System Presets

Furnace includes system presets that automatically configure multiple chips together, matching the audio hardware of real gaming consoles, computers, and arcade boards. These presets make it easy to start composing in the authentic style of your favorite classic systems.

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What are System Presets?

Most classic gaming systems used multiple sound chips working together. For example, the Sega Genesis combined the YM2612 FM chip with the SN76489 PSG. System presets configure these chip combinations automatically with the correct clock rates and settings.

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How to Use System Presets

When creating a new file in Furnace, you can select from dozens of system presets. You can also add systems to existing songs using the Chip Manager window.

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Sega Systems

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Sega Genesis / Mega Drive

Chips: YM2612 + SN76489 The iconic Sega Genesis sound: 6 channels of FM synthesis plus 3 square wave channels and noise. This combination gave the Genesis its characteristic “crunchy” sound.

• YM2612: 6-channel FM synthesis (can use channel 6 for PCM samples)
• SN76489: 3 square waves + 1 noise channel

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Sega Genesis (with Sega CD)

Chips: YM3438 + SN76489 + RF5C164 Adds the Sega CD’s PCM chip for up to 8 channels of digital audio playback.

• YM3438: Later revision of YM2612 with cleaner DAC
• RF5C164: 8-channel PCM for CD audio and samples

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Sega Master System

Chips: SN76489 The simpler Master System used only the SN76489 PSG chip.

• 3 square wave channels
• 1 noise channel
• Hardware stereo on Game Gear variant

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Sega Master System (with FM expansion)

Chips: SN76489 + YM2413 Japanese Master System models supported an FM expansion using the budget OPLL chip.

• YM2413: 9-channel FM with preset instruments
• Works together with the standard PSG channels

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Nintendo Systems

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NES / Famicom

Chips: 2A03 The Nintendo Entertainment System’s integrated sound processor.

• 2 pulse wave channels with sweep
• 1 triangle wave channel
• 1 noise channel
• 1 DPCM sample channel

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Famicom with Konami VRC6

Chips: 2A03 + VRC6 Konami’s expansion chip adds extra pulse and sawtooth channels.

• 2 additional pulse channels with finer duty control
• 1 sawtooth channel

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Famicom with Konami VRC7

Chips: 2A03 + VRC7 Adds 6 channels of FM synthesis to the Famicom.

• VRC7: Customized YM2413 OPLL variant
• 6 FM channels with preset and custom instruments

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Famicom with MMC5

Chips: 2A03 + MMC5 Nintendo’s own expansion chip for games like Castlevania III (Japanese version).

• 2 additional pulse channels
• 1 PCM channel
• Can also expand 2A03’s capabilities

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Famicom with Sunsoft 5B

Chips: 2A03 + 5B Uses an AY-3-8910-compatible chip for extra square wave channels.

• 3 square wave channels
• 1 noise channel
• Hardware envelope control

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Famicom with Namco 163

Chips: 2A03 + N163 Namco’s wavetable expansion with configurable channel count.

• 1 to 8 wavetable channels (more channels = lower quality per channel)
• Custom waveforms

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Famicom Disk System

Chips: 2A03 + FDS The Disk System’s wavetable chip adds unique capabilities.

• 1 wavetable channel with modulation
• 64-sample waveforms
• Hardware volume envelope and sweep

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Handheld Consoles

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Game Boy

Chips: Game Boy Nintendo’s legendary handheld sound.

• 2 pulse channels with sweep
• 1 wavetable channel (32 samples)
• 1 noise channel
• Hardware panning (stereo)

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Game Boy Advance

Chips: Game Boy Advance The GBA could run in GB compatibility mode or use its PCM hardware.

• 2 PCM channels
• 4 wavetable channels
• Backward compatible with Game Boy sound
• Hardware panning and mixing

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Game Gear

Chips: SN76489 (Game Gear variant) Same as Master System but with hard-panned stereo.

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Neo Geo Pocket

Chips: T6W28 + DAC SNK’s handheld uses a PSG derivative.

• 3 square wave channels
• 1 noise channel
• 1 DAC for samples

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Home Computers

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Commodore 64 (6581 SID)

Chips: MOS 6581 The C64’s legendary SID chip is a true analog synthesizer.

• 3 oscillators with 4 waveforms each
• Ring modulation and oscillator sync
• Multi-mode resonant filter
• ADSR envelopes

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Commodore 64 (8580 SID)

Chips: MOS 8580 Later C64 models used the improved 8580 revision.

• Same features as 6581
• More stable filter response
• Fixed waveform mixing

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Commodore VIC-20

Chips: VIC The VIC-20’s simpler sound chip.

• 3 square wave channels
• 1 noise channel

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Amiga

Chips: Amiga Paula The Amiga revolutionized computer audio with 4-channel PCM.

• 4 independent 8-bit PCM channels
• Hardware panning (left/right)
• Sample playback up to 28 kHz

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MSX

Chips: AY-3-8910 Most MSX computers used the General Instrument PSG.

• 3 square wave channels
• 1 noise channel
• Hardware envelope generator

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MSX + SCC

Chips: YM2149(F) + SCC Konami’s Sound Creative Chip cartridge expansion.

• SCC: 5-channel wavetable synthesis
• Custom 32-sample waveforms
• Works alongside the standard PSG

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SNES

Chips: SNES The Super Nintendo’s SPC700 + DSP combination.

• 8-channel ADPCM sample playback
• Hardware ADSR envelopes
• Built-in reverb, echo, and pitch modulation
• Sample compression (BRR format)

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PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16

Chips: HuC6280 NEC’s console featured advanced wavetable synthesis.

• 6 wavetable channels
• 32-sample waveforms
• Per-channel panning
• Hardware LFO

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Atari Systems

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Atari 2600/7800

Chips: TIA The Atari 2600’s Television Interface Adaptor.

• 2 channels with 16 different waveforms
• Simple but distinctive sound

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Atari 800

Chips: POKEY The Atari 8-bit computer’s sound chip.

• 4 channels with various waveforms
• High-pass filters
• Two-tone mode for richer sounds

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Arcade Systems

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Arcade (YM2151 and SegaPCM)

Chips: YM2151 + SegaPCM Common Sega arcade configuration.

• YM2151: 8-channel FM synthesis
• SegaPCM: 16-channel PCM samples

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Capcom CPS-1

Chips: YM2151 + MSM6295 Capcom’s first arcade board.

• YM2151: 8-channel FM
• MSM6295: 4-channel ADPCM

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Capcom CPS-2 (QSound)

Chips: QSound Capcom’s proprietary surround sound system.

• 16 PCM channels
• Simulated 3D audio positioning
• Pan and echo effects

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Neo Geo

Chips: YM2610 SNK’s arcade and home console system.

• 4 FM channels
• 3 SSG channels (AY-3-8910 compatible)
• 7 ADPCM channels (ADPCM-A)
• 1 ADPCM-B channel with interpolation

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Neo Geo (extended channel 2)

Same as above but with extended channel mode enabled for the FM section, allowing independent operator control.

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PC Systems

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PC + Sound Blaster Pro

Chips: YM3812 × 2 + DAC + PC Speaker The classic Sound Blaster Pro configuration.

• 2× YM3812: Dual OPL2 chips for stereo
• DAC: PCM sample playback
• PC Speaker: Backward compatibility

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Sharp X68000

Chips: YM2151 + MSM6258 Japanese home computer with arcade-quality sound.

• YM2151: 8-channel FM
• MSM6258: ADPCM sample playback

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Konami Systems

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Konami Bubble System

Chips: AY-3-8910 × 2 + Konami WSG Konami’s early arcade hardware.

• 2× AY-3-8910: 6 square wave + 2 noise channels total
• WSG: Wavetable synthesis

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Modern Systems

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Commander X16 (VERA only)

Chips: VERA The Commander X16 retro computer’s sound chip.

• 16 channels of PSG or PCM
• Flexible routing and configuration
• Modern design with vintage spirit

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Configuring Systems

After selecting a system preset:

1. View chip configuration: Open the Chip Manager window
2. Adjust settings: Change clock rates, chip variants, or special modes
3. Add more chips: Mix and match chips from different systems
4. Save as preset: Create your own custom system configurations