Sega Master System - FM Sound Unit 🎧

[@thepthepthep]

1:17 One important thing to note is that the Mark III+FM Sound Unit setup doesn't actually mix together both PSG and FM audio, only the JP Master System and aftermarket add-ons (SMSFM board, Power Base mini FM) can do that. Because of this, games that are FM compatible only have either FM or PSG depending on if the FM unit is connected or not. The only two things I know of that *do* mix both PSG and FM are the JP SMS BIOS and a neat hack of Sonic 1 with FM support.

[@RetroCrisis]

Ah yes you're aboslutely correct - I should have made that more clearer!!! Thanks for sharing the knowledge dude

[@monx]

The Sonic mod was made by ValleyBell, primary maintainer of VGMplay.

[@panchopistolas2593]

Thank you very much for this kind of videos. The sound/music improvement in games is a topic that always caught my attention. I wonder if the Mister Fpga would work with Retroarch, because there's a Midi option with some parameters in it.

[@RetroCrisis]

Thanks so much for watching! I love this topic too - I have another similar video you might be interested in - kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZ7SoYihgdWLh68. Do you have a Mister? Is that something you're able to test?

[@panchopistolas2593]

@@RetroCrisis Thanks. No I don't have one its just pure curiosity. I'm going to check the link thanks, again.

[@raza_is_retro]

The knowledge you have about the in and out on video games video game consoles, sounds, and all the techinical side of things is really amazing you should be a University professor👌👌👌 the fm sound makes a big difference, double dragon with fm sound is beautiful to the ears ✌✌ great video mate.

[@retroprojections]

Great vid! Through my own testing and research I have found that Wonder Boy III, Phantasy Star, and Ys all are not supported with FM sound through the Power Base FM Mini. Also OutRun has major noise problems when played in FM mode.

[@RetroCrisis]

Thanks dude! I believe the games you've mentioned require a Japanese master system or mark 3 system to get the FM sound...I could be mistaken though. Do you have the FM mini??

[@retroprojections]

@@RetroCrisis yeah, I do. It works pretty flawlessly, other than with the games I listed.

[@RetroCrisis]

@@retroprojections that's awesome. I considered getting one a while back just for the backwards compatibility for the Mega Drive. But in a wired way I think I prefer the regular SMS sound - probably nostalgia

[@retroprojections]

@@RetroCrisis I understand that! It's a bouncy joyful little sound chip! The FM tunes change the entire feeling of some games: Golvellius for example.

[@RetroCrisis]

Totally agree! Golvelius becomes a lot more serious and subdued with its soundtrack which is a contrast to how colourful and cartoony it is

[@daveruda]

Its a cool addition to the Master System. Sometimes it works ok with the FM sound. But mostly I perfer the standard chip sound. Some of the melodies and sounds are muted and weaker with the FM. Also there is something about the identity of the console tied to its sound as well.

[@RetroCrisis]

I see your point about the console's identity and you're absolutely correct. In some cases the FM does dampen some of the punch of the SMS sound chip for sure

[@shaolin95]

@@daveruda console's identity is nonsense. The FM improves on the biggest weakness of the unit. No need to romanticize things ;)

[@Wobble2007]

@@shaolin95 Has nothing to do with romanticizing things, it's about the melodic quality the PSG, aka chiptune audio has, FM Synth is fantastic too, so is MIDI, all have their place, but the Master System does sound better with PSG for the most part, it has a stronger melodic tone that lends itself far more to the 8-Bit games, I love OPL3 music, probably my favourite synth type, but I love PSG too, and it's nice to have both.

[@patoprehistorico]

5:16 This is what Sonic music would sound like with that chip

[@sambagogo777]

Do those MS games have FM sound when used with a Sega Nomad plus MS cartridge adaptor?

[@RetroCrisis]

I'm guessing only if the MS cart adapter supports FM sound

[@sambagogo777]

@@RetroCrisis Interesting. So it's the adaptor, not the actual console itself, which determines FM sound functionality for MS games? I'd always assumed that said adaptors were nothing more pass-through devices with no additional functionality so I guess I was wrong.

[@RetroCrisis]

@@sambagogo777 So from my understanding, only the japanese SMS has the FM chip, which wasn't released in International versions. Sega Nomad was USA only, so wouldn't have had the SMS FM chip. But the FM Mini adaptor has the FM built in.

[@sambagogo777]

@@RetroCrisis I just realised that I was confusing elements of the Nomad with the Game Gear. My bad! I somehow got confused by thinking of the GG's adaptor for MS games. D'oh! Yeah, the Power Base Converter doesn't physically fit the Nomad. I don't know if there were any third-party versions of it that did though.

[@thepthepthep]

​@@sambagogo777 Also, the Nomad isn't compatible with SMS games at all without modding. You'd also need to perform an additional mod so that external audio from the cart slot can get mixed in.

[@sobek_2012]

I know this might sound a daft question what's that have been because of the style of TVs because a lot of the older TVs never had a decent enough a stereo output especially in the European and American market a lot of people Eva didn't have the money or just didn't bother upgrading TV ?

[@RetroCrisis]

Back in the 80s most devices were mono audio so stereo TVs didn't make sense. The NES and SMS both had mono audio outputs. I think by the time the SMD and SNES arrived, stereo was a bit more common

[@sobek_2012]

@@RetroCrisis thanks that makes sense 👍 I have seen some of them at a place I went at the weekend called... retro computer museum in leicester and you can play on all the old computer there as well

[@RetroCrisis]

Ah nice I didn't realise there was a retro museum in Leicester!!! I need to go visit - thanks for that!

[@sobek_2012]

@@RetroCrisis yes I've been mentioned it to quite a few retro gaming KZbinrs as it is an absolute fantastic place to visit and it's not that expensive it's only open at weekends 👍

[@RetroCrisis]

@@sobek_2012 I'll defo pay a visit - thanks!!!

[@ValentinesEve1996]

1:53

[@SomeOrangeCat]

To me, much of the FM music just doesn't sound good, because its the same orchestration as the PSG version, just using a different sound driver. None of it seems to be made with FM in mind.

[@murder.simulator]

Not much difference. Still spunds like crude beeps to me.

[@shaolin95]

Are you deaf? You need an ear doctor fast 😂😂😂

[@ThePbrook1967]

Can we still get the chips? How can I mod my SMS?

[@afriend9428]

*you can buy it from a company in Australia and you have to install it yourself*

[@ThePbrook1967]

Do you know the name of the company?@@afriend9428