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  • Joined: 24 Sep 2006
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For everybody who bought my FM boards
Post Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:10 am
My FM boards don't sound right - listen to the attached mp3 samples if you don't know what I'm talking about.

All boards I've sold to date have a defective YM2413 sound chip. Admittedly, I've known that there was a problem for a while now but couldn't confirm that it was the YM2413 at fault. It was only when I bought another batch of chips (from a different supplier!) that I could isolate the cause.

I've bought some more, enough to replace all the crap chips. I can now supply a tested functional YM2413 for AU$10 worldwide postage included. If you want one please get in touch.

eviltim ( at ) optusnet.com.au

Replacing the chip is quick and requires nothing more than a butteknife or small screwdriver.
distorted_r-type.mp3 (534.21 KB)
R-type FM - with faulty YM2413
distorted_scramble_spirits.mp3 (413.8 KB)
Scramble Spirits FM - with faulty YM2413
good_r-type.mp3 (507.52 KB)
R-type FM
good_scramble_spirits.mp3 (435.58 KB)
Scramble Spirits FM

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  • Joined: 13 Nov 2007
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:00 am
Thanks Tim, is this something where the chip WILL become faulty? Mine sounds fine as it is now (my console plays the sound matching your good recordings).
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:40 am
No, I don't think so. Maybe only some chips are affected.... I'll crack open another tube of ICs and test a few more from the old stock.
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:12 am
Perhaps you were just lucky. I just tested seven more chips and they all sound like the bad recording (using Scramble Spirits).
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:48 am
I've always thought mine sounded fine (examples are available with some aztec adventure recordings in the other thread).

However I dug up a copy of Scramble Spirits and tested and it sounds like the 'bad recording'.

I also have another two boards that haven't been used yet, if I get the time I may pop the IC out of them and try in my modded SMS.
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:22 pm
Tim, I was wondering if you could maybe post more examples of the sound differences. It seems R-Type and Scramble Spirits are two carts I don't own. Hmm, where;d that list of US games with FM sound go? I could say which ones I have. I have about 63 or so of the US releases, so I know I have some with FM sound.

-Rob
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:49 pm
http://www.smspower.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8714

Bock wrote
Certain games never released in Japan supports the FM chipset, meaning that only with such setup you can hear FM tunes composed 15+ years ago and unheard to both Japanese and US/European/Brasilian audience:

Altered Beast
California Games
Casino Games
Cloud Master
Galaxy Force
Game Box Série Esportes Radicais (BR)
Golfamania
Mônica no Castelo do Dragão (BR)
Out Run 3-D
Poseidon Wars 3-D
Rampage
Rastan
Rescue Mission
Scramble Spirits
Shanghai
Tennis Ace
Time Soldiers
Turma da Mônica em: O Resgate (BR)
Ultima IV
Vigilante
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

List of other cartridges supporting the FM chipset, but this time those also released in Japan:

After Burner
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
Alien Syndrome
Aztec Adventure
Blade Eagle 3-D
Bomber Raid
Captain Silver
Cyborg Hunter
Double Dragon
Fantasy Zone II
Fantasy Zone: The Maze
Global Defense
Golvellius - Valley of Doom
Great Golf
Kenseiden
Lord of The Sword
Maze Hunter 3-D
Miracle Warriors - Seal of The Dark Lord
Out Run
Parlour Games
Penguin Land
Power Strike
R-Type
Shinobi
Space Harrier 3-D
SpellCaster
Thunder Blade
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Zaxxon 3-D
Zillion II - The Tri Formation
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  • Joined: 03 Jul 2005
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  • Location: Toronto, Canada
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:18 pm
Er, this is kinda bad and good news I guess. I bough one of the first batch boards, so I need to apply the other fix as well. How much would two good chips shipped to Canada would cost? Also, what can I do with defective chip other then eBay it to some unsuspecting victim? :)
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 1:22 am
Thanks, Christuserloeser.

Ok, looks like I have:

Cloud Master
Rampage
Rastan
Shanghai
Rescue Mission
Time Soldiers
Wonder Boy III

Thanks if you can supply any examples for these, Tim!

-Rob
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 1:23 am
rbudrick wrote
Tim, I was wondering if you could maybe post more examples of the sound differences.


I'll make some more recordings tonight.

rbudrick wrote
Er, this is kinda bad and good news I guess. I bough one of the first batch boards, so I need to apply the other fix as well. How much would two good chips shipped to Canada would cost? Also, what can I do with defective chip other then eBay it to some unsuspecting victim? :)


Two for AU$15.

You could always leave it on the floor with its legs pointing up where your unsuspecting victim might be walking about barefoot. :)
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:29 am
I just tried the other two chips and they all sound the same. I'm not that fussed about it for the time being as I currently have the guts of my system sprawled all over the place while i'm experimenting on it.
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:48 pm
A few people asked me about instructions for replacing the Ym2413. It's pretty straight forward, all you need to do is remove the original from the socket and instert the new chip. Make sure it's inserted the right way around -- the notch on the chip faces towards the centre of the board. I've attached a couple of pictures.

Also attached is a recording from Rampage.
distorted_rampage.mp3 (740.84 KB)
Rampage FM - with faulty YM2413
good_rampage.mp3 (728.6 KB)
Rampage FM
replace0.jpg (44.49 KB)
Using a tool to remove the defective YM2413...
replace0.jpg
replace1.jpg (43.92 KB)
Empty socket ready for a new chip...
replace1.jpg

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Post Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 3:13 pm
..or you can use an IC extractor like I did :P
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Post Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 5:01 pm
Hey Tim,

I just played Rampage, and mine sounds like the good chip version. I don't hear the distortion in the bad version. However, your music is a bit slower than mine. PAL/NTSC differences? Not sure. I'm in USA, so I'm stumped on that one.

-Rob
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Other games affected
Post Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:31 am
I didn't realise you could get FM working in WB3 with the hold-left work around (I have one of the first shipments), so I've only just tried that now. Music sounds fine until the desert level, and then it's basically all noise channel (similar to the distortion in Scramble Spirits). Can't discern the melody at all.

To me it sounds like the rhythmic bass notes are coming out as noise (drum synth). This is especially noticeable in Rampage.

Might do some before/after recordings on WB3 once I have the new IC if someone doesn't beat me to it. ;)

Cheers for your continued work on this Tim.
 
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Post Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:45 am
rbudrick wrote

However, your music is a bit slower than mine. PAL/NTSC differences? Not sure. I'm in USA, so I'm stumped on that one.


The recordings in the first post were made with my SMS set to 60Hz and the Rampage recordings were made with it set to 50Hz.

I probably should have done it the other way around. :)
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Post Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:41 pm
viletim wrote
rbudrick wrote

However, your music is a bit slower than mine. PAL/NTSC differences? Not sure. I'm in USA, so I'm stumped on that one.


The recordings in the first post were made with my SMS set to 60Hz and the Rampage recordings were made with it set to 50Hz.

I probably should have done it the other way around. :)


Ok, no problem. Either way, I have a first-run version and it sounds like the good version. So I guess not *all* of the first-run chips were bad, or did you already know some were good?

-Rob
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Post Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:12 pm
Tim,

I sent an email off mate :)

The newer chips certainly sound a lot better!
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Before and after
Post Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:51 am
Just received the new chip today, cheers again Tim!

I've done some before and after recordings for the FM games I have, will try and upload them all. For now I've just uploaded the Wonder Boy 3 Desert level recordings for comparison. It was the most problematic and hence most improved.
wb3-desert-faulty.mp3 (1.19 MB)
Before
wb3-desert-fixed.mp3 (1.19 MB)
After

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Post Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:44 am
Here's another that made a vast improvement: Time Soldiers. I used to detest the "Primitive Age" theme... it sounded so droning and monotonous. But just listen to proper FM version! It's the drums that were missing, and that makes a world of difference to this tune.

Edit: Bugger, looks like I recorded the PSG version the first time, must have messed up the hold-left trick. Doubt I'll bother putting the old IC back to do another take, but I'll leave the new FM version for anyone wanting to compare to their own.

Uploaded:
- Added Afterburner.
- Added Double Dragon, Fantasy Zone 2, Kenseiden, Great Golf

Didn't upload:
- Rescue Mission: any differences are so minute they aren't audible. Waveforms look basically identical also.
- Golvelius: it's almost identical. Sole difference is the new FM chip uses Brass instruments for the melody in the first dungeon. The old chip didn't switch properly, the melody used the same instruments as the "Store" music that plays beforehand.
timesoldiers-fixed.mp3 (793.53 KB)
Time Soldiers - After
afterburner-faulty.mp3 (862.1 KB)
Afterburner - Before
afterburner-fixed.mp3 (862.1 KB)
Afterburner - After
ddragon-faulty.mp3 (669.04 KB)
Double Dragon - Before
ddragon-fixed.mp3 (669.85 KB)
Double Dragon - After
fz2-faulty.mp3 (504.95 KB)
Fantasy Zone 2 - Before
fz2-fixed.mp3 (504.95 KB)
Fantasy Zone 2 - After
kenseiden-faulty.mp3 (631.08 KB)
Kenseiden - Before
kenseiden-fixed.mp3 (625.36 KB)
Kenseiden - After
greatgolf-faulty.mp3 (192.71 KB)
Great Golf - Before
greatgolf-fixed.mp3 (192.71 KB)
Great Golf - After

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Post Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:36 pm
Ptepid, I noticed you had the fixed Time Soldiers, but not the broken one. I wasn't sure from the context if you meant to leave that one out.

-Rob
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Post Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 1:46 am
rbudrick wrote
Ptepid, I noticed you had the fixed Time Soldiers, but not the broken one. I wasn't sure from the context if you meant to leave that one out.

-Rob


Yeah sorry, didn't explain myself well. When I recorded the broken version I made a mistake. It wasn't actually the FM version but bog-standard PSG. I only realised this after replacing it with the new chip. I'd rather not have to go back and put the old chip in and then remove it just to record one song. ;)
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Post Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:31 am
Installed my new chip today... for some reason Ys the vanished omens still doesn't have FM sound even when the system is in JAP mode, and the same goes for Fantasy Zone 3 (I am sure this game had FM sound) hehe thanks anyway Tim it works well!
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Post Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:14 am
Jacko wrote
Installed my new chip today... for some reason Ys the vanished omens still doesn't have FM sound even when the system is in JAP mode, and the same goes for Fantasy Zone 3 (I am sure this game had FM sound) hehe thanks anyway Tim it works well!

The English version of Ys doesn't have FM sound because the code for the FM sound was removed to make room for the English text, like with Phantasy Star. By Fantasy Zone 3 do you mean Fantasy Zone: The Maze?
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Post Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:48 am
ApolloBoy wrote
Jacko wrote
Installed my new chip today... for some reason Ys the vanished omens still doesn't have FM sound even when the system is in JAP mode, and the same goes for Fantasy Zone 3 (I am sure this game had FM sound) hehe thanks anyway Tim it works well!
like with Phantasy Star. By Fantasy Zone 3 do you mean Fantasy Zone: The Maze?


Yes I do mean FZ3: The Maze
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Post Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 2:39 pm
Anyone know why FZ3 don't work on the FM chip?
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Post Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:28 am
Maybe it only works on the Jap version (Opa Opa) ?
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Post Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:19 am
Got my chips, thanks! Mesohappyicancry!
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Post Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 4:21 pm
I think these chips are not defective, but rather YMF281 OPLL-P chips that the sellers (unfortunately) relabeled and sold as YM2413 OPLL.

I say this because in the recordings I can hear that the OPLL’s electric guitar sound (instrument 15) is replaced by noise. And the OPLL-P instrument 15 is noise, according to Plogue’s ChipSynth PortaFM’s preset library.

Quote Wikipedia: “Yamaha YMF281 (OPLLP) is a later YM2413 derivative, possibly intended for pachinko or pachislot machines. It has the same pinout and register set as the YM2413, but a different set of built in FM patches.”
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