discoDSP has announced the release of OPL, a software synthesizer that emulates the digital sound synthesis chip developed by Yamaha in the mid 1980s.
The OPL was used in sound cards for PC, including the AdLib card and early Sound Blaster series.
This instrument provides an emulated OPL sound chip. It provides all features of the OPL2, and some features of the OPL3. The original coder and author Bruce Sutherland provides JUCEOPLVSTi builds meanwhile we take care of macOS.
At a technical level: the emulator has channels comprised of 2 oscillators each. Each pair of oscillators is usually combined via phase modulation (basically frequency modulation). Each oscillator can produce one of eight waveforms (sine, half sine, absolute sine, quarter sine, alternating sine, camel sine, square, logarithmic sawtooth), and has an ADSR envelope controlling its amplitude. The unusual waveforms give it a characteristic sound.
OPL is available in VST/VST3 and AU plugin formats, priced $29 USD.
More information: discoDSP
