Category: Music

The golden age of sound cards

Not all computers were created equal. Some were made for education, others for gaming, and IBM PC was designed for business. In 1981, the 5150 was introduced, the first model of what would become the ubiquitous architecture that we have all used. Its sound capabilities were mostly harmless.

However, over time, these computers swept everything aside. During their peak, Macintosh computers were a minority, and both the Amiga and Atari ST faded away. How did they fare in terms of sound to compete with them? It was the era of sound cards for PCs and compatibles.

Continue reading “The golden age of sound cards”

Sound chips that shaped video games

Sound is present since videogames are such. From little beeps to the complex, positional digital audio system nowadays. Sound effects and music in the digital entertainment have come a long way, and so the necessary hardware has.

Among the electronic circuits that have made possible the sound aspect of the digital world there are really notable ones. Because the melodies they have been written for, the impact in the gaming (or general) culture, its capacities or simply because the leap they meant. As the dumb lists enthusiast I am, here is a list of some which, in my judgement, are the most interesting and deserve to be remembered.

Continue reading “Sound chips that shaped video games”