The DAFM Genesis is a YM2612 synth built around a real Yamaha YM2612 or YM3438 FM chip, the sound engine of the SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive home console. It is hardware FM, not a software emulation: you play the genuine chip through MIDI. Handmade by Kasser Synths in Santander, Spain, it comes as an assembled portable synth or as a through-hole DIY kit.
Why a real YM2612 synth?
Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis defined the sound of a whole musical generation during the 80s and 90s, and on 16-bit home consoles that sound came from the YM2612. Every DAFM puts a genuine vintage Yamaha FM chip on the board, so every patch you hear comes from the real hardware. The YM2612 is known for its peculiar crossover distortion, the “ladder effect”; the YM3438 is a modified CMOS version with a louder and cleaner output and no ladder effect. Read more in YM2612 vs YM3438: the ladder effect explained.
The sound of Genesis / Mega Drive games, built in
Bank 0 includes presets from iconic Genesis / Mega Drive games like Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2 and 3, Streets of Rage 1 and 2, ToeJam & Earl: Panic on Funkotron, Ecco the Dolphin, Time Trax, Thunder Force IV and Chakan: The Forever Man. Bank 1 loads up to 128 of your own presets from the SD card.
YM2612 synth features
- Real Yamaha YM2612 or YM3438, your choice: 6 channels, 4 operators per channel, 8 algorithms
- ADSR envelopes, frequencies and LFOs editable to cover the whole range of FM sounds
- Bank 0 with presets from iconic Genesis / Mega Drive games
- Bank 1 loads up to 128 presets from the SD card
- All YM2612 / YM3438 parameters controllable through MIDI CC
- 2 rotary encoders and a full menu on 4 blue OLED displays, which you can dim to reduce noise at the output
- 12-note tactile keyboard with octave change to audition patches
- Save presets to RAM or to SD card as DMP files that open in DefleMask
- Stereo 3.5 mm audio output · MIDI input · USB Type B power (5V)
YM2612 or YM3438?
You choose the chip when you order. Nostalgic retrogamers usually pick the YM2612 for its grittier sound with the ladder effect. FM synthesis lovers usually pick the YM3438 for its louder and cleaner output.
Assembled synth or DIY kit
- Assembled portable synth: compact form factor with case and knobs, ready to plug into your setup
- DIY kit: a through-hole soldering project with build instructions on Hackaday. The kit always includes the YM2612 or YM3438 chip, so you never have to source it yourself. Not sure about your soldering? Choose the assembly option in the Tindie order menu
Shipping worldwide and to Japan
We ship from Spain with tracked Correos shipping. Shipping to Japan costs USD 24.99. Import duties or taxes, if any, are paid by the buyer. Japanese buyers can find more details on our Japan page. To compare the Genesis with the Arcade and Blaster models, see all DAFM products.
Learn more
- YM2612 vs YM3438: the ladder effect explained
- How to load DefleMask DMP presets on a hardware YM2612
- The Soundscape of SEGA Genesis: Japanese Composers Who Defined an Era
- DAFM Arcade: the YM2151 arcade FM synth
- DAFM Blaster: the YMF262 OPL3 synth
- DAFM manuals, firmware and guides
FAQ
Is the DAFM Genesis a real YM2612 synth or an emulation?
It uses a genuine Yamaha YM2612 or YM3438 chip on the board. No software emulation.
Does the DIY kit include the chip?
Yes. All DAFM kits always include the chip.
Can I control it from a DAW or keyboard?
Yes. It has a MIDI input for a keyboard, sequencer or any MIDI instrument, and all chip parameters can be controlled with MIDI CC. The MIDI CC chart is in the datasheet on Tindie.
Can I use DefleMask patches?
Presets are saved to the SD card as DMP files, the DefleMask instrument format. See how to load DefleMask DMP presets on a hardware YM2612.
Who pays import duties?
Import duties or taxes, if any, are paid by the buyer.
Are the chips new?
The vintage chips may have been resurfaced at origin. We test every chip so it works perfectly in the synth.
