel, but I see you don't have one :-(
tigheklory 1 year ago
@tigheklory I'm sorry. I will reopen it for you.
deathworm101 1 year ago
@tigheklory I would post a link, but that leads to me getting a strike on my account.
deathworm101 1 year ago
did the UK have the fm chip do you know? i don't have any of those games, not even out run O.o
fyphfoko 2 years ago
no, since the UK model is identical to the American model.
ive played some games for the SMS in the UK and they sound like NES games
lightdark28 2 years ago
With FM chip it sounds like Sega Genesis/MegaDrive games...
Without FM chip it sounds like NES games...
MiracleKD18 3 years ago
In my personal opinion, the music playback on the SMS is slightly inferior to the NES without the FM Sound chip, it's such a shame that Sega didn't release the US/European versions of the Master System with the FM Synth chip, damn you Sega!. No wonder the SMS was sold to Tonka Toys and eventually went balls up.
Lachlant1984 3 years ago
this video is too sweet. maybe its just me, but that fm sound, sounds more lo-fi, then the original yamaha fm7 keyboard. which i like... it sounds really unique.
chadcells 3 years ago
Comment removed
xBONESstyle 2 years ago
You might be interested in the work i've been doing with soundfont if your card supports it if you like vids such as this one. GM compatable instrument set with 0% real instrument juice *grins* Lo-fi is fine by me
breadrack 2 years ago
Hey Jake, I remember years ago having my keyboard/synthesizer hooked up to a MIDI card in my computer and playing the now classic Sierra games with it. I have fond memories of playing Hoyle, Space Quest, and Leisure Suit Larry with it. This review reminded me of those days .. Thanks, man .. I am looking forward to future reviews.
SBour1973 3 years ago
Damn that's cool I would have loved to have seen that back in the day. I loved playing KQV and VI too.
MN12BIRD 3 years ago
Yeah man, it was pretty sweet .. Much improved sound, a lot like the FM chip in the Japanese SMS consoles .. I think there were even a few sound effects, too .. I didn't know about the FM chip until this video though .. Cool stuff. I figured out how to subscribe today. :-) Consider me a fan ..
SBour1973 3 years ago
Comment removed
SBour1973 3 years ago
I cant get enough of this fm style music... so,
i've been working on a soundfont (instrument set) for 3 years that brings back the sound of FM and NES sound. Gm compat! :) Take a look and rate, if it's good enough to everyone, i will release it public. Works with sblive/audigy under KX drivers (or regular drivers). Will work decent on an x-fi... but again, you could run this on an awe64 gold if you wanted! 4mb of fm glory!
breadrack 3 years ago
You shoud also make a new soundcard, which uses soundfont stored in the card's memory :P
MiracleKD18 3 years ago
Uh for FM style music - just use a real FM synth or an emulation of one. It's all digital anyway.
illDiology 3 years ago
All the free FM synth options i've come across are either incomplete or just not good enough. There are a few beyond that but are commercial. I wasnt trying to duplicate it however, I wanted to re-invent it a bit...It's own style. Some people just like the way FM sounded all hissy and clangy and whatnot. It's made for people like that, and for those people that dont want have to switch thier applications etc. It's made for creative sblive/audigy/x-fi owners, and those with no ISA slots left :)
breadrack 3 years ago
I just started working on an FM soundfont too (inspired by yours). It's called MD/FDS FUSION (it uses samples from both MegaDrive and Famicom Disk System. I might release mine soon... btw its my first soundfont.
RecFreeMedia 2 years ago
I think Double Dragon sounds the most improved. I think I like Alterted beast more without it, with the FM chip the flute is gone and the SFX sound muffled.
I also think The Legend of Zelda's music/sound would have been similarly detracted had it used similar synthesis, though I don't know of the Famicom disk system's properties.
The FM sounds sound like some MIDI music on Sound Blaster.
koolkitty8989 3 years ago
I just had a look at a video comparing the two Zelda versions and it pretty much agrees with my assumption.
Almost all of the sound and music sounds better (to me) on the NES version.
koolkitty8989 3 years ago
Were the sounds improved when played on the Genesis/MG's with the power base converter?
koolkitty8989 3 years ago
Simple answer, no, I'm afraid.
silverbakuk 3 years ago
Excellent.
hatetradamus 3 years ago
I deem this must know information for all SMS players. Excellent video.
sinistermoon 3 years ago
interesting.
raulitech 3 years ago
Great vid.
Anyone know if the chip works with wonderboy: the dragons trap? I loved the music in that game as it was but would love to hear it improved.
ZombieToaster 3 years ago
Night and day difference !
DrAquafreshness 3 years ago
Sounds like Mega Drive Music to me. Seriously, how many add-ons did sega have? Also i've noticed that you put the Super Famicom in the intro.
Skibicks123 3 years ago
If only the Genesis' sound quality could be as good as the Dreamcast...
RiverCityRandomness 3 years ago
The Double Dragon one sounds like any other genesis game! AWESOME! SMS games that sound like Genesis games!
iYell2u 3 years ago
That's what really pisses me off: Japan gets most of the good stuff. And now, I'm running all over the place trying to find a Yamaha keyboard with the YM2413 in it(I know that the Yamaha PSS-170 and PSR-6 have the YM2413 in them). I was going to build my own FM Synthesis circuit, but I guess I can also get the Sega Mark III FM Synthesis unit and plug it into my Master System(not so much "plug in" as it is to take the entire FM Synthesis unit apart and integrate it into a US Master System).
Ace9921 3 years ago
wait what? you are not making any sense. why are you going to get a keyboard just to get a chip. it's a whole lot cheaper and easier to get the chip at a place like radio shack. the ym3812 is basically the same chip too BTW.
from wiki
"The YM2413, also called OPLL, is a cost-reduced sound chip manufactured by Yamaha Corporation and based on their YM3812 (OPL2). To make the chip cheaper to manufacture, many of the internal registers were removed."
wikipedia org / wiki / Yamaha_YM2413
james42519 3 years ago
OPL2 and OPLL are completely different FM Synthesis chip types, so I can't use a YM3812 instead of the YM2413.
FYI, I have NO RadioShack up in Canada(all RadioShacks up here have been replaced by The Source), and I'm pretty sure that even if there was a RadioShack in my area, there wouldn't be a YM2413(I've checked 2 stores specializing in electronics in my area, and NOT ONE has the YM2413 or the YM3812).
Ace9921 3 years ago
Sega going crazy with the add-ons way back, gotta love Sega. They always had to try something.
thebonefish 3 years ago
i used to have double dragon for the sms and i prefer the original music than the fm
vipor29 3 years ago
It sounds like a 16-bit system :O
Glumglufs 3 years ago
China and japan get the best stuff:(
crazzer123 3 years ago 4
The FM synthesis chip makes Master System games sound like Genesis games.
therealhardrock 3 years ago 2
I'd say they sounded more like Mega Drive games personally.
ScrewAttackEurope 3 years ago 2
umm you do realize that they are exactly the same thing right? so that mega drive thing and the genesis sound exactly the same. i thought about everyone knew this.
james42519 3 years ago
Comment removed
Ace9921 3 years ago
umm, you do realize that was intended to be a joke right? I thought about everyone would get this.
ScrewAttackEurope 3 years ago
LOL I got a giggle out of it but then again I know that you of all people know they are the same so I knew you were kidding around.
MN12BIRD 3 years ago
Cheers ^_^
Did I ever tell you I've got a Mega Jet? complete fucking waste of time, it's a Nomad without a screen!
Then again who the hell thought a console designed to playing solely on aeroplanes was a good idea in the first place?
ScrewAttackEurope 3 years ago 2
Why didn't they think to at least include this in the Power Base Converter. The Genesis already had the 2612, surely there was a method of conversion, since they sound very similar.
shorty1k 3 years ago
It's such a shame that the US and European/PAL versions of the Master System didn't come with the FM synth chip in them, the FM chip sounds so much better than the standard Master System, I personally prefer the sound of the NES over the Master System, I think the NES sounds better than the Master System.
Lachlant1984 3 years ago
One thing I've noticed between the Japanese and Western Master Systems is that the Western one has "Base Unit" written on the front.
So could Sega originally have intended that to be an introductory system for the range, like MS does with the Arcade 360 system?
It also adds weight when you see that games only ever released in the west such as Wonder Boy III were FM compatible, so the decision was there at one point, but very final games like Alex Kidd in Shinobi World didn't.
ScrewAttackEurope 3 years ago
So it must have been a plan to release the add-on here until they gave up towards the end of it's life to concentrate on the Mega Drive.
Also, Why did the Game Gear never have the FM sound chip either?
ScrewAttackEurope 3 years ago
maybe an addon was something they planned if they made money from the SMS, but the gamegear didnt have any FM chip cause it would cost a lot to make the chip smaller to fit the game gear
lightdark28 3 years ago
It'd ecxplain why theres an add-on port!
Also they did mention plans for using the expansion ports in the past in the press. But I thought it would have been for a computer add-on back then.
ScrewAttackEurope 3 years ago
I reckon it was because Sega didnt have the money, to distribute the master system with a better sound chip, all over the world, Japan is one country, but Sega might have opted to cut costs around the world.
lightdark28 3 years ago
OR because the Master System came out in the West first, and therefore not aware of the add-on.
They added it in Japan otherwise the machine wouldn't have sold as it'd be considered a step down.
ScrewAttackEurope 3 years ago
If you get a hold of a Sega Mark III...I will be impressed.
DatVillain83 3 years ago
I remember sega having poor sound. cant hate the ol sega though...
GrugNorg 3 years ago
without sounded like 2600 or nes and with sounded like it couldv'e been genesis
pepsiru1es92 3 years ago
thats crazy!!!
crammage 3 years ago
Does the sega master system 2 already have this chip built in?
MNC122703 3 years ago
NO, you have to iron it in
LysergBREAKDOWN 3 years ago
6th!
SystemXpander 3 years ago
sega always was launching addons to put patches on their systems
ultrakupra 3 years ago
dam there is a difference you should have done thw gen altered beast to just for the hell of it. now I have to track me a jap sms.
CAGEDTF2 3 years ago
i actually like some of the original better
will2993 3 years ago
Me too. Some of the FM synthesis sound effects are kinda hard on the ears
Infinitrium 3 years ago
Don't they have anything like this for the NES?
mstoons 3 years ago
I think that some Famicom Disk system games did, but I'm not sure about the NES.
kfcjpo 3 years ago
no, the nes didn't. only the disk sys.
pepsiru1es92 3 years ago
yea some FDS games did.
ThisIs2009 3 years ago