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.