Author Topic: Sega MD Z80 question  (Read 293 times)

VenomMacbeth

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Sega MD Z80 question
« on: June 23, 2013, 08:35:47 AM »
How many sound channels are there on the Genesis/MD's Z80?  Just the Z80, not the YM2612. I'm writing some music & wanna make sure I'm not cheating.

Here's the song I'm working on:

https://soundcloud.com/cerulean42/run-away-preview

I used 4 different square tones, like those produced by the Z80, but with the way I wrote the song, it would probably translate more to 5 or 6 channels on actual hardware.
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esteban

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Re: Sega MD Z80 question
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2013, 10:13:16 AM »
Nice 
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ccovell

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Re: Sega MD Z80 question
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2013, 12:19:32 PM »
The Z80 doesn't have any sound channels.  None in the SMS and none in the MD/Gen.

If you use the sound functions in the Gen's 315-xxxx VDP, you get 3 square waves + 1 noise channel.

(here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments_SN76489 )

VenomMacbeth

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Re: Sega MD Z80 question
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2013, 01:10:53 PM »
The Z80 doesn't have any sound channels.  None in the SMS and none in the MD/Gen.

If you use the sound functions in the Gen's 315-xxxx VDP, you get 3 square waves + 1 noise channel.

(here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments_SN76489 )


Ohhhhh that's right.  I forgot.  You totally answered my question, though.  Thanks!  Did the Genesis have access to any other additional square waves, or was everything else strictly FM?
Play Turbografx.
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Tatsujin

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Re: Sega MD Z80 question
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2013, 01:38:20 PM »
IIRC it had 6 stereo FM, 3 PSG and 1 Noise channel = 10 Channels in total.
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ApolloBoy

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Re: Sega MD Z80 question
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2013, 10:24:50 AM »
One of the FM channels can also be configured as a PCM channel for digitized sound effects.
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Tatsujin

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Re: Sega MD Z80 question
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2013, 11:56:32 AM »
Ah yeah, the MDs weakness. Only one speech sample at once.
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