[featured jazz music] [computer buzzes, beeps]
Greetings and welcome to our feature presentation!
This time on LGR it’s the exceptionally hard to find IBM Music Feature from 1987,
the very first sound card for the PC.
Er, general purpose sound card, that is.
Like in the sense that it works with both applications and PC gaming in particular,
and–nyahh! Look,
there are always variables and qualifiers when it comes to saying something was first,
especially in the realm of 1980s computer parts.
But the IBM Music Feature Card, or IMFC,
was unquestionably really early to the PC sound card party.
And this is a pertinent point in understanding why such an obscure card goes
for such silly money in recent years.
It’s not uncommon to see $2400, $2800, even approaching $3,000 for a complete boxed example.
Even the card on its own without anything else can fetch 900 bucks.
So the question is: is it worth it?
Well, let’s jump back in time for a bit.
Before the Music Feature Card, the single-voice PC speaker was obviously a thing for sound,
as were the IBM PCjr and Tandy 1000s utilizing 3-voice sound chips.
But they weren’t sound *cards.*
Nor was the Roland MPU-401, which did have a card, but it was simply an interface for
connecting to an external MIDI device.
A more legit argument for “first PC sound card” can be made
for the Mindscape Music Board.
Although only a couple are known to exist and it supported a grand total of ONE program,
and no games.
Hardly a “general purpose sound card.”
So that brings us to the IBM PC Music Feature, launching at a suggested $495 retail price
in April of 1987.
Roughly four months before the venerable $245 AdLib Personal Computer Music System, which
launched the following August.
Making the IMFC about twice the cost for a card that, on first hearing it, doesn’t
objectively sound twice as good.
Take a listen!
[Space Quest III music plays]
Now, there are things I love about both cards, and there is a clear difference between them.
AdLib in mono, IMFC in stereo.
Different interpretations of instruments and drums.
But both are using FM synthesis, and despite the IBM card having twice the operators per
channel, personally I wouldn’t say either sounds “better” than the other.
Just different.
[Space Quest III music continues]
Thing is though, the two cards were built for two different customers,
despite some similar components.
First, the thing making them sound how they do is the on-board synthesizer, with both
cards using an FM Operator chip from Yamaha.
AdLib used the OPL2 and IBM used the OPP, with both being mid-80s FM synths giving them
that distinct, twangy, warbly sound.
The chips aren’t compatible with one another and have differing capabilities, but they
produce sounds overall that are close enough that the average user likely wouldn’t care.
So why did the IMFC cost twice as much?
What really sets these cards apart are their music composition capabilities.
Both were indeed marketed as devices for composing music, but the AdLib was more about composing
music ON your computer, whereas the Music Feature Card was for composing music
WITH your computer.
And by that I mean the IMFC has a big leg up for composing tracks with its own MIDI
1.0 interface and breakout box for connecting 5-pin MIDI cables and associated devices.
This thing was made for capital m Musicians, as evidenced by all the in-store demos frequently
pairing the Music Feature Card with a MIDI-capable keyboard and staff notation software.
As such, the IMFC was often offered not just on its own, but in bundles costing hundreds
of dollars more that included keyboards, cables, and composition software.
It was even packaged by some stores as a complete computer setup built for composing,
with the card and software preinstalled.
So it is unsurprising that the card is now as rare as it is, with relatively few being
sold compared to the half-priced AdLib, and software support severely lacking as a result.
So when one actually manages to show up for sale nowadays, it’s an event among collectors.
Collectors like LGR viewer Jeff, who is responsible for lending me this fine example of an IMFC!
It is one of the most complete ones I’ve seen, so huge thanks to him for trusting me
with it for this video.
And yes, I do have written permission from him to open up everything inside here,
so let’s get to it!
[piano-laden unboxing tunes]
Inside this box of wonders are two rectangular packages, with the top styrofoam bit containing
everything but the card itself.
First up is this packet of paperwork, divided up into multiple sections covering the stuff
specific to the sound card, along with bits pertaining to each of the primary systems
it’s meant to work with.
That stapled-together section is the most important though, with a good 30 pages explaining
how to configure, install, and troubleshoot the card within the most common IBM PC setups.
Like when to use the support bracket, which is this little guy right here.
There are also three floppy disks, two 5.25” and one 3.5”, each containing updated diagnostics
software for the original PC XT, AT, and PS/2 Model 30.
There is no software specifically for the card itself, that’s all sold separately.
Last up in here is the MIDI breakout box, which connects to the back of the card using
a 9-pin d-sub and provides MIDI in, out, and thru.
Note that this predated General MIDI and is not MPU-401 compatible, this is its own thing
exclusive to the IMFC.
The idea here is that you can add the Music Feature Card to your MIDI chain and let it
control, receive, and pass through MIDI signals.
So if you’d like to control it using a MIDI keyboard, or control another synthesizer through
software on your computer, here ya go.
Finally, we’ve got the card itself, seemingly still sealed in its antistatic sleeve.
Mm, this is a special moment.
[gentle unsheathing] [light chuckle of satisfaction]
Now that is pristine, what a lovely-looking thing.
Lovely smelling thing, too.
[sniffs] - Mmm!
Ahh nothing like a full-length 8-bit ISA card to start the day off right,
especially one of this caliber.
Look at that fresh Yamaha FM synth chip, the YM2164.
It was only used in select hardware by Yamaha, Korg, and IBM, but it’s effectively an upgraded
Yamaha OPM, the YM2151, used in lots of 80s arcade games and the Sharp X68000.
An assortment of serial control and parallel interface units assist
with the MIDI interface side of things.
Which connects to the breakout box around back, right alongside the RCA left and right
and 3.5mm stereo headphone jacks for audio output.
Also on here is a jumper for selecting the card’s IRQ, with the default being IRQ3.
And this little DIP switch that I didn’t know what was for
until looking it up in the manual, and dude.
Turns out this is for enabling dual card mode?
Yeah, this thing supports side-by-side Music Features for double the FM synth action!
As shown in this IBM store demonstration program, boasting about having 336 total instruments
per card, with 672 voices across two of them.
And it can apparently get even more ridiculous, since some of Yamaha’s own software states
support for up to four simultaneous IMFCs!
I can only imagine such frequency modulated madness.
But we’ve only got one card and that’s a blessing on its own,
so let’s get the thing installed.
I’m going with the IBM PC AT, one of the recommended systems by IBM.
And one that won’t need that rear support bracket it came with,
this model already has them installed.
With it slid in place, clonked down into the slot, and screwed in with much care, we’re
ready to attach that MIDI breakout box.
You don’t need this unless you plan to make use of external devices,
but I do, so we’re doing it!
And for audio output, both headphones and RCA out are supported simultaneously, one
does not take precedence or mute the other.
The only thing that’s left is the diagnostic disk!
Another optional thing, but it’s handy for checking if the card is installed correctly
in the system itself.
And it is, so we’re good, there’s nothing else to install software-wise.
The card instead relies on drivers distributed with each supported program, only loading
into memory upon starting said program.
Like the aforementioned in-store demo and its nifty virtual record player letting you
grab a taste of the card’s musical potential.
[pleasant FM synth music plays]
And it’s more than just premade demo tracks, this program also lets you play the keyboard,
as a keyboard.
And tickle those buckling spring ivories within Performance Demonstration mode.
[music plays alongside clacky keyboard noises]
And this kinda thing is what the card was designed to do.
Compose, record, and playback notes and tracks using a combination of the card, external
devices, and software designed to make it all happen.
With Yamaha’s own Compose and Playrec being the primary programs on launch!
Which I unfortunately could not get running on my IBM AT.
It’s not an IRQ conflict, every other program works just fine.
I even removed all other cards and TSRs to be sure, but nope, it freezes at 95%.
However, on an XT it worked perfectly straight away, so whatever.
Compose provides a straightforward sheet music style interface for composition, with two
staffs ready for filling with notes along the treble and bass clefs, step by step.
This can then be edited further with note and phrase dynamics, octave and instrument
changes, tempo, MIDI channel assignments and so on.
And you can play things back here, or using Playrec,
the performance-focused companion program.
Which also includes a number of lovely demo tracks like this.
[funky blues tune plays over speakers]
There are of course other music programs supporting the card, from MusicPrinter Plus, to MIDISOFT
Studio, to a special version of EA’s Music Construction Set.
But what about the PC gaming side of things?
Ahh, well... you’re more or less limited to stuff from Sierra On-Line
released between 1988 and 1991.
Seriously, that’s it!
Conflicting online reports aside, far as I can tell the only games company that notably
supported the Music Feature Card was Sierra.
In about 15 total titles, and only on certain versions of said titles.
Let’s sit back for a minute and take a listen.
[Leisure Suit Larry 2 theme plays]
[Colonel’s Bequest music plays]
[Silpheed level one music plays]
Yeah, I honestly love how this thing sounds.
I’m a fan of FM synths of all kinds, but this one has a particularly pleasing warmth
to it, there’s a smooth sense of character to each voice.
Like an AdLib with the edges sanded down, and in stereo.
It’s nice.
It’s also not distinct to the IBM Music Feature Card at all.
Say hello to the Yamaha FB-01, the little black boxed elephant in the room,
if you know anything about such things.
This too uses the YM2164 sound chip, and was also supported by Sierra On-Line in many of
the exact same games.
In fact, the IMFC is sometimes referred to as an FB-01 on a card, and well.
To a degree they’re right!
But it’s also not entirely correct, as they do use separate drivers, and there are firmware
and SysEx differences that mean not every title treats the Music Feature and FB-01 identically.
But they’re similar enough that it’s easy to patch certain Sierra games with FB-01 support.
You can even use the SoftIMFC program to emulate Music Feature support
and use the FB-01 with more games that way!
So uhh.
If you have a PC MIDI interface already, the FB-01 is arguably the way to go.
You get the same sound, and they’re not rare.
Often you can find a dozen examples online for a fraction of the IMFC’s cost.
Plus, how sweet is that blood orange backlit display?
It may not have that internal sound card cool factor,
but the FB-01 is lovely in its own right.
And that is the IBM PC Music Feature Card!
One of the very first sound cards, one of the most highly-valued cards by enthusiasts...
and one I absolutely don’t mind sending back to its owner
now that I’ve made this video.
If you were a musician dead set on using your PC to compose music on contemporaneous MIDI
hardware, there was a clear use case for it back in ‘87.
But today, with the extreme price, limited software support, and other alternatives?
Yeeeaah.
Much like the AdLib Gold I covered previously, the IMFC is a prime example of overpriced
hardware with underwhelming results.
Through no real fault of its own, it’s not a bad card and was quite capable for its time.
It was simply never provided the fuel needed for takeoff, in the form of developer support,
and its high cost certainly didn’t help.
By the time prices dropped a few years later, the AdLib and early Sound Blasters had taken
hold with DOS games, and musicians opted for superior offerings from Roland.
So to answer the initial question, no, I don’t think it’s worth $3000, $900,
or whatever the next one sells for.
And yet, I kinda get why it commands a high price!
Collectible sound cards are a weird category, with the most obscure items often cherished
for their rarity and celebrated for their limitations.
There’s something perversely appealing about having a card few people bought that only
works with a handful of games and applications.
And it’s great to see it kept alive by the community, like this Revision 2019 demo of
Sega arcade music conversions from Desire & CRTC.
There are even custom DOSBox forks with IMFC support taking aim at preservation through
emulation, plus there’s that feedback loop of Music Feature projects benefiting from
FB-01 projects, and vice versa.
And that’s the nail in the coffin for me: there’s little reason to seek out a Music
Feature card, beyond historical and collector’s value.
I have no desire to spend gobs of cash for it since I already have an FB-01 that, thanks
to the work of the community, supports all the games I’d want it to.
Of course, I’m still truly psyched I got to finally feature a Music Feature on LGR,
and I hope you enjoyed taking a look with me!
[Hang-On soundtrack plays]
And hey, if you enjoyed this I’m sure you’d dig my video about
the elusive AdLib Gold card.
Or any number of other vintage computery things I cover all the time here on LGR,
so I hope you stick around.
As always, thanks for watching.