Tandy SPU
Hardware theme
398
games
1platform
Uses one of on board sound systems unique to the Tandy 1000 series (IBM-PCjr compatible). Or PCjr sound.
Notable people involved: George MacDonald, Thomas Holmes, Chris Braymen, Brooks DeForest and Terrence C. Falls
Alternate name: Tandy 3-voice
DOS 1988
DOS 1987
DOS 1992-02
DOS 1991
DOS 1990
DOS 1984
DOS 1993
DOS 1991
DOS 1989
DOS 1990
DOS 1992
DOS 1990
Often called "Tandy 3-voice", this is not entirely accurate. There was a 4th voice, a noise channel. And Tandy sound integrated the PC Speaker that could be used as a 5th voice (square wave). This arrangement is virtually unique to Tandy 1000 machines and some Tandy specific games used 5 voices. These game will probably be missing the '5th voice' (speaker noise) if played on other hardware and the "Tandy Sound" or "Tandy 3-voice" option is selected.
Voice 1, Square wave, Independent Volume, ABSR can be simulated using the CPU
Voice 2, Square wave, Independent Volume, ABSR can be simulated using the CPU
Voice 3, Square wave, Independent Volume, ABSR can be simulated using the CPU
Voice 4, Noise, Full Volume
Speaker, Square wave, Full Volume only
This is not the same as the IBM PCjr's sound system that could use the PC Speaker OR 3-voice and hardware disallowed using them simultaneously. This xor option was not enforced in the base hardware of other IBMs and compatibles but it was often hardware enforced by add-on sound cards that had a PC Speaker pass-through. A sound card with a PC Speaker pass-through that would play speaker simultaneously with other sound modes was really the only good option since sound from the internal speaker and external add-on speakers simultaneously would be quite dissonant; but not all cards will simultaneously mix with the speaker. So, software also rarely tried to use the speaker with other modes.
Voice 1, Square wave, Independent Volume, ABSR can be simulated using the CPU
Voice 2, Square wave, Independent Volume, ABSR can be simulated using the CPU
Voice 3, Square wave, Independent Volume, ABSR can be simulated using the CPU
Voice 4, Noise, Full Volume
Speaker, Square wave, Full Volume only
This is not the same as the IBM PCjr's sound system that could use the PC Speaker OR 3-voice and hardware disallowed using them simultaneously. This xor option was not enforced in the base hardware of other IBMs and compatibles but it was often hardware enforced by add-on sound cards that had a PC Speaker pass-through. A sound card with a PC Speaker pass-through that would play speaker simultaneously with other sound modes was really the only good option since sound from the internal speaker and external add-on speakers simultaneously would be quite dissonant; but not all cards will simultaneously mix with the speaker. So, software also rarely tried to use the speaker with other modes.
Popular tags
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Related groups
Hardware
Tandy Graphics Adapter, Tandy 1000 platform, Tandy DAC
Games by year
The first Tandy SPU video game was released in 1982.
Sierra On-Line and Electronic Arts published most of these games.
Platforms
MS-DOS | 398 |
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Most common companies
Sierra On-Line | 50 | |
---|---|---|
Electronic Arts | 28 | |
Accolade | 19 | |
Microprose | 16 | |
Activision | 13 | |
SSI | 11 | |
RufusPro Software | 11 |