AY

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AY-3-891x
AY.png
Developer: Patrik Rak
Header: Custom
Content: Programmatic
Instruments: Combined
Target Output
Output - Digital Audio.png Output - MIDI - No.png Output - FM Synthesis - No.png Output - PSG.png
Released: 199?-??-??
First Game: N/A
Extensions
  • *.ay

AY is the format used to house the ripped audio code for the AY-3-8910 series of audio chips. These 3-voice programmable sound generators were developed by General Instrument. The AY-3-8910 series was the most popular audio chip of the early 1980s and was featured in the majority of the home computers, arcade cabinets, slot machines, and sound boards of the day. AY files contain machine code and data that is sent to the 8910 chip. Although the AY-3-8910 was used on many different platforms, the AY format itself only supports those which used a Zilog 80 processor, in particular, the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum home computers.

Before the appearance of the AY format, music from ZX Spectrum was ripped into VTX and AYM formats. However, AY has superseded these formats, and they're both now obsolete.

Players

(Category)

Converters

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AY to ?

? to AY

Games

(Category)

Any game released for the ZX Spectrum or Amstrad CPC can have their soundtrack ripped to AY format.

How to Obtain

Ripping AY files is an arduous process that requires an intimate knowledge of the platforms CPU and sound chip. A lot of the more popular games have already had their soundtracks ripped to AY and can be downloaded from the following sites:

Links