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Hey friends.
I am looking at getting one of the Catskull YM2149 synths, now that they have non-USB MIDI, and multiple outputs:
https://catskullelectronics.com/products/ym2149-synth
I noticed they come with either a YM2149 or AY-3 chip... and I'm not really sure what the difference is, or if it's worth getting both.
Would someone be able to enlighten me? Thank you!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_I … _AY-3-8910
Here you can find differences, i am more familiar with AY because it is in my Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128k, YM chip was in Atari. On PC i have AtariST player and Vortex tracker, where you can change between AY/YM modes.
Last edited by martin_demsky (Nov 16, 2020 8:29 pm)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_I … _AY-3-8910
Here you can find differences, i am more familiar with AY because it is in my Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128k, YM chip was in Atari. On PC i have AtariST player and Vortex tracker, where you can change between AY/YM modes.
Thanks. I'm trying to figure out if there are significant audible differences, worth getting both, or if there's much of a muchness. Do you have thoughts on that?
Probably not, it is 99% same, in Vortex Tracker 2.5 when i change tune from AY to YM, there is not audible change. It is maybe matter of personal preference, if you love more Atari, then buy YM version 
Edit: here is good article between differences
https://maidavale.org/blog/ay-ym-differences/
Last edited by martin_demsky (Nov 16, 2020 9:25 pm)
Thanks for the link! The sound comparison is useful. Looks like the YM would be the better option. The AY does sound a bit better on that particular comparison... but it seems like that's down more to mixing, as the YM seems panned harder? Not sure. Either way the difference seems minimal enough that I just need to make a call. Thank you!
YM chip envelope have 5-bit volume, so it is not only 16 levels like in AY, but 32. Register accepts only 4-bit value, but maybe dynamics are that one bit better. Yamaha always make something better
I don't know if it is YM panned harder, on AY chip is output for every channel, i use ACB stereo out (a is left, c in both, b is right).
Last edited by martin_demsky (Nov 17, 2020 6:23 am)
Thanks! I went for the the YM in the end
Hey Bowtie, don't thank to me, i only googled BTW that device is interesting because it is small, if catskull develope something like this with SID chip, or with YM2612, i am in!
Sorry I missed this, but glad you got it figured out! I'm a bad person to ask but if you were to blindfold me, I would not be able to tell the difference between the AY or the YM. I'm sure purists out there that have spent a lot of time with the chips will tell me I'm wrong, which is fine!
Also trash80 designed and coded the whole thing, not me! Thanks to him! SID synths aren't as interesting to me, just because the chips are hard to come by. I guess now that there are implementations of it in FPGA and microcontrollers, maybe that would be worth checking out? For YM2612, I guess genMDM gets pretty far there, especially with Jamatar's genaJam that I'll be releasing soon.
Sorry I missed this, but glad you got it figured out! I'm a bad person to ask but if you were to blindfold me, I would not be able to tell the difference between the AY or the YM. I'm sure purists out there that have spent a lot of time with the chips will tell me I'm wrong, which is fine!
Also trash80 designed and coded the whole thing, not me! Thanks to him! SID synths aren't as interesting to me, just because the chips are hard to come by. I guess now that there are implementations of it in FPGA and microcontrollers, maybe that would be worth checking out? For YM2612, I guess genMDM gets pretty far there, especially with Jamatar's genaJam that I'll be releasing soon.
I guess I could have just asked you directly hah. Thanks! I'll keep an eye out on the genaJam...
It is little bit offtopic, but this Jamatar performance is outstanding! I am now doing some things on Kurzweil Forte in fm synthesis mode, i mapped every parameter to sliders and knobs, power of fm is incredible.
Last edited by martin_demsky (Nov 20, 2020 7:23 pm)
Sorry I missed this, but glad you got it figured out! I'm a bad person to ask but if you were to blindfold me, I would not be able to tell the difference between the AY or the YM. I'm sure purists out there that have spent a lot of time with the chips will tell me I'm wrong, which is fine!
Also trash80 designed and coded the whole thing, not me! Thanks to him! SID synths aren't as interesting to me, just because the chips are hard to come by. I guess now that there are implementations of it in FPGA and microcontrollers, maybe that would be worth checking out? For YM2612, I guess genMDM gets pretty far there, especially with Jamatar's genaJam that I'll be releasing soon.
Heya. I have another question... I presume the Web Editor isn't compatible with the new version, since it's MIDI DIN, rather than USB MIDI. Is that right?
!
Last edited by herr_prof (Dec 19, 2020 3:04 pm)
Web editor is compatible, the new version added DIN but still has USB MIDI
Web editor is compatible, the new version added DIN but still has USB MIDI
Ohhh that's awesome, thank you! What's the best config for that? I've tried it connected via different interfaces but it isn't detected (using Chrome).
Just connect via usb, it doesn't work over DIN AFAIK. I've heard web midi on windows is a little tricky and doesn't work, one user reported having to use their android phone to do it. Not totally sure!