FM Sound Unit

FM Sound Unit
Made for: Sega Mark III
Manufacturer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Type: Add-on
Release Date RRP Code JP 1987 ¥6,8006,800 FM-70

The FM Sound Unit (FMサウンドユニット) is an add-on for the Sega Mark III used to enhance the sound output of certain Mark III games. It was sold in Japan beginning in 1987 for ¥6,800.

Hardware

The FM Sound Unit contains a YM2413 FM synthesizer chip that acts in lieu of the built-in SN76489 PSG chip, featuring nine mono sound channels. It connects to the Mark III through the console's front expansion port, and also has a 5-pin DIN pigtail connector at the back which connects to the Mark III's AV out. Composite video and the final audio signal are then output from a 5-pin DIN connector on the rear of the unit. Those who wanted to have FM audio through an RF connection needed to connect the Telecon Pack's transmitter module to the FM Sound Unit, as FM audio is not passed through to the Mark III's RF modulator. Once connected, the unit sits on top of the left-hand side of the Mark III and hooks into the top air vents. It is not compatible with anything other than the Mark III.

When the redesigned Sega Master System hit the Japanese market, the FM Sound Unit was built-in to the console (though it is absent from international releases). The Japanese Master System also allowed for both PSG and FM audio to be mixed together, something not possible on the standalone FM Sound Unit. This is used to great effect in its special BIOS screen, which plays a rendition of the Space Harrier theme using both audio chips. However, no games were released that took advantage of this feature.

Unfortunately, not all Mark III or Sega Master System games made use of FM audio, and Sega eventually stopped including FM audio support during 1989. The unit was not built into the Sega Mega Drive or Power Base Converter, so these extra features cannot be activated when playing Master System games on Sega's 16-bit console. Newer flash cartridges for the Mega Drive have the ability to emulate the YM2413, and there also exist modification boards to allow for FM audio on non-Japanese consoles. By consequence of this decision, the Sega Game Gear does not include native support for FM audio in general, but modification boards and even native aftermarket games made with them in mind or games with the YM2413 chip included inside the cartridge does exist for the handheld.

Compatibility

• After Burner (1987)
• Alex Kidd BMX Trial (1987)
• Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars (1986)
• Alien Syndrome (1987)
• Aztec Adventure: The Golden Road to Paradise (1987)
• Blade Eagle (1988)
• Bomber Raid (1989)
• Captain Silver (1988)
• Chouon Senshi Borgman (1988)
• Double Dragon (1988)
• Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa (1987)
• Fantasy Zone: The Maze (1987)
• Galactic Protector (1988)
• Game de Check! Koutsuu Anzen (1988)
• Golvellius (1988)
• Great Golf (1987)
• Hoshi o Sagashite... (1988)
• Kenseiden (1988)
• Kujaku Ou (1988)
• Lord of the Sword (1988)
• Mahjong Sengoku Jidai (1987)
• Maze Hunter 3D (1988)
• Megumi Rescue (1988)
• Miracle Warriors: Seal of the Dark Lord (1987)
• Nekkyuu Koushien (1988)
• OutRun (1986)
• Parlour Games (1987)
• Penguin Land (1987)
• Phantasy Star (1987)
• Power Strike (1988)
• R-Type (1988)
• SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative (1987)
• Shinobi (1987)
• Solomon no Kagi: Oujo Rihita no Namida (1988)
• Space Harrier 3D (1988)
• Super Racing (1988)
• Tensai Bakabon (1988)
• Thunder Blade (1987)
• Wonder Boy in Monster Land (1987)
• Ys: Ancient Ys Vanished Omen (1988)
• Zaxxon 3D (1987)
• Zillion II: The Tri Formation (1987)

Note: Only the Japanese versions of Phantasy Star and Ys: The Vanished Omens have FM Sound Unit support, as the FM audio code was removed to make room for translated text in the international releases.

The following games have FM soundtracks but were not released in Japan:

• Altered Beast (1988)
• California Games (1989)
• Casino Games (1989)
• Cloud Master (1989)
• Galaxy Force (1988)
• Golfamania (1990)
• OutRun 3D (1989)
• Poseidon Wars 3D (1989)
• Rampage (1988)
• Rastan (1989)
• Rescue Mission (1988)
• Scramble Spirits (1988)
• Shanghai (1988)
• Tennis Ace (1989)
• Time Soldiers (1989)
• Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1990)
• Vigilante (1989)
• Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (1989)

Out of these, only Wonder Boy III is known to have been released in South Korea. However, the FM audio in Wonder Boy III will only function with a Japanese system equipped with FM audio capabilities; Western consoles modified with FM audio use PSG due to the game's region detection code. However, the Wii Virtual Console version allows using the FM audio.

Incompatible Games

Great Baseball (1985), Pit Pot and Teddy Boy Blues have control issues when the FM Sound Unit is connected, and Sega included a special notice with the add-on to let owners know of these compatibility issues. These games do not have problems on the Japanese Master System.

Physical scans

Master System, JP
Cover
Manual

Production credits

• Concept: Yuji Naka
• Sound Driver: Kazuhiko Nagai

Source:

Developer mentions

External links

• Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): Master System