The DAFM Arcade is a YM2151 synth built around a real Yamaha YM2151 (OPM) FM chip, the sound chip used in almost all the arcade machines of the 80s and 90s. It is hardware FM, not a software emulation: you play the genuine chip through MIDI, with a separate YM3012 DAC for a louder and cleaner output. Handmade by Kasser Synths in Santander, Spain, it comes as an assembled portable synth or as a through-hole DIY kit.

Close-up of the red DAFM Arcade circuit board with a green microcontroller module and a rotary encoder
The DAFM Arcade circuit board, with its rotary encoder and microcontroller module.

Why a real YM2151 synth?

Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis defined the sound of a whole generation of arcade games. Plugins and emulators get close, but the DAFM Arcade puts the original Yamaha silicon on the board, so every patch you hear comes from the real hardware. If you want to know how the arcade chip differs from the Mega Drive sound, read our comparison YM2151 vs YM2612: Arcade FM vs Mega Drive FM.

Yamaha chip labeled YAMAHA JAPAN on a dark circuit board with blue graphics
The Yamaha YM2151 (OPM) FM chip, the real sound engine inside the DAFM Arcade.

YM2151 synth features

  • Real Yamaha YM2151 (OPM): 8 channels, 4 operators per channel, 8 algorithms
  • Separate YM3012 stereo DAC for a louder and cleaner sound
  • ADSR envelopes, frequencies and LFOs editable to cover the whole range of FM sounds
  • Arcade presets in Bank 0: Street Fighter 2, Space Harrier, Ghouls’n Ghosts, Final Fight, OutRun, R-Type, Shinobi, Double Dragon, Golden Axe, Altered Beast and more
  • Bank 1 loads up to 128 presets from the SD card
  • Every YM2151 parameter controllable through MIDI CC
  • 2 rotary encoders and a full menu on 4 blue OLED displays
  • 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 and other VGM trackers
  • Stereo 3.5 mm audio output · MIDI input · USB Type B power (5V)

The separate YM3012 DAC

Unlike chips with a built-in DAC, the YM2151 sends its audio digitally to a companion YM3012 stereo DAC. On the DAFM Arcade that dedicated DAC converts the signal into clear analog sound, which is why the Arcade gives a louder and cleaner output.

DAFM Arcade synth with black acrylic case, red knobs and a smoked top
The assembled DAFM Arcade, a compact portable synth with red knobs and a smoked acrylic top.

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 YM2151 chip, so you never have to source it yourself. Not sure about your soldering? Choose the assembly option in the Tindie order menu
Buy the assembled DAFM Arcade on Tindie

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 Arcade with the Genesis and Blaster models, see all DAFM products.

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FAQ

Is the DAFM Arcade a real YM2151 synth or an emulation?
It uses a genuine Yamaha YM2151 chip on the board, paired with a YM3012 DAC. No software emulation.

Does the DIY kit include the YM2151 chip?
Yes. All DAFM kits always include the chip.

Can I control it from a DAW or keyboard?
Yes. It has a MIDI input and every YM2151 parameter can be controlled with MIDI CC.

Can I use DefleMask patches?
Presets are saved as DMP files on the SD card, the format used by DefleMask.

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.

Get the DAFM Arcade DIY kit on Tindie