VRC VII
VRC VII | |
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Developer: | Konami |
Released: | 1991-04-?? |
Type: | Chip |
Channels: | 1.) FM Synthesis |
The VRC VII, often referred to as the VRC7, is a chip made by Konami and used as a memory mapper and audio expander for their Nintendo Entertainment System games. This is the 7th virtual ROM controller Konami made, and it was designed to supplant the aging VRC VI. However, since it was so late in development, it was only used in two games, and only one of them, Lagrange Point (FC), used the chip's additional audio capabilities. It's model number is 053982.
The chips audio capabilities come from a modified YM2413, a bare-bones YM3182, that is integrated into the chip. Games using the VRC II get 6 channels of 2-operator FM Synthesis audio.
This modified YM2413 has 3 fewer channels than the original, no rhythm mode, and different instruments.
Contents
Pinout
This ASCII art represents the chip's pinout.
.---\/---. PPU /RD -> | 01 48 | -- NC PPU A13 -> | 02 47 | <- M2 GND -- | 03 46 | -> WRAM /CS R/W -> | 04 45 | <- /ROMSEL /IRQ <- | 05 44 | -> PRG /CS CIRAM A10 <- | 06 43 | -> Audio Out CPU D0 -> | 07 42 | -- +5V CPU D1 -> | 08 41 | -> CHR A17 CPU D2 -> | 09 40 | -> CHR A16 CPU D3 -> | 10 39 | -> CHR A15 CPU D4 -> | 11 38 | -> CHR A14 CPU D5 -> | 12 37 | -> CHR A13 CPU D6 -> | 13 36 | -> CHR A12 CPU D7 -> | 14 35 | -> CHR A11 +5V -- | 15 34 | -> CHR A10 CPU A5 -> | 16 33 | <- PPU A12 Crystal X2 -- | 17 32 | <- PPU A11 Crystal X1 -- | 18 31 | <- PPU A10 CPU An -> | 19 30 | -- +5V PRG A13 <- | 20 29 | <- CPU A14 PRG A14 <- | 21 28 | <- CPU A13 PRG A15 <- | 22 27 | <- CPU A12 PRG A16 <- | 23 26 | -> PRG A18 GND -- | 24 25 | -> PRG A17 `--------' 01,02: this doesn't make sense; the VRC7 provides none of hardware nametables, control of CIRAM /CE, or CHR /CE. maybe pin 48 is {pin1 OR pin2}, i.e. CHR /CE for a 28-pin CHR ROM? then why didn't TTA2 use it? 17,18: missing on TTA2, 3.58MHz ceramic resonator on LP 19: A3 on TTA2, A4 on LP
Image Gallery
The VRC VII chip on a Lagrange Point (FC) game board.
Emulation Status
Some of the more impressive NES emulators emulate this chip accurately, as does FamiTracker.
Links
- wiki.nesdev.com/w/index.php/VRC7_audio - Technical information.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_management_controller - Wikipedia.