How to create SFX for Moonsound's FM registers ?

Paragon (1140)

31-01-2022, 07:45

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone has experience creating SFX for Moonsound using the FM registers.
Using ROM samples is not going to be possible, because already 640kb and 24 channels are in use for the music.

Are there eisting tools to make SFX for Moonsound using the FM registers ?

Or is it maybe possible to convert SFX made with a different tool (for PSG for instance) to work with Moonsound's FM registers ?

By Pencioner

Scribe (1564)

31-01-2022, 22:55

Did you try to google for some generic hints/info for FM sound effects? I think then you can adapt to the registers of OPL4 with low effort

P.S. 24 channels for music? should be amazing tune!

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

31-01-2022, 23:04

Pencioner wrote:

P.S. 24 channels for music? should be amazing tune!

It may suck just as likely See, it's not merely the specs, it's what you do with it. Give 24 channels to a rabbit and all you get are droppings. Give a rabbit to a a butcher however, and you get decent food.

By ro

Scribe (4963)

01-02-2022, 07:19

LOL

By Pencioner

Scribe (1564)

01-02-2022, 09:06

@wolf_: I believe @norakomi have a non-rabbit tune there

By norakomi

Paragon (1140)

01-02-2022, 09:14

Pencioner wrote:

Did you try to google for some generic hints/info for FM sound effects?

Yeah I did. I researched a bit, but litteraly can't find anything about this.
I'm mostly wondering if someone has ever done this before ? Are there Tools to create or convert sfx for FM channels ?
I don't know anything about this. Have 0 experience with it.
I'm also very curious about the quality.
Is it even better than simply playing sfx using the PSG ?
The PSG does have the noise register which creates nice cracks and pops to give sfx that nice snap/punch, especially nice for stuff like explosions. I end up using this in 50% of my PSG sfx.
Would it even be worth it making sfx with Moonsound's FM registers ?
Are there Demo's or games or other examples that already do this to listen to the quality ?

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

01-02-2022, 10:11

FM channels, to be used as SEE-effect, require: pitch, volume and brightness. Pitch and volume are easy to grasp. The brightness can be used to boost the modulator-level. In combination with maximum feedback, there's your noise.

You kind of get SCC'ish sound effects that way.

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

01-02-2022, 10:23

Perhaps ro can fix SEE a bit, sending the registers to the Moonsound's FM registers?

By Grauw

Ascended (10768)

01-02-2022, 11:14

There is no reason why FM couldn’t be used for sound effects, e.g. Aleste and Twinkle Star come to mind as games with FM sfx. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a specific tool for creating FM sound effects. The closest thing that comes to mind is Trilo Tracker FM’s instrument macros, but those are for MSX-MUSIC, not MoonSound.

It seems like you should create a new tool or adapting an existing tool. Modifying SEE or AYFX doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Or maybe there is an editor made by the PC scene. Since the FM part of the OPL4 is identical to OPL3, you may find more search results if you search for OPL3, OPL2 or AdLib. At least I found an Adlib sound effects format but I don’t know if there was a publicly available editor for that. Maybe Reality Adlib Tracker or Adlib Tracker II has instrument macros similar to Trilo Tracker.

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

01-02-2022, 11:13

Can the Moonsound be put into OPL2 mode? I mean, the 4-ops aren't emulated yet afaik. Perhaps openMSX can be fooled in thinking the Moonsound is a Music Module and playback FM-channels?

By Grauw

Ascended (10768)

01-02-2022, 11:21

wolf_ wrote:

Can the Moonsound be put into OPL2 mode? I mean, the 4-ops aren't emulated yet afaik. Perhaps openMSX can be fooled in thinking the Moonsound is a Music Module and playback FM-channels?

The OPL4 is backwards compatible with OPL3, OPL2 and OPL, so yes. If you make FM sound effects for the Music Module then you can play them on the MoonSound too.

The 4-op channels work fine btw, don’t know why you think they wouldn’t?