Difference between revisions of "SegaPCM"

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'''SegaPCM''' is the colloquial name of a PCM audio chip used by [[Sega]] in a number of arcade boards used by [[AM2]] between 1985 and 1991. The chip's part number varies; see below. It was a custom [[wikipedia:ASIC|ASIC]] manufactured by Sega.{{ref|[http://vgmrips.net/wiki/SegaPCM SegaPCM] (VGM Rips)}} It was mainly used in the [[:Category:Sega System series|Super Scaler]] series of high-end [[List of Sega arcade systems|Sega arcade systems]].
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'''SegaPCM''' is the colloquial name of a PCM playback technology created by engineers at [[Studio 128]] in 1985. It was originally implemented as discrete logic chips before being consolidated into a series of custom [[wikipedia:ASIC|ASIC]]s. It was mainly used in the [[:Category:Sega System series|Super Scaler]] series of high-end [[List of Sega arcade systems|Sega arcade systems]].
  
The chip is a 16-channel stereo digital mixing chip that uses external sample ROM. The chip is not pure stereo; it simply duplicates its input data on both left and right channels, allowing you to set the two channel volumes independently of each other to simulate panning. Samples play at a fixed frequency and can be looped. It presumably allows up to 16MB of sample ROM provided by the board but has additional banking hardware with a six bit bank number leading to a total of up to 1GB of addressable sample data (assuming optimal conditions). The sample format is some 8-bit PCM (what form it is is not yet determined by anyone here). Whether or not it produces an analog or digital signal is also undetermined by editors here. Samples must be aligned to some offset (TODO determine).
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The technology is a 16-channel PCM sample mixer that uses an external sample ROM. While the mixer is stereo, only the volume of the left and right channels are independently controllable. Samples play at a fixed frequency and can be looped. It presumably allows up to 16MB of sample ROM provided by the board but has additional banking hardware with a 6-bit bank number leading to a total of up to 1GB of addressable sample data (assuming optimal conditions). The sample format is some 8-bit PCM (what form it is is not yet determined by anyone here). Whether or not it produces an analog or digital signal is also undetermined by editors here. Samples must be aligned to some offset (TODO determine).
  
Rather than using this chip, Sega decided to use a simple DAC for its main arcade board at the time, the [[Sega System 16]] board, for playing back samples, and continued to use a simple DAC in the [[System 24]] before switching to chips by other vendors later.
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SegaPCM was used exclusively by Studio 128's games through the [[System 32]]; other Sega arcade games (even those with music by the same composers), if they used sampled audio at all, provided a very basic [[DAC]]. Near the end of the decade the basic DAC would give way to more elaborate chips by other vendors (such as the [[NEC uPD7759]] and [[Richo RF5C68]]). SegaPCM itself would eventually be phased out by the time Studio 128 became [[AM2]], replaced by the [[Yamaha YMW258-F]] (aka "Sega MultiPCM"), beginning with the [[System Multi 32]] arcade board.
  
 
==Arcade boards with SegaPCM and part numbers==
 
==Arcade boards with SegaPCM and part numbers==
 
*[[Sega Hang-On hardware]]
 
*[[Sega Hang-On hardware]]
:*All games: 315-5218
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:*[[Hang-On]], [[Space Harrier]], and [[Enduro Racer]] with YM2203: discrete logic chips
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:*[[Enduro Racer]] with YM2151: 315-5218
 
*[[Sega OutRun hardware]]
 
*[[Sega OutRun hardware]]
 
:*All games: 315-5218{{ref|[https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/drivers/segaorun.cpp Sega OutRun (MAME)]}}
 
:*All games: 315-5218{{ref|[https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/drivers/segaorun.cpp Sega OutRun (MAME)]}}

Revision as of 12:31, 19 June 2023

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SegaPCM

SegaPCM is the colloquial name of a PCM playback technology created by engineers at Studio 128 in 1985. It was originally implemented as discrete logic chips before being consolidated into a series of custom ASICs. It was mainly used in the Super Scaler series of high-end Sega arcade systems.

The technology is a 16-channel PCM sample mixer that uses an external sample ROM. While the mixer is stereo, only the volume of the left and right channels are independently controllable. Samples play at a fixed frequency and can be looped. It presumably allows up to 16MB of sample ROM provided by the board but has additional banking hardware with a 6-bit bank number leading to a total of up to 1GB of addressable sample data (assuming optimal conditions). The sample format is some 8-bit PCM (what form it is is not yet determined by anyone here). Whether or not it produces an analog or digital signal is also undetermined by editors here. Samples must be aligned to some offset (TODO determine).

SegaPCM was used exclusively by Studio 128's games through the System 32; other Sega arcade games (even those with music by the same composers), if they used sampled audio at all, provided a very basic DAC. Near the end of the decade the basic DAC would give way to more elaborate chips by other vendors (such as the NEC uPD7759 and Richo RF5C68). SegaPCM itself would eventually be phased out by the time Studio 128 became AM2, replaced by the Yamaha YMW258-F (aka "Sega MultiPCM"), beginning with the System Multi 32 arcade board.

Arcade boards with SegaPCM and part numbers

  • All games: 315-5218[1]
  • All games: 315-5218 (unconfirmed)
  • All games: 315-5218 (unconfirmed)

Technical specifications

The SegaPCM has the following technical specifications:[2][1]

References