Chiptune Showcase: Sega Genesis (Part 2) - Hardware Breakdown

This is part 2 of a multipart series on the chiptune music of the Sega Genesis. Check out the links to the other parts below!

Before we get into the music, we need to talk about the boring stuff: the hardware.

The Sega Genesis utilizes a 6-channel Yamaha “YM2612” frequency modulation (FM) synthesis chip and a 4-channel Texas Instruments “SN76489” Programmable Sound Generator chip (or “PSG”). That’s right, the Genesis actually has TWO sound chips, and they were often used together!

{Sonic the Hedgehog - Green Hill Zone (FM only)}
The YM2612 was the primary sound chip, and the one that gave the Genesis its distinctive, synthetic “twang”. It excelled particularly at synthesizing electric guitars, bass guitars, brass instruments, bells, and whistles, but composers could also program their own unique synths.

{Sonic the Hedgehog - Green Hill Zone (samples only)}
The YM2612 was also capable of converting one of its FM channels for sample playback. This was often used for drum kit effects or brief voices, and allowed some of the most freedom for Genesis composers, but was also one of the most inconsistent parts about Genesis music!

{After Burner - After Burner (samples only)}
The quality of sample playback varied dramatically from game to game. At its worst, it resulted in a scratchy, indecipherable mess of garbled static that grated on the ears…

{Atomic Runner - Stage 3 (samples only)}
…and at its best sounded crystal clear—even better than Super Nintendo samples in some cases! It all came down to the memory allowance of the game, and the skill of the programmer to make it sound as good as possible.

{Sonic the Hedgehog - Green Hill Zone (PSG only)}
The PSG chip produced “8-bit”, square wave audio similar to the Nintendo Entertainment System (or more accurately, the Sega Master System). This contrasted greatly with the FM of the YM2612, and allowed for some really interesting harmonies against some of the harsher synths.

{Sonic the Hedgehog - Green Hill Zone}
All together, a truly unique blend of sounds is created! This is why the Genesis is such an interesting platform for chiptunes. There's nothing else quite like it, and fortunately for this showcase, there's A LOT of music to draw from, which we’ll get into in the next part of this series!

Stay tuned for more!

Links:
Part 1: https://imgur.com/gallery/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-introduction-Gche4uo
Part 2: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-2-hardware-breakdown-lidmM1D
Part 3: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-3-popular-soundtracks-TrHCgSl
Part 4: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-4-genre-examples-PoK5kYF
Part 5: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-5-genre-examples-2-KY1IzMt
Part 6: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-6-genre-examples-3-zKLC1bx
Part 7: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-7-obscure-soundtracks-sX920Ft
Part 8: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-8-obscure-soundtracks-2-cypm1XX
Part 9: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-9-composer-spotlight-5IgMxNZ
Part 10: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-10-composer-spotlight-2-2h4pWJx
Part 11: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-composer-spotlight-3-PsCm1xs
Part 12: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-12-worst-of-worst-OH9zc0x
Part 13: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-13-favorite-soundtracks-9bxgUsd
Part 14: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-14-favorite-soundtracks-2-9Ruvo7b
Part 15: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-15-favorite-soundtracks-3-hFG7odC
Part 16: https://imgur.com/a/chiptune-showcase-sega-genesis-part-16-favorite-soundtracks-iv-8x78Jko