Sega Genesis and FM Synthesis (Listening to 16-bit Videogames) | Simon Hutchinson

Talking about the sound chip(s) on the Sega Genesis (a.k.a. the "Megadrive"), and how the system was doing its own on-board FM Synthesis.

FM synthesis is a cheap way to create complex waveforms. Using oscillators to modulate each other's frequencies, we can produce a whole bunch of additional frequencies. Setting aside the technical aspects, the point is, with FM synthesis, we can produce very complex waveforms with minimal resources, making it a cheap and efficient synthesis technique.

This, of course, made it very attractive for resource-conscious considerations of game sound in the 16-bit era.

CORRECTION: I say in passing that SNES makes sound through "soundfonts" which isn't actually correct. It is correct that it uses lofi samples, but soundfonts are really something else.

0:00 Intro, Genesis, NES, and SNES
1:00 What is FM Synthesis?
2:15 A Quick History of FM Synthesis
2:56 FM Synthesis on the Sega Genesis
3:59 Other sound on the Genesis
4:38 Other examples of FM in Games
5:15 So what?

eBay affiliate links to games in this video:
Fatal Fury (1993): https://ebay.us/lyYLjF
Chakan: The Forever Man (1992): https://ebay.us/KJpAPb
Jurassic Park (1993): https://ebay.us/UV2SYb
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994): https://ebay.us/p2JQWW
Might Morphin Power Rangers (1994): https://ebay.us/uUEgqq
Earthworm Jim (1994): https://ebay.us/dRhRnD
Vectorman (1995): https://ebay.us/nllcAD

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/SimonHut...
Official Website - http://simonhutchinson.com/
bandcamp (lots of free music!): https://simonhutchinson.bandcamp.com/...
Sign up for my mailing list: http://eepurl.com/hVs7bT
Buy my old gear on Reverb (affiliate link): https://reverb.grsm.io/simon
Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/simonhutchinson

My voice-over gear (affiliate links)
Aston Microphones Origin (amazon): https://amzn.to/40wQ7Og
dbx 286s Channel Strip (amazon): https://amzn.to/3QxZDvN
Game footage captured with Elgato Game Capture HD (amazon affiliate link): https://amzn.to/49uAqeu

* I provide affiliate links for some products that I use and enjoy. If you end up buying something through these external links, I may earn a small commission (while the price for you remains the same).

#SegaGenesis #SegaMegadrive #FMSynthesis #retrogaming