List of sound chips


Sound chips come in different forms and use a variety of techniques to generate audio signals. This is a list of sound chips that were produced by a certain company or manufacturer, categorized by the sound generation of the chips.

Programmable sound generators (PSG)

ManufacturerChipYearChannelsApplicationsNotes
Atari, Inc.Television Interface Adaptor 19772Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 video game consoles, Video Music Combined sound and graphics chip, integrated circuit
Atari, Inc.POKEY19794Atari 8-bit, Atari 5200, some Atari arcade machines, certain Atari 7800 cartridges
Atari, Inc.Atari AMY198364/8Intended for 65XEM HMOS chip, additive synthesis chip
Atari, Inc.Atari MIKEY19894For the Atari LynxCombined sound and LCD driver, has 4-channels with an 8-bit DAC
General InstrumentAY-3-891019783Arcade boards, computers, IntellivisionN-type MOS large-scale integration chip
General InstrumentSP025019811Sega G80 arcade system boardLinear predictive coding speech synthesis NMOS chip
General InstrumentSP025619841Intellivoice, MicroSpeech, Datel Electronics Vox Box, Tandy Voice Synthesizer, VIC-20 and Atari 8-bit serial-connected and homebrew kits, Fuzzbuster radar detectorLPC speech synthesis NMOS LSI chip
KonamiRC19811Konami Scramble and Gyruss arcade system boards
KonamiVRC619893Certain Konami-produced Famicom cartridges
MOS TechnologyVIC (6560 / 6561)19774VIC-1001 and VIC-20Combined sound and graphics NMOS chip
MOS TechnologySID (6581 / 8580)19813Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 computers, Elektron SidStation synthesizer sound moduleNMOS chip / HMOS-II chip
MOS TechnologyTED (7360 / 8360)19832Commodore 16, Commodore Plus/4HMOS chip
Microchip TechnologyAY893019893Covox Sound Master Card
Oki Electric IndustryOki MSM523219838Arcade games, Korg Poly-800 polyphonic synthesiserComplementary MOS chip
PhilipsPhilips SAA109919846SAM Coupé, Creative Music System
RicohRicoh 2A03 / 2A0719835Nintendo Entertainment System home console, arcade game Punch-Out!!NMOS chip, delta modulation channel is for pulse-code modulation sampling, 7-bit DAC.
SegaSega Melody Generator19811Sega G80 arcade system board
Sharp CorporationSharp LR3590219894Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy AdvanceIn Game Boy Advance, it's used for Game Boy/Game Boy Color mode and supports software-mixed PCM as a secondary function.
Sharp CorporationSharp SM852119971Game.comNoise generator
SunsoftSunsoft 5B19923Famicom cartridge Gimmick!Derivative of Yamaha YM2149F
Texas InstrumentsSN7647719781Space Invaders arcade system board, ABC 80
Texas Instruments[Texas Instruments Linear predictive coding|LPC Speech Chips|LPC Speech Chips]19781Speak & Spell, Speak & Math, Speak & Read, arcade gamesPitch-excited LPC speech synthesizer, digital signal processor, P-type MOS chip
Texas InstrumentsSN76489 19794Various arcade system boards, Master System console, BBC Micro home computer, Sharp MZ-800, IBM PCjr and TI-99/4A computers
Texas InstrumentsSN76489A 19824ColecoVision and SG-1000 consoles
Texas InstrumentsSN7649619824Tandy 1000 computer
Texas InstrumentsTMS361519812Arcade games
Texas InstrumentsTMS3617
Texas InstrumentsTMS3630
Texas InstrumentsTMS3631-RI104 / RI105
ToshibaToshiba T7766A19883Some MSX models AY-3-8910 compatible chip
Unisonic Technologies CompanyUM66, TXXL series1 or 23-pin CMOS LSI based chip that contains pre-programmed read-only memory
YamahaYamaha YM2149 19833Various arcade boards, MSX computers, Atari ST computerNMOS LSI chip based on AY-3-8910
YamahaYamaha / Sega VDP PSG (SN76496)19844SG-1000 II, Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis and Pico consoles, Game Gear handheld game consoleBased on Texas Instruments SN76496. Integrated into the Yamaha YM2217, Yamaha YM2602, and Yamaha YM7101 VDP chips.
In Mega Drive/Genesis, it is both secondary to the Yamaha YM2612 FM chip and for Master System mode.
YamahaYamaha YM3439 19913Atari Falcon and MSX computersCMOS LSI variant of YM2149

Wavetable synthesis

ManufacturerChipYearChannelsApplicationsNotes
Atmel / DreamSAM940719934Quasimidi digital synthesizers, computer sound cards High-speed CMOS chip
Atmel / DreamSAM970719984Quasimidi digital synthesizers Digital signal processor core
EnsoniqEnsoniq 5503198432Mirage synthesizer and Apple IIGS computer
Hudson Soft / NEC / EpsonHudson Soft HuC628019876NEC's PC Engine consoleCMOS chip
KonamiKonami SCC19875Certain arcade system boards, game cartridges for MSX
NamcoNamco WSG 19803Several Namco arcade system boards
NamcoNamco 52xx 19811Namco Galaga and Namco Pole Position arcade system boards
NamcoNamco 54xx 19828Namco Pole Position arcade system board
NamcoNamco 15xx 19828Namco Super Pac-Man arcade system board
NamcoNamco CUS3019848Namco Pac-Land, Namco Thunder Ceptor, System 86 and Namco System 1 arcade boardsSimilar to the earlier 15xx WSG, but capable of stereo sound.
NamcoNamco 163 19878Namco-produced Famicom games
NintendoVSU-VUE19956Virtual Boy portable consoleSilicon-gate CMOS chip
RicohRicoh 2C3319861Famicom Disk System
Sharp CorporationSharp LR3590219891Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy AdvanceIn Game Boy Advance, it's used for Game Boy/Game Boy Color mode and supports software-mixed PCM as a secondary function.
Sharp CorporationSharp SM852119972Game.com

Frequency modulation (FM) synthesis

ManufacturerChipYearTotal FM operatorsMax FM channelsMax ops / channelApplicationsNotes
ESS TechnologyESFM synthesizer199472184Most ESS Tech sound chips Based on Yamaha YMF262 silicon-gate CMOS chip. Includes wavetable interface. Two modes, one "OPL2/3 compatible" and the other the native superset.
KonamiVRC719901262Famicom cartridge Lagrange PointModified derivative of Yamaha YM2413. Labeled as DS1001 by Yamaha as an internal code.
YamahaYM2128 (OPS) / YM2129 (EGS)198396166Yamaha digital synthesizers Chipset
YamahaYamaha YM2151 19833284Mid-1980s to mid-1990s arcade systems, Sharp X1 and X68000 computers, MSX, Yamaha digital synthesizers NMOS chip
YamahaYamaha YM2203 19841234Some 1980s arcade games, NEC computers 3 additional Yamaha YM2149 SSG square wave channels, silicon-gate NMOS LSI chip
YamahaYamaha YM3526 19841892Bubble Bobble arcade game, Commodore 64 SFX Sound ExpanderSilicon-gate CMOS LSI chip
YamahaYamaha Y8950 19841892MSX-Audio cartridges for MSX Very similar to Yamaha YM3526, additional adaptive differential PCM channel, silicon-gate CMOS LSI chip
YamahaYamaha YM2164 19853284Yamaha FB-01 MIDI Expander, IBM Music Feature Card, MSX, Korg DS-8 and 707 digital synthesizersBased on Yamaha YM2151
YamahaYamaha YM3812 19851892Sound cards for [IBM IBM PC compatible|PC compatible|PC], Yamaha Portasound keyboards Silicon-gate CMOS LSI chip
YamahaYamaha YM2413 19861892Japanese Master System, Sega Mark III, MSX, Yamaha Portasound digital keyboards Silicon-gate NMOS LSI chip
YamahaYM2604 / YM3609 198696166Yamaha DX7 II and TX802 digital synthesizersChipset
YamahaYamaha YM2608 19862464NEC PC-88 and PC-98 computers3 additional Yamaha YM2149 SSG square wave channels, 7 additional ADPCM channels, silicon-gate NMOS LSI chip
YamahaYamaha YM2414 19873284Yamaha digital synthesizers, Korg Z3 guitar synthesizer
YamahaYamaha YM2610 19871644SNK's Neo Geo console, arcade systems 7 additional ADPCM channels
YamahaYamaha YM2612 19882464Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console, FM Towns computer, Sega arcade systemsPCM supported on one of the channels
YamahaYamaha YM3438 19892464Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console, FM Towns computer, Sega arcade systemsImproved Yamaha YM2612, PCM supported on one of the channels, silicon-gate CMOS LSI chip
YamahaYamaha YMF262 199036184Sound Blaster Pro 2.0 and later cards for PC Silicon-gate CMOS chip
YamahaYamaha YMF271 19933618412 additional PCM channels
YamahaYamaha YMF278 199336184Moonsound cartridge for MSX computer
YamahaYamaha YMF292 1994323232Sega Saturn console, Sega ST-V, Model 2A/2B/2C CRX and Model 3 arcade systemsPCM supported
YamahaYamaha YMF288 19952464NEC PC-98 computerBased on Yamaha YM2608
YamahaYamaha YMF7xx 199736184Embedded audio chipset in some laptops and sound cards Integrates Yamaha YMF262
YamahaYamaha YMU757 1999842Some 2000s and 1990s cellphones, PDAs
YamahaYamaha YMU759 200032162Some 2000s cellphones, PDAs8 channels for 4 operators, an additional ADPCM channel
YamahaYamaha YMU762 200164322Some 2000s cellphones, PDAs16 channels for 4 operators, 8 additional PCM/ADPCM channels
YamahaYamaha YMU765 200364322Some 2000s cellphones, PDAs32 PCM/ADPCM channels, 16 channels for 4 operators
YamahaYamaha YMF825 201132164
Yamaha--------
Yamaha--------

Pulse-code modulation (PCM) sampling

ManufacturerChipYearMax PCM channelsMax sample depth Max sample rate ApplicationsNotes
Analog DevicesAD18481992Multiple stereo channels, unlimited1648,000Original Windows Sound System card by Microsoft, Ensoniq Soundscape S-2000 and Elite cardsDigital-to-analog codec chip, 2-channel stereo input/output
ARM Ltd.VIDC20199481644,100Risc PC computer
Atari CorporationJerry1993Variable, limited by software1644,100Jaguar consoleDSP, also supports pulse-width modulation and wavetable synthesis
Atari CorporationSDMA 199281649,170Falcon computerIntegrates Motorola 56001 DSP
Crystal SemiconductorCS4231199211648,000Windows Sound System compatible, Gravis Ultrasound card
DrucegroveDigitalker MM5410419801113,000Namco Galaxian and Scorpion arcade system boards, National Semiconductor Digitalker DT1050 speech synthesizerDelta modulation differential PCM speech synthesis chip
GravisGF11992321644,100Gravis Ultrasound card
Harris CorporationHC-5551619811132,000Irem M27, Sinistar and Midway Y Unit arcade system boardsContinuously variable slope DM adaptive DM speech decoder
IntelIntel High Definition Audio 2004832192,000IBM Personal Computer, IBM PC compatible computers
KonamiKonami K00723219862732,000Konami Bubble System, Twin 16 and TMNT based arcade boardsPCM
KonamiKonami K053260199041232,000Konami TMNT based arcade boardKDSC
KonamiKonami K054539199181632,000Konami Xexex based, Mystic Warriors based and GX arcade boardsADPCM
MacronixFlipper2001641648,000GameCube and Wii consoleADPCM, Dolby Pro Logic II
MOS TechnologyMOS Technology 8364 "Paula"19854828,000Amiga computer
NamcoNamco C14019872412Namco System 2 and System 21 arcade boards
NamcoNamco C21919921612Namco NA-1 and NA-2 arcade system boards
NamcoNamco C35219923216Namco System 22, System FL, NB-1, NB-2, ND-1, System 11, System 12 and System 23 arcade boardsLinear PCM and μ-law PCM samples supported

National SemiconductorLMC199219894850,000Atari STE and TT030 personal computers
NECμPD77511985388,000Sega System 16 arcade boardsADPCM, Speech synthesis chip
NECμPD77591987188,000Sega System 16B and System C2 arcade boards, Sega Pico consoleADPCM, Speech synthesis chip
NVIDIAMCPX2001641648,000Microsoft Xbox console3D sound support, Dolby Pro Logic, DTS, DSP, MIDI DLS2 Support
Oki Electric IndustryOki MSM5205197911232,000Various arcade system boards, NEC's PC Engine CD-ROM² game consoleAdaptive DPCM chip
Oki Electric IndustryOki MSM6258198711215,600Sharp's X68000 computerADPCM
Oki Electric IndustryOki MSM629519874127,576
32,000 		Various arcade system boards ADPCM
Oki Electric IndustryOki MSM9810199981432,000Sammy arcade system boardsADPCM
QSoundQSound DSP16A1992161624,000Capcom's CP System Dash and CP System II arcade system boards, Sony's ZN-1 and ZN-2 arcade system boardsPCM/ADPCM, positional 3D audio support via QSound
RicohRicoh 2A03 / 2A0719821715,745Nintendo Entertainment System home console, arcade game Punch-Out!!NMOS chip, DM channel is for PCM sampling
RicohRicoh RF5c6819898819,800Fujitsu's FM Towns computer, Sega System 18 and System 32 arcade boards
RicohRicoh RF5C16419918831,300Sega CD console add-on1.5 μm silicon-gate CMOS chip
Roland CorporationRoland LA321987161632,000Roland synthesizers, Roland MT-32 MIDI sound module Linear Arithmetic synthesis
SanyoVLM5030 Speech Synthesizer1983188,136Arcade game Punch-Out!!Speech synthesis chip
SegaSegaPCM198516831,250Sega arcade systems
SGIReality Signal Processor (RSP)19961001648,000Nintendo 64 consoleDSP, combined sound and graphics processor, ADPCM, MP3 support
Sharp CorporationSharp SM852119971832,768Game.com handheld
SonySony SPC700 199081632,000Super Nintendo Entertainment System consoleBit Rate Reduction ADPCM
SonySony SPU (Sound Processing Unit)1994241644,100Sony PlayStation and PlayStation 2 consolesADPCM; two cores on PS2
SonySony SPU21999481648,000Sony PlayStation 2 and early PlayStation 3 consolesADPCM, Dual-core sound unit, Supports Dolby Digital, DTS; emulated on PS3 for backwards compatible PS1/PS2 games
YamahaYamaha Y8950 198418~50,000MSX-Audio cartridges for MSXADPCM, Speech synthesis chip
YamahaYamaha YM2608 1985716 55,500 NEC PC-88 and PC-98 computersADPCM
YamahaYamaha YM2610 1987716 55,500 SNK's Neo Geo console, arcade systems ADPCM
YamahaYamaha YM2612 19881826,633
29,000
44,100 		Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console, FM Towns computer, Sega arcade systems
YamahaYamaha YMW258-F 1991281644,100Sega arcade boards, Yamaha instruments Advanced Wave Memory sampling
YamahaYamaha YMF271 1993121244,100
YamahaYamaha YMF278 1993241644,100Moonsound cartridge for MSX computer
YamahaYamaha YMF292 1994321644,100Sega Saturn console, Sega arcade systems
YamahaYamaha YMZ280B 199581644,100Cave, Data East, and Psikyo arcade systemsADPCM supported
YamahaYamaha AICA1998641648,000Dreamcast console, Sega arcade systems ADPCM
YamahaYamaha YMU759 2000188,000Some 2000s cellphones, PDAsADPCM
YamahaYamaha YMU762 20018848,000Some 2000s cellphones, PDAsADPCM supported
YamahaYamaha YMU765 200332848,000Some 2000s cellphones, PDAsADPCM, Analog Lite, and speech synthesis supported