Impressive YM2612/OPN2 (MD/GEN, MCD, 32X, FMT) Music
First used for games in late 1988, this chip is most well known for its use in the Mega Drive/Genesis console, where it was combined with the SN76489 chip (which was also included for backwards compatibility with SMS games). Certain Mega Drive games used sound drivers that allowed for more than one sample to be played at once as if on separate channels (Skitchin', Triple Play '96, Ristar, Alien Soldier), usually at a lower sound quality. The console is somewhat infamous for its scratchy sampled sound, but the quality varies greatly between games. See this video by Lazy Gecko/Savaged Regime for a short presentation. At the end of the video you can hear an example of the DAC being used as a .mod player via software mixing, streaming a song with multiple channels of sample-based sounds in use. It was only used in Toy Story as far as I know. This is how well the MD can play back sampled audio outside of a game environment and without size limitations.
Going back to FM, SSG-EG is a rarely used effect that can be applied to individual operators of an instrument for a reverb/echo-like effect similar to ones found in some SNES game OSTs (it sort of retriggers the note at an editable speed and can also reverse the attack on these note retrigs), as well as for a rudimentary speech synthesis and to improve some percussion sounds. One example of SSG-EG being used is in Phantasy Star II (Phantasy, A Prologue).
Another effect that was rarely used (the only example I know of is this fan cover of a Shovel Knight track) was the LFO speed control, which can help improve FM snare sounds when used in conjunction with SSG-EG. It's a shame it wasn't since it sounds much better than most standard FM snares.
Even today, new uses for FM are sometimes discovered by homebrewers. For example, you can emulate the C64's pulse-width modulation effects in FM using two detuned channels of opposite saw waves, and C64/NES-style percussion using two instrument envelopes in quick succession. You can also make pure saw and square waves (50%), the latter of which was sometimes done back in the day. Some homebrew works also emulate 25% and 12.5% square wave, as well as the triangle wave used on NES.
The Mega CD's PCM chip, RF5C164, can use eight channels of up to 32 kHz, 8-bit samples with good timing/no jitter, and can loop sample waveforms. The samples are fetched by the PCM chip, so very little CPU time is consumed to play the samples. It could also be combined with the MD's sound chips.
However, developers had to load the sample into the PCM RAM, of which there is only 64 KB. The small size of the RAM limits the size and number of samples you can play without needing to reload the RAM. The samples themselves are in a rarely used 8 bit sign/magnitude format, so they needed to be converted.
This MCD chip could be combined with the MD chips for a chiptune sound similar to the Neo Geo's, and this combo was actually used in a surprising amount of MCD games (scroll to the bottom for a list of the best examples). The combo was also used in some games for the Pioneer LaserActive, specifically ones requiring the Sega PAC module for that system, which is also the majority of them.
PSG Usage in MD/GEN Music Documentation (WIP)
Channel 3 mode usage documentation (WIP)
Youtube Playlist (combined)
Going back to FM, SSG-EG is a rarely used effect that can be applied to individual operators of an instrument for a reverb/echo-like effect similar to ones found in some SNES game OSTs (it sort of retriggers the note at an editable speed and can also reverse the attack on these note retrigs), as well as for a rudimentary speech synthesis and to improve some percussion sounds. One example of SSG-EG being used is in Phantasy Star II (Phantasy, A Prologue).
Another effect that was rarely used (the only example I know of is this fan cover of a Shovel Knight track) was the LFO speed control, which can help improve FM snare sounds when used in conjunction with SSG-EG. It's a shame it wasn't since it sounds much better than most standard FM snares.
Even today, new uses for FM are sometimes discovered by homebrewers. For example, you can emulate the C64's pulse-width modulation effects in FM using two detuned channels of opposite saw waves, and C64/NES-style percussion using two instrument envelopes in quick succession. You can also make pure saw and square waves (50%), the latter of which was sometimes done back in the day. Some homebrew works also emulate 25% and 12.5% square wave, as well as the triangle wave used on NES.
The Mega CD's PCM chip, RF5C164, can use eight channels of up to 32 kHz, 8-bit samples with good timing/no jitter, and can loop sample waveforms. The samples are fetched by the PCM chip, so very little CPU time is consumed to play the samples. It could also be combined with the MD's sound chips.
However, developers had to load the sample into the PCM RAM, of which there is only 64 KB. The small size of the RAM limits the size and number of samples you can play without needing to reload the RAM. The samples themselves are in a rarely used 8 bit sign/magnitude format, so they needed to be converted.
This MCD chip could be combined with the MD chips for a chiptune sound similar to the Neo Geo's, and this combo was actually used in a surprising amount of MCD games (scroll to the bottom for a list of the best examples). The combo was also used in some games for the Pioneer LaserActive, specifically ones requiring the Sega PAC module for that system, which is also the majority of them.
PSG Usage in MD/GEN Music Documentation (WIP)
Channel 3 mode usage documentation (WIP)
Youtube Playlist (combined)
Thunder Force IV
Standout tracks: Fighting Back, Sand Hell, War-Like Requiem, Metal Squad, Stand Up Against Myself, Omake 2
Ristar (MD)
Standout tracks: Round 1-1, Round 2-1, Round 5-2, Final Boss, Ending 1
Master of Monsters
Standout tracks: Title, Menu, BGM 04, BGM 05, BGM 06
Streets of Rage II/Streets of Rage 2/Bare Knuckle 2 (MD)
Standout tracks: Go Straight, Slow Moon, Intro, Dreamer, Under Logic, Ending
Sonic 3D Blast
Standout tracks: Rusty Ruin Zone 1-2, Diamond Dust Zone 1-2, Volcano Valley Zone 1-2, Gene Gadget Zone 1, Panic Puppet Zone 2
Standout tracks: Fighting Back, Sand Hell, War-Like Requiem, Metal Squad, Stand Up Against Myself, Omake 2
Ristar (MD)
Standout tracks: Round 1-1, Round 2-1, Round 5-2, Final Boss, Ending 1
Master of Monsters
Standout tracks: Title, Menu, BGM 04, BGM 05, BGM 06
Streets of Rage II/Streets of Rage 2/Bare Knuckle 2 (MD)
Standout tracks: Go Straight, Slow Moon, Intro, Dreamer, Under Logic, Ending
Sonic 3D Blast
Standout tracks: Rusty Ruin Zone 1-2, Diamond Dust Zone 1-2, Volcano Valley Zone 1-2, Gene Gadget Zone 1, Panic Puppet Zone 2
Alien Soldier
Standout tracks: Flashback, Runner/AD2025, Epsilons-Ally, 3-Prayers, Galaxy Desert, Oblivious Past, Soldier's Song
Time Trax (unreleased)
Standout tracks: 00/Title, 01/In-game 1, 04/Objective, 05/Game Over
Devilish/Bad Omen (MD)
Standout tracks: Intro, Clock Tower, Air Passage, Seaside, Prairie
Gauntlet IV
Standout tracks: Whisper of Phantom, Sortie, Transparent Obstacle, Adventures of Iron, Retribution
Vapor Trail (MD)
Standout tracks: Vapor Trail, Bloody Road, Freedom Fighter, Ending
Streets of Rage/Bare Knuckle (MD), Streets of Rage 3/Bare Knuckle 3
Panorama Cotton
Xenon: Mugen No Shitai (FMT FM w/ RF5C68)(added reverb?), Alternate
Xeno Crisis (MD, unlicensed)
Asuka 120%: EBF (FMT, w/ RF5C68)
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes (MD) & FMT FM ver., Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes 2 (MD) & FMT FM ver. (sometimes different instruments on FMT, added reverb or echo in these uploads)
Elemental Master
Mega Turrican
Midnight Resistance (MD)
Dragon's Fury/Devil Crash MD
Thunder Force III (MD)
ResQ (unreleased)
The Revenge of Shinobi
Mega Man X (Pirate/homebrew, Beta)
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Superman
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (MD), Sonic 3 & Knuckles (MD)
Socket: Time Dominator
Genocide 2 (FMT)
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie
Wolfchild (MD)
Batman (MD)
TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist
Sonic the Hedgehog (MD)
Verytex
Star Cruiser (MD, some different tracks)
Advanced Busterhawk Gleylancer
Wiz 'n Liz (MD, some different tracks)
Shinobi 3
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier (MD)
Herzog Zwei
Jim Power (MD, unreleased)
Lethal Enforcers (MD)
Puggsy (MD)
The Hybrid Front
Puyo Puyo (MD), Puyo Puyo 2 (MD)
Alien 3 (MD)
T2: The Arcade Game (MD)
Madou Monogatari I (MD)
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Light Crusader
McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure
Gunstar Heroes (MD)
Rocket Knight Adventures 2: Sparkster (MD)
Sword of Vermillion
Shining Force II
Sub-Terrania
Columns III
Rocket Knight Adventures
Golden Axe 3/Golden Axe III
King Colossus
Langrisser II
The Chaos Layer (HB Beta, samples only)
Combat Cars
Sonic the Hedgehog: Next Level (Pirate, Beta)(some samples only tracks), Act 1
Adventures of Batman & Robin (MD)
Golden Axe 2
Soleil/Crusader of Centy
Shadow Dancer (MD)
Zero Wing (MD)
Dinosaur (FMT)
Yu Yu Hakusho: Makyou Toitsusen
Slap Fight MD
Jewel Master
Decap Attack
Super Fantasy Zone
MUSHA
Langrisser/Warsong (MD)
Surging Aura
ATP Tour Championship Tennis
Princess Maker 2 (FMT)
Two Crude Dudes (MD)
Pulseman
Alisia Dragoon
Lethal Enforcers II (MD)
Thunder Force II (MD)
Ecco: The Tides of Time (MD) & Ecco Jr.
TMNT: Tournament Fighters (MD)
Steel Empire
Contra: Hard Corps
Sorcerian (MD)
Rolling Thunder 2 (MD) & Rolling Thunder 3
Atomic Runner (MD)
Dangerous Seed (MD)
Super Hydlide (MD)
Monster World IV
Vixen 357
High Seas Havoc
Dynamite Headdy (MD)
Target Earth/Assault Suit Leynos
AWS Pro Moves Soccer
Ranger X
Landstalker
Ys III: Wanderers From Ys (MD)
Splatterhouse 3
Galaxy Force II (MD)
Chuck Rock 2 (MD)
Sunset Riders (MD)
Dahna: Megami Tanjou
Trouble Shooter/Battle Mania
Shikinjoh/Shi Kin Joh (MD)
Heavy Nova (MD)
Space Invaders '90 (MD)(stereo PSG)
Second Samurai (MD)
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (MD)
Exile (MD)
F-15 Strike Eagle II (MD)
Shura no Mon
Tänzer (MD, Unlicensed)
Dyna Brothers & Dyna Brothers 2
Best of the rest
MD w/ RF5C164 samples (Mega CD/Sega CD):
Snatcher (MCD) - some redbook tracks
Silpheed (MCD)
Popful Mail (MCD) - some redbook tracks
Shadowrun (MCD)
Cosmic Fantasy Stories (MCD)
Urusei Yatsura: Dear My Friends (MCD) - some redbook tracks
A/X-101 (MCD)
Sega Classics Arcade Collection (MCD)(Golden Axe uses recorded arcade tracks)
Dune (MCD)
Death Bringer (MCD)
Rise of the Dragon (MCD)
Tenka Fubu: Eiyuutachi no Houkou (MCD)
Seima Densetsu 3x3 Eyes (MCD)(in-game)
Warau Salesman (MCD)
Sega CD BIOS (US Model 2)
Genei Toshi/Illusion City (MCD)
Space Adventure Cobra (MCD)(in-game)
Captain Tsubasa (MCD)(MD only?)
Dynamic Country Club (MCD)
MegaRace (MCD)
Wakusei Woodstock: Funky Horror Band(in-game), Wing Commander (MCD)(in-game), Teddy Boy Blues (Game Kanzume Vol 2)(MCD) - partial redbook, Ishii Hisaichi no Daiseikai (MCD), Detonator Orgun (MCD)(in-game), Lunar: Eternal Blue (MCD)(in-game), Wondermega Collection (Quiz Scramble)?, Psychic Detective Series Vol. 4: Orgel (MCD), Psychic Detective Series Vol: 3 - AYA, Egawa Suguru no Super League CD (MCD),
Shin Megami Tensei (MCD), Capcom no Quiz Tonosama no Yabou, Nostalgia 1907 (MCD)(in-game), Yumimi Mix (MCD)(in-game), A-Rank Thunder Tanjouhen (MCD)(in-game), Arcus I-II-III (MCD), Loadstar (MCD), Slam City with Scottie Pippen, Winning Post (MCD), Phantasy Star II: Shilka's Adventure (Game Kanzume Vol 1) (MCD), Putter Golf & 16t (Game Kanzume Vol 2) (MCD), Shining Force CD (MCD)(jingles only), Bakuden: The Unbalanced Zone (MCD)(in-game), Sewer Shark (MCD)(in-game), Cadillacs and Dinosaurs: The Second Cataclysm (MCD), Dungeon Explorer (MCD)(some menus and cutscenes), Bouncers (MCD, title), Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf (MCD), Jurassic Park (MCD), Aworg: Hero in the Sky (MCD, end of level jingle)
LaserActive MCD (MD w/ Ricoh/RF5C164 samples) using games:
Rocket Coaster (LaserActive MD+Ricoh), Triad Stone/Strahl (LaserActive MD only?) - in-between levels only?
MD w/ PWM samples (32X):
Cosmic Carnage
Knuckles Chaotix
Space Harrier (32X)
After Burner (32X)
Stellar Assault/Shadow Squadron
Virtua Fighter 32X
Virtua Racing Deluxe (32X)
Darxide
X-Men: Mind Games (Beta)
Metal Head
Tempo (32X), Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (32X), Kolibri - find hq, Brutal Unleashed (32X, samples only?)(in-game), Blackthorne (32X, sample heavy), NFL Quarterback Club, NBA Jam TE (32X), T-Mek (32X, sample heavy), Pitfall: TMA (32X) - same as MD?, WWF RAW (32X), WWF Wrestlemania Arcade, Motocross Championship, Sangokushi IV (32X), R.B.I. Baseball '95, Star Wars Arcade (32X), Doom (32X),
Homebrew tracks:
PC-98 (YM2608) conversions to the YM2612 chip
Toni Leys - They Come From Above (added reverb/EQ)
Crash - Silver Surfer
CircuitBird & Jredd - Doom 32X
Markey Jester - Stardust Speedway Past (Dual PCM)
Thunder Force V - re-find
Dropbit/Robugga/Jredd - Sea Shore Shuffle
Unused Yuzo Koshiro Tracks (~1993)
Standout tracks: Flashback, Runner/AD2025, Epsilons-Ally, 3-Prayers, Galaxy Desert, Oblivious Past, Soldier's Song
Time Trax (unreleased)
Standout tracks: 00/Title, 01/In-game 1, 04/Objective, 05/Game Over
Devilish/Bad Omen (MD)
Standout tracks: Intro, Clock Tower, Air Passage, Seaside, Prairie
Gauntlet IV
Standout tracks: Whisper of Phantom, Sortie, Transparent Obstacle, Adventures of Iron, Retribution
Vapor Trail (MD)
Standout tracks: Vapor Trail, Bloody Road, Freedom Fighter, Ending
Streets of Rage/Bare Knuckle (MD), Streets of Rage 3/Bare Knuckle 3
Panorama Cotton
Xenon: Mugen No Shitai (FMT FM w/ RF5C68)(added reverb?), Alternate
Xeno Crisis (MD, unlicensed)
Asuka 120%: EBF (FMT, w/ RF5C68)
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes (MD) & FMT FM ver., Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes 2 (MD) & FMT FM ver. (sometimes different instruments on FMT, added reverb or echo in these uploads)
Elemental Master
Mega Turrican
Midnight Resistance (MD)
Dragon's Fury/Devil Crash MD
Thunder Force III (MD)
ResQ (unreleased)
The Revenge of Shinobi
Mega Man X (Pirate/homebrew, Beta)
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Superman
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (MD), Sonic 3 & Knuckles (MD)
Socket: Time Dominator
Genocide 2 (FMT)
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie
Wolfchild (MD)
Batman (MD)
TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist
Sonic the Hedgehog (MD)
Verytex
Star Cruiser (MD, some different tracks)
Advanced Busterhawk Gleylancer
Wiz 'n Liz (MD, some different tracks)
Shinobi 3
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier (MD)
Herzog Zwei
Jim Power (MD, unreleased)
Lethal Enforcers (MD)
Puggsy (MD)
The Hybrid Front
Puyo Puyo (MD), Puyo Puyo 2 (MD)
Alien 3 (MD)
T2: The Arcade Game (MD)
Madou Monogatari I (MD)
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Light Crusader
McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure
Gunstar Heroes (MD)
Rocket Knight Adventures 2: Sparkster (MD)
Sword of Vermillion
Shining Force II
Sub-Terrania
Columns III
Rocket Knight Adventures
Golden Axe 3/Golden Axe III
King Colossus
Langrisser II
The Chaos Layer (HB Beta, samples only)
Combat Cars
Sonic the Hedgehog: Next Level (Pirate, Beta)(some samples only tracks), Act 1
Adventures of Batman & Robin (MD)
Golden Axe 2
Soleil/Crusader of Centy
Shadow Dancer (MD)
Zero Wing (MD)
Dinosaur (FMT)
Yu Yu Hakusho: Makyou Toitsusen
Slap Fight MD
Jewel Master
Decap Attack
Super Fantasy Zone
MUSHA
Langrisser/Warsong (MD)
Surging Aura
ATP Tour Championship Tennis
Princess Maker 2 (FMT)
Two Crude Dudes (MD)
Pulseman
Alisia Dragoon
Lethal Enforcers II (MD)
Thunder Force II (MD)
Ecco: The Tides of Time (MD) & Ecco Jr.
TMNT: Tournament Fighters (MD)
Steel Empire
Contra: Hard Corps
Sorcerian (MD)
Rolling Thunder 2 (MD) & Rolling Thunder 3
Atomic Runner (MD)
Dangerous Seed (MD)
Super Hydlide (MD)
Monster World IV
Vixen 357
High Seas Havoc
Dynamite Headdy (MD)
Target Earth/Assault Suit Leynos
AWS Pro Moves Soccer
Ranger X
Landstalker
Ys III: Wanderers From Ys (MD)
Splatterhouse 3
Galaxy Force II (MD)
Chuck Rock 2 (MD)
Sunset Riders (MD)
Dahna: Megami Tanjou
Trouble Shooter/Battle Mania
Shikinjoh/Shi Kin Joh (MD)
Heavy Nova (MD)
Space Invaders '90 (MD)(stereo PSG)
Second Samurai (MD)
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (MD)
Exile (MD)
F-15 Strike Eagle II (MD)
Shura no Mon
Tänzer (MD, Unlicensed)
Dyna Brothers & Dyna Brothers 2
Best of the rest
MD w/ RF5C164 samples (Mega CD/Sega CD):
Snatcher (MCD) - some redbook tracks
Silpheed (MCD)
Popful Mail (MCD) - some redbook tracks
Shadowrun (MCD)
Cosmic Fantasy Stories (MCD)
Urusei Yatsura: Dear My Friends (MCD) - some redbook tracks
A/X-101 (MCD)
Sega Classics Arcade Collection (MCD)(Golden Axe uses recorded arcade tracks)
Dune (MCD)
Death Bringer (MCD)
Rise of the Dragon (MCD)
Tenka Fubu: Eiyuutachi no Houkou (MCD)
Seima Densetsu 3x3 Eyes (MCD)(in-game)
Warau Salesman (MCD)
Sega CD BIOS (US Model 2)
Genei Toshi/Illusion City (MCD)
Space Adventure Cobra (MCD)(in-game)
Captain Tsubasa (MCD)(MD only?)
Dynamic Country Club (MCD)
MegaRace (MCD)
Wakusei Woodstock: Funky Horror Band(in-game), Wing Commander (MCD)(in-game), Teddy Boy Blues (Game Kanzume Vol 2)(MCD) - partial redbook, Ishii Hisaichi no Daiseikai (MCD), Detonator Orgun (MCD)(in-game), Lunar: Eternal Blue (MCD)(in-game), Wondermega Collection (Quiz Scramble)?, Psychic Detective Series Vol. 4: Orgel (MCD), Psychic Detective Series Vol: 3 - AYA, Egawa Suguru no Super League CD (MCD),
Shin Megami Tensei (MCD), Capcom no Quiz Tonosama no Yabou, Nostalgia 1907 (MCD)(in-game), Yumimi Mix (MCD)(in-game), A-Rank Thunder Tanjouhen (MCD)(in-game), Arcus I-II-III (MCD), Loadstar (MCD), Slam City with Scottie Pippen, Winning Post (MCD), Phantasy Star II: Shilka's Adventure (Game Kanzume Vol 1) (MCD), Putter Golf & 16t (Game Kanzume Vol 2) (MCD), Shining Force CD (MCD)(jingles only), Bakuden: The Unbalanced Zone (MCD)(in-game), Sewer Shark (MCD)(in-game), Cadillacs and Dinosaurs: The Second Cataclysm (MCD), Dungeon Explorer (MCD)(some menus and cutscenes), Bouncers (MCD, title), Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf (MCD), Jurassic Park (MCD), Aworg: Hero in the Sky (MCD, end of level jingle)
LaserActive MCD (MD w/ Ricoh/RF5C164 samples) using games:
Rocket Coaster (LaserActive MD+Ricoh), Triad Stone/Strahl (LaserActive MD only?) - in-between levels only?
MD w/ PWM samples (32X):
Cosmic Carnage
Knuckles Chaotix
Space Harrier (32X)
After Burner (32X)
Stellar Assault/Shadow Squadron
Virtua Fighter 32X
Virtua Racing Deluxe (32X)
Darxide
X-Men: Mind Games (Beta)
Metal Head
Tempo (32X), Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (32X), Kolibri - find hq, Brutal Unleashed (32X, samples only?)(in-game), Blackthorne (32X, sample heavy), NFL Quarterback Club, NBA Jam TE (32X), T-Mek (32X, sample heavy), Pitfall: TMA (32X) - same as MD?, WWF RAW (32X), WWF Wrestlemania Arcade, Motocross Championship, Sangokushi IV (32X), R.B.I. Baseball '95, Star Wars Arcade (32X), Doom (32X),
Homebrew tracks:
PC-98 (YM2608) conversions to the YM2612 chip
Toni Leys - They Come From Above (added reverb/EQ)
Crash - Silver Surfer
CircuitBird & Jredd - Doom 32X
Markey Jester - Stardust Speedway Past (Dual PCM)
Thunder Force V - re-find
Dropbit/Robugga/Jredd - Sea Shore Shuffle
Unused Yuzo Koshiro Tracks (~1993)
