POLL:Which arcade companies had the best sound chips?

[sunteam_paul]

You can place up to 2 votes. Note that you are voting for your favourite sound, that doesn't have to mean the best musical compositions. The examples are thrown in to refresh your memories.

[oldskool]

Dammit, didn't realize I could vote for another until it was too late.

Well, it was easy, SEGA!!

If I had the chance to vote again, I'd add SNK as well.

[Necromancer]

It might be a bit of a cheat, but Cinematronics hands down.

[Turbo D]

I voted for SEGA as #1. I also voted for Capcom, but they're not as good as SEGA imo.

[sunteam_paul]

I voted for SEGA as #1. I also voted for Capcom, but they're not as good as SEGA imo.

I voted Sega and Konami. While I've gotten used to Capcom sound, I initially found it a bit too twangy to be really considered to stand out.

[Tatsujin]

oh..i'm soooo glad that i could choose two and not just one! of coushe i've choosed the two from the top

[ccovell]

Definitely Namco and Taito.  If people are choosing out of nostalgia or name recognition, it's skewing the poll. ;-)

Both companies had great sound chips with an atmospheric combination of FM and PCM chip audio.

[esteban]

You guys have no sense of fun.

Data East had a great sound, especially for their many spiky compositions that have a very real, very rough-around-edges charm to it.

Some call it "raw" or "harsh" -- I call it delightful.

[guyjin]

oh..i'm soooo glad that i could choose two and not just one! of coushe i've choosed the two from the top

you mean you didn't vote for irem? 

[Tatsujin]

oh..i'm soooo glad that i could choose two and not just one! of coushe i've choosed the two from the top

you mean you didn't vote for irem? 

lol..yes, i didn't.


btw:

Konami (TMNT, Crime Fighters etc)

for konami, i would more go with gradius and salamander and stuff

[sunteam_paul]

I've never really considered Irem sound to be that strong. Even Hero Tonma sounds better on the PC Engine, and their 'Engine sound was iffy as well.

[ccovell]

Yeah, Irem's arcade sound is really, really bad...  only sometimes do the melodies redeem the whole thing.

Data East's stuff is good... the 1st stage of Vapor Trail is awesome rock stuff.

[Black Tiger]

I don't know what range is covered by "back in the day", but my favorite arcade sound is classic Capcom, games like Ghosts 'n Goblins, Side Arms and 1943 which all used the YM2203. If this means I can vote for Capcom in general I'll place my vote.

The sound of those three games running at the same time will always be the sound of an arcade to me. The sound played such a huge part in making me a life long Capcom fan. Of course I also later discover Black Tiger, another YM2203 game, which has been my favorite arcade game ever since.

[Joe Redifer]

Does anyone have a link to arcade Vapor Trail music?  I am too lazy to look myself because I am useless. 

Nevermind, I found it:


Not sure if I like it better than the Genesis version, but it sure is quality!

[Arkhan]

IREM's arcade music sounds like a blown speaker stuck in a metal garbage can

verrrry tinny

actually it sounds like this