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50% retrokid104

::|CONTENTS

1. Tools
2. Restrictions on submit
3. Playback (for voting)
4. See also

OPL3 is BotB's format specifically for the Sound Blaster and AdLib Gold soundchip Yamaha YMF262 (aka OPL3). It succeeded the popular OPL2 chip. Still featuring FM synthesis, it came with many upgrades over its predecessor. A whopping 18 channels are available, a total of eight waveforms, and four-operator FM synthesis is possible by combining pairs of channels 1-12 (for a total of six simultaneous 4OP channels).

This format was created in late 2024 as an answer to a long-standing BotB conundrum about the AdLib Soundcard format. The AdLib format was retired from hosting and replaced by two new formats, OPL2 and OPL3. Note that this format is functionally identical to the old AdLib format; OPL2 music can be created within the scope of the OPL3.

Tools

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- Adlib Tracker II (Windows, DOS) (*.a2m)
- AMusic v1.12 (*.amd)
- Reality Adlib Tracker (Windows, DOS) (*.rad)
- Faust Music Creator (DOS) (*.fmc)
- Scream Tracker 3 (DOS) (*.s3m)
- Schism Tracker (Windows, Linux, OS X, BSD) (*.s3m)
- MODPlug Tracker (Windows) (*.s3m, *.mptm)
- Furnace Tracker (Windows, Linux, Mac) (*.fur)

Scream Tracker 3 modules (*.s3m) are ordinarily sample-based, but the format also supports OPL FM instruments. Modules that use OPL instruments exclusively are fair game for submission. THAT MEANS NO SAMPLES. The same goes for MPT modules (*.mptm).

Schism Tracker: To create an OPL instrument go to the samples list and press Alt-Z. The documentation for Schism Tracker's AdLib instrument creation can be found here

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Furnace Tracker: Select only one (1) chip from one of these two options: "YMF262 (OPL3)" or "YMF262 (drums mode)".

Restrictions on submit

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The entry must be written for the AdLib soundcard's OPL3 chip (YMF262) and should be playable on hardware or in an emulator. Note that it's possible to write OPL2 music for this chip, too, if you wish to confine yourself to nine FM channels and only 2OP instruments with the first four waveform options (sine, half sine, absolute sine, quarter sine).

Many filetypes are accepted, including .a2m, .amd, .rad, .fmc, .s3m, .mptm, and .fur. These modules are either playable on hardware or have a path to hardware playability via .vgm export. The modules are still preferred to match the rest of the file formats.

Playback (for voting)

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Use one of the tools mentioned above! Or one of these alternatives:
- Droidsound-E (Enhanced version) (Android)
- XMplay/winamp plug-in available here

See also

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- adlib (soundchip)
- adlib (soundcard)
- adlib (format) (retired format; precursor to the separate OPL2 and OPL3 formats)