YM2149F Sound Module: 9-Voice PSG MIDI Synthesizer - TurboSound-X3 Special Edition

Triple-Chip Programmable Sound Module • 9-Voice Retro Wave Synth

The only 3 chip YM2149F synthesizer available, original design, developed by me for HobbyChop.

These YM2149F chips haven't been manufactured in decades these are all chips pulled from recycled machines, in various states of surface wear and from various years of production; 83-97. They are 100% authentic. I will do my best to clean each chip but there will be scratches, and signs of wear due to age. You can check each chips age by the markings, ex. 9213 = 13th week of 1992. These chips are very resilient, and the surface scratches do not affect their performance.

Key Features

9 Total Voices

Three sound-generator chips, each offering three square-wave channels.

Gold plated sound chip sockets keeps chips snug.

Mono / Stereo mode switches for each output.

Can power with PC USB but sound quality will be a lot better if powered on its own power source.

Adjustable Volumes

Master mix output plus three individual chip outputs—each with its own level control.

Versatile MIDI I/O

• USB-MIDI for plug-and-play with any DAW

• 3.5 mm MIDI TRS A jack for classic gear integration

Per-Channel Voice Routing: Maps MIDI channels 1–9 to specific chip voices:

Channels 1–3 → Chip 0 voices A/B/C

Channels 4–6 → Chip 1 voices A/B/C

Channels 7–9 → Chip 2 voices A/B/C

LED indicates midi activity per chip

Effects:

Use pitch bend wheel for ±2 semitone bends.

CC 1 – Mod Wheel → scales vibrato depth

CC 4 – Volume Env Shape: 0=OFF, 1–63=Ramp up, 64–127=Ramp down

CC 5 – Portamento Time → glide speed (0.005–0.5)

CC 7 – Channel Volume → alternate expression control

CC 9 – Pitch Sweep Amount → max semitone sweep (0–2 semis)

CC 10 – Pitch Sweep Envelope → < 64 = attack, ≥ 64 = release shape

CC 11 – Expression → per-channel volume scaling

CC 64 – Sustain On/Off → ≥ 64 enables sustain (send All Notes Off or set to 0 to stop)

CC 65 – Portamento On/Off → ≥ 64 enables glide

CC 68 – Laser-Jump On/Off → ≥ 64 triggers one-shot “laser” jump on note-on (with portamento on)

CC 69 – Laser-Jump Amount → 0.0–1.0 blend toward zero for the laser effect

CC 76 – Vibrato Rate → 0–10 Hz LFO speed

CC 77 – Vibrato Depth → 0–2 semitone LFO range

CC 85 – Vibrato Delay → delay before LFO engages

CC 120/123 – All Sound / All Notes Off → channel reset

Audio Routing

• 1× mixed stereo/mono output

• 3× solo outputs

• Output mode switches for each channel

Specs & Requirements

Power: 5 V via USB or external regulated supply

Connector Types:

– USB-Micro for power & MIDI

– 3.5 mm MIDI IN

– 3.5 mm audio outputs

- Knob and LED colors may differ from photos. depending on what's in stock.

Demo Song: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Aonlpa75O4U

My Github: https://github.com/Chiptune-Anamnesis/ym2149f-turbo-sound-x3