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Q89877: Sound System: Description of Yamaha OPL3 and OPL2 Chips

Article: Q89877
Product(s): Miscellaneous Windows Products
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 13-JUN-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows Sound System, versions 1.0, 1.0a, 2.0 
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SUMMARY
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The Yamaha OPL3 synthesis chip (YMF262) is backward-compatible with the Yamaha
OPL2 synthesis chip (YM3812), the synthesis chip used in Adlib and
Adlib-compatible boards. The OPL3 chip supports more complex waveforms, more
voices, and stereo sound. It is also compatible with other sound cards.

MORE INFORMATION
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Because the OPL3 has two modes, one of them being a compatibility mode at
startup, the compatibility is only ensured after you have turned off and
restarted your computer.

The OPL3's new features are:

- More complex waveforms creating more complex timbres

- More voices (up from 9 to 18)

- Stereo voices (although a voice must be entirely on the left channel, right
  channel, or both)

Some MediaVision cards, Adlib-gold cards, and newer versions of the SoundBlaster
Pro card use the OPL3. The OPL3 chip can be identified by looking for a surface
mount chip with the label "YMF262" on the sound card.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWinSoundSysSearch kbWinSoundSys100 kbWinSoundSys100a kbWinSoundSys200

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