Kasser Synths dafm synth arcade ym2151 User manual

YM2151
dafm synth
arcade ym2151
user manual
firmware v 1.98
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introduction
thank you for purchasing the DAFM synth arcade YM2151 synthesizer.
this FM multitimbral synthesizer allows you to create unique sounds
using the Yamaha chips that were used in almost all the arcade
machines during the 80s and 90s.
this manual will help you to get started with the DAFM synth arcade
YM2151, including information about how to control the synth through an
external MIDI controller. it will cover the basic features of the
synthesizer, including how to navigate the menu, use the rotary
encoders, and modify the ADSR envelopes, frequencies, and LFOs.
now it's time to dive in and explore the capabilities of your DAFM synth
arcade YM2151! experiment with the various patches and presets,
modify the settings to create your own unique sounds, and see what
kind of music you can create using the iconic sound of the arcade
cabinets. we challenge you to push the limits of this powerful FM
multitimbral synthesizer and unleash your creativity to make
something truly unique and amazing!
dafm synth
arcade ym2151
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get started
to get started with your DAFM synth arcade YM2151, you'll need to
connect it to your power source and audio output. Use the USB Type B
cable (5V) to power the synthesizer, and connect the stereo sound
output to a 3.5 mm audio jack.
if you want to control the synth through an external MIDI controller,
connect the MIDI input to your keyboard, sequencer, or other MIDI
instrument. once you've made these connections, you're ready to turn
on your DAFM synth arcade YM2151 and start exploring its features!
3
midi in
(din 5 connector)
on / off - volume power in
(usb 5v)
audio out
(3.5 mm jack)
dafm synth
arcade ym2151

how to navigate the menus
to navigate the menus on the DAFM synth arcade YM2151, you will need to use the right
knob and right switch. the right knob allows you to scroll through the different menu
options, while the right switch selects the option that is currently highlighted.
the left knob is used to select the operator, while the left switch is used to cancel an
action. if you hold the left knob and turn the right knob, you can change the octave. if you
hold the left switch and press the right switch, you can adjust the display brightness to
reduce noise at the sound output.
the touch keyboard of the DAFM synth arcade YM2151 allows you to play and experiment
with different patches, making it easy to explore the full sound spectrum of the Yamaha
chip.
right knob: menu
right switch: ok
operator 1
operator 3
operator 2
operator 4
touch keyboard 12 notes
YAMAHA CHIP
left knob: operator
left switch: cancel
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151

menu 1. feedback, algorithm and
velocity control
menu 1 gives you access to important parameters that shape the sound of your FM
synthesizer. this menu has two submenus
once you press the right switch you enter the first submenu. in this submenu 1 the left
knob controls the feedback or the degree of modulation of operator 1 to itself, adding
complexity and depth to your sound.
the right knob lets you choose the algorithm or how the operators interact with each
other. modulators are the operators that modulate the carriers, which are the operators
you can hear. choosing the right algorithm can completely transform the character of
your sound.
if you select the second submenu with the right knob and press the right switch you
enter the velocity control submenu. here the right knob controls the on/off switch for
MIDI velocity-controlled operators. this allows you to shape the sound based on how hard
you play the keys, adding expressiveness to your performance.
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151

menu 2. frequency ratio
in FM synthesis, the frequency ratio determines the relationship between the carrier and
modulator frequencies. changing the frequency ratio can create unique and interesting
sounds. there are two submenus
once selected the first submenu with the right switch, the right knob controls the
operator's frequency multiplier. this determines the pitch of the operator and how it will
interact with the other operators in the synth.
if the second submenu is selected the left knob controls the fine detune whereas the
right knob controls the coarse detune of the selected frequency multiplier. this allows
you to coarse and fine-tune the pitch of the operator for even more precise control over
your sound.
remember that different frequency ratios between the carrier and its modulator will
produce different overtones, giving you a wide range of sounds to experiment with.
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151

menu 3. envelope ADSR
welcome to menu 3 where we'll explore the ADSR envelope in FM synthesis. the envelope
is like a roadmap for the sound, determining how it evolves over time. here's a
breakdown of the different parameters:
attack: determines how quickly the sound reaches maximum volume when a key is
pressed. decay: determines how quickly the sound drops from maximum volume to the
sustain level. sustain: determines the volume level that the sound will sustain at while a
key is held down. release: determines how quickly the sound fades out after a key is
released. additionally, we have the total level parameter, which sets the overall volume
of the operator. finally, the rate or key scaling is the degree to which the envelope
becomes narrower as the frequency becomes higher.
submenu 1: you can control attack rate with left knob and total level with right knob
submenu 2: control decay rate with left knob and secondary total level a.k.a. sustain
with right knob
submenu 3 : control secondary decay rate with left knob and release rate with right
knob
submenu 4: control the rate or key scaling with the right knob
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151

menu 4. low frequency
oscillator LFO
the low-frequency oscillator (LFO) in FM synthesis generates a wave that oscillates at a
frequency below the audible range. this wave can be applied to control the frequency in
cents or the amplitude of the operators in dB. menu 4 and 5 allow you to control the LFO
parameters of the DAFM synth arcade YM2151. you have to configure both menus to get
the LFO effect
with the left knob of 4.1, you control the LFO frequency globally for all four operators at
once. the frequency modulation sensitivity in cents can be adjusted with the right knob of
4.1. this affects the depth of modulation applied to the operators' frequency by the LFO.
the left knob of 4.2 turns on or off the amplitude modulation for each individual operator.
the right knob adjusts the global sensitivity in dB for all operators. with amplitude
modulation, the LFO affects the amplitude or loudness of the operator's signal instead of
the frequency. by experimenting with the LFO settings, in summary by adjusting the
amplitude modulation sensitivity in menu 4, you can achieve tremolo, while adjusting the
frequency modulation sensitivity can give you vibrato.
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151

menu 5. low frequency
oscillator LFO
now let’s configure the second menu of LFOs. here's how you can control it using the
DAFM synth arcade YM2151:
approach to menu 5 by using the right knob until you reach it. once there use the left
knob to select the LFO submenu you want to modify and press right switch to modify it.
submenus:
5.1 - phase modulation depth: use the right knob to control the depth of phase modulation.
this will affect how the operator wave's phase is modulated by the LFO.
5.2 - amplitude modulation depth: use the right knob to control the depth of amplitude
modulation. this will affect how the operator wave's volume is modulated by the LFO.
5.3 - phase and amplitude modulation waveform: use the right knob to select the
waveform for the phase and amplitude modulation. you can choose from various options
such as sine, triangle, square, or random to create different effects.
experiment with these parameters to create unique and interesting sounds with the LFO.
remember that the effects of the LFO can be subtle or extreme depending on the values
you choose, so don't be afraid to play around with them.
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151

menu 6. fm patches and midi
channels
the first submenu allows you to load a preset to the DAFM synth so that you can play
with it and tweak its parameters. There are two types of presets: unfilled circles
represent the presets saved in each of the 8 MIDI channels that can be controlled
through MIDI. If you load any of these presets, the MIDI channel can be controlled
externally, but you can tweak the parameters locally. If you load the bank 0 presets (filled
circles), you will select from a curated selection of presets coming directly from the
arcade videogames. these are exactly the same presets that were used in the
videogames. check the last page of the manual to get the correspondence between the
numbers, the presets and the videogames.
once you load or modify a preset, you can save it in the MIDI channel that you want using
the second submenu. with this action, you can play the channel with the preset that you
saved using the MIDI external controller.
the third submenu allows you to load 8 presets from an SD card to the 8 MIDI channels.
SD cards are easy to get, so you can prepare several SD cards with different sets of 8
presets to load on the fly. Remember to use the correct naming in the presets
(patch0x.dmp where x goes from 1 to 8).
in the fourth submenu, the DAFM synth makes a copy of all the presets saved currently
in the 8 MIDI channels to an SD card. They are copied at once using the naming
patch0x.DMP (x from 1 to 8). remember to rename them to patch0x.dmp to load them
correctly on Deflemask software.
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151

menu 6. fm patches and midi
channels.
the DAFM synth offers convenient shortcuts for quickly loading and saving presets to the
six available MIDI channels. to load a preset, simply press and hold the left switch and
touch the corresponding key on the keyboard (1 to 8) for the MIDI channel you want to
load the preset to. to save a preset, press and hold the right switch and touch the
corresponding key on the keyboard (1 to 8) for the MIDI channel you want to save the
preset to. this way, you can easily switch between different presets without having to
navigate through menus or use external controllers.
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YAMAHA CHIP
1
2
3
4
56
dafm synth
arcade ym2151
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8

external midi controller
the DAFM synth has two banks of presets - bank 0 and bank 1. You can load presets from
either of these banks to one of the eight MIDI channels of the synth using MIDI
instructions. if you select bank 0 by sending the value 0 to the CC parameter 0 (Bank
Select MSB), you can load any of the presets from the bank 0 to the MIDI channel you
select by sending MIDI program change messages with the corresponding number (check
the list in the last page). It's important to note that bank 0 corresponds to the list of
curated presets coming directly from video games.
alternatively, you can use bank 1 to load up to 128 presets that you have saved in your SD
card. to do this, you need to save *.dmp files to the root of the SD card and name them
as instrxxx.dmp, where xxx ranges from 000 to 127. once you've inserted the SD card into
the DAFM synth, send the value 1 to the CC parameter 0 (Bank Select MSB) to change the
bank to 1. then, use a MIDI Program Change message to load that instrument preset to
the related MIDI channel, with a value from 0 to 127 to select the corresponding preset.
in summary, the DAFM synth has two banks of presets, and you can load them to one of
the eight MIDI channels using MIDI instructions. bank 0 contains the curated presets from
video games, while bank 1 can be used to load your own custom presets from an SD card.
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151

troubleshooting
Power issues: If the DAFM synth doesn't turn on or seems to have no power, check that the
power supply is properly plugged in and that the power switch is in the "on" position. If the
issue persists, try using a different power supply or contacting technical support.
Sound issues: If the DAFM synth isn't producing sound or the sound is distorted, first check that
the audio cables are properly connected to the synth's output and to the speakers or mixer. If
the issue persists, try adjusting the volume and tone controls. If there's still no sound, check
that the synth is set to the correct MIDI channel and that the corresponding MIDI device is
sending signals to that channel.
Parameter issues: If some of the synth's parameters don't seem to be working properly or the
sound is not what you expect, make sure that you're using the correct settings and that you're
not exceeding the synth's limits. Check the manual for information on the available menus,
knobs, and switches, and try experimenting with different combinations until you achieve the
desired result.
Preset issues: If you're having trouble loading or saving presets, make sure that you're
following the correct procedures and that you're using the right file names and formats. Check
the manual for information on how to navigate the preset menus and how to use MIDI
commands to load and save presets. If the issue persists, try using a different SD card or
contacting technical support.
MIDI issues: If you're having trouble controlling the DAFM synth with an external MIDI device or
if you're not getting any response from the synth, check that the MIDI connections are properly
set up and that the MIDI channels and parameters are correctly configured. Check the manual
for information on the available MIDI options and how to use them.
Other issues: If you're experiencing other issues with the DAFM synth, such as unexpected
behavior or malfunctioning components, try resetting the synth to its default settings or
contacting technical support for further assistance. remember to provide as much information
as possible about the issue and any steps you've already taken to troubleshoot
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151

further information
thank you for choosing the DAFM synth, a powerful FM synthesizer that can be used to
create a wide variety of sounds, from classic video game music to modern electronic
music. we hope that this manual has helped you to understand the various features and
functions of the DAFM synth, and that you are now able to use it to its full potential.
if you have any questions or issues with the DAFM synth, please refer to the
troubleshooting section of this manual. If you are still experiencing problems, please
don't hesitate to contact us for further assistance.
kasser.s[email protected]
Instagram: @kassersynths
Twitter: @kassersynths
tindie page: https://www.tindie.com/stores/kassersynths/
we are constantly working to improve and update the DAFM synth, and we welcome your
feedback and suggestions for future updates. please visit our website or social media
pages for the latest news and updates on the DAFM synth.
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THANKS for joining the DAFM synth WAVE
dafm synth
arcade ym2151

midi CC implementation chart
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151
global control
parameter
cc data range
lfo
frequency 18
phase modulation depth
28
64
amplitude modulation depth
29
64
lfo
waveform
30
4
noise enable (
ch 8)
78
2
noise frequency (
ch 8)
79
32
channel
voice control
parameter
cc data range
pitch bend amount
81 12
fm
algorithm 14 8
fm
feedback 15 8
stereo configuration
77
4
amplitude
modulation sensitivity
76
4
frequency modulation sensitivity
75
8

midi CC implementation chart
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151
operator
control
parameter
cc data range
total level op1
16 128
total level op2
17 128
total level op3
18 128
total level op4
19 128
freq
multiplier op1
20
16
freq
multiplier op2 21 16
freq
multiplier op3
22
16
freq
multiplier op4
23
16
detune (fine) op1
24
7
detune (fine) op2
25
7
detune (fine) op3
26
7
detune (fine) op4
27 7
detune 2 (coarse) op1
82
4
detune 2 (coarse) op2
83
4
detune 2(coarse) op3
84
4
detune 2 (coarse) op4
85
4
operator
control
parameter
cc data range
attack rate op1
43
32
attack rate op2
44
32
attack rate op3
45
32
attack rate op4
46
32
decay rate op1
47 32
decay rate op2
48
32
decay rate op3
49
32
decay rate op4
50
32
secondary decay rate op1
51 16
secondary decay rate op2
52 16
secondary decay rate op3
53
16
secondary decay rate op4
54
16
secondary
total level op1
55
16
s
econdary total level op2
56
16
seco
ndary total level op3 57 16
s
econdary total level op4
58
16

midi CC implementation chart
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151
operator
control
parameter
cc data range
release rate op1 59 16
release rate op2 60 16
release rate op3 61 16
release rate op4 62 16
amplitude modulation on/off op1 70 2
amplitude modulation on/off op2 71 2
amplitude modulation on/off op3 72 2
amplitude modulation on/off op4 73 2
operator
control
parameter
cc data range
rate or key scaling op1 39 4
rate or key scaling op2 40 4
rate or key scaling op3 41 4
rate or key scaling op4 42 4

bank 0 presets
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dafm synth
arcade ym2151
midi bank 0 presets
videogame
preset
street fighter
2
0: bright piano (ken) 1 : lead (ryu) 2: eorgan
(guile) 3: horn (guile) 4: epiano (credit) 5:
lead (title)
space harrier 6: epiano (theme) 7: epiano 2 8: bass
afterburner 2 9: ebass (final take off) 10: wood percussion
(afterburner) 11: distorted bass (redout)
ghouls’n
ghosts
12: eorgan (credit) 13: organ (stage 1)
14: percussion 15: mistery piano
final fight 16: bass (opening) 17: synth lead 18: organ
19:
bass (round 1) 20: horn 21: synth guitar
outrun 22: synth (magical shower) 23: synth
(passing breeze) 24: epiano 25: epiano 2 26:
epiano 3 (splash wave) 27: ekalimba
(splash wave) 28: epiano 4 29: epiano 5
r-type 30: eguitar 1 (start 1st stage) 31: eguitar 2
32: string
shinobi 33: epiano 1 (bgm) 34: epiano 2 35: synth
double dragon 36: eguitar (industrial area) 37: horn 38:
drum 1 39: drum 2 40: drum 3 41: bass
(opening)
videogame
preset
golden axe 42: synthbass (deathadder) 43:drum 1
(wilderness) 44: synthbass 2
(deathadder) 45: drum 2 46: drum 3
(wilderness)
altered beast 47: drum 1 (round 1) 48: drum 2 49:
drum 3 50: epiano 51: kalimba 52: bass
53: metal 54: klang
marble madness 55: pad (level1) 56: kalimba 57:
percussion (level2) 58: string 1 59: bass
60: string 2
forgotten worlds 61: epiano (round 1) 62: horn
fantasy zone 2 63:drum 1 (10years) 64:drum 2 65:
synth 66: percussion 1 (cholacorai) 67:
percussion 2 68: drum 3 (gumbatight)
69: eguitar
ninja spirit 70: pad 1 (round 1) 71: pad 2 72: pad 3
midi channels
these 8 presets
are loaded by
default in the midi
channels from 1 to
8
73 (1): bass (street fighter 2 - ryu) 74
(2): bass (outrun –magical shower) 75
(3): epiano (outrun –last wave) 76 (4):
lead synth (afterburner 2 - afterburner)
77 (5): drone (final fight- round 1) 78
(6): percussion (ghouls’n ghosts –stage
1) 79 (7): tom (spaceharrier - theme)
80
(8): snare (spaceharrier - theme)