MSX RE2-YM2608 Sound Card (Makoto Compatible)
MSX RE2-YM2608 Sound Card (Makoto Compatible)
Demo Video
What is it?
MSX RE2-YM2608 (codenamed Makoto) is a YM2608 (OPNA) sound card for MSX computers, enabling authentic playback of PC-88/PC-98 VGM music directly on your MSX system. It is fully compatible with ADPCM sample playback and can also handle YM2612+SN76489 tracks via vgmplay's powerful conversion engine.
Why Was It Made?
The original Makoto YM2608 MSX sound card has been out of stock for a long time. When the original author open-sourced the project, I obtained the original design through a trusted source (not reverse engineering). Upon reviewing the schematics, I identified several defects in the audio circuit design of the original Makoto — so I designed my own improved version from scratch.
The audio circuit of the RE2-YM2608 MSX card is completely original, designed independently without plagiarizing any other project. The logic circuit correctness was verified using a Makoto-to-RE2-YM2608 conversion board before committing to the final single-board design.
What Makes It Special?
- Improved audio circuit: Fully redesigned by Denjhang, addressing defects found in the original Makoto design
- Full ADPCM support: Verified to play tracks with ADPCM samples completely normally
- YM2612 + SN76489 compatibility: Can play Mega Drive / Genesis VGM tracks via vgmplay's conversion function
- MSX cartridge form factor: Plugs directly into your MSX cartridge slot
- Original design: Audio circuit independently designed, not derived from any other project
- Open source heritage: Based on the open-sourced Makoto project with significant improvements
About the YM2608 Chip
The YM2608 (OPNA) is Yamaha's most powerful PC sound chip of its era, combining 6 channels of 4-operator FM synthesis, a 3-channel SSG (PSG) section, a rhythm sound generator with built-in samples, and a full ADPCM channel for high-quality sample playback. It was the heart of the NEC PC-9801 sound system, powering iconic Japanese PC game soundtracks from Falcom's Ys series and countless other classics.
With the MSX RE2-YM2608, you can bring that full OPNA sound — FM, SSG, rhythm, and ADPCM — to your MSX computer.
Compatible Systems
- MSX / MSX2 / MSX2+ / MSX turbo R (cartridge slot)
- VGM playback via vgmplay (PC-88, PC-98, Mega Drive tracks)