The IBM Music Feature Card (simply referred to as the IBM PC 'Music Feature' by IBM) and sometimes abbreviated as the IBM MFC, or just IMFC) is a professional-level sound card for the
PC, and used the 8-bit
ISA bus. The card made use of the
Yamaha YM2164 chip which produces sound and music via
FM synthesis
Frequency modulation synthesis (or FM synthesis) is a form of sound synthesis whereby the frequency of a waveform is changed by modulating its frequency with a modulator. The frequency of an oscillator is altered "in accordance with the amplitud ...
.
It was introduced in 1987 by
IBM, and originally oriented towards composers and musicians.
In the late 80's, sound was becoming the norm in computer games and as such, video game companies started supporting sound cards in their products. In the case of the IBM Music Feature Card,
Sierra and MicroProse were the main companies who showed support.
The IBM Music Feature Card failed to gain much traction, mainly because of its high retail price , and aggressive, superior competition by Roland with the internal Roland LAPC-I, LAPC-I (and Roland MT-32, MT-32 external sound module equivalent).
Some games fully support the IMFC, including ''King's Quest IV, King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella,'' ''Leisure Suit Larry Goes Looking for Love (in Several Wrong Places)'', ''Leisure Suit Larry III: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals'', ''Space Quest III, Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon'' and ''Silpheed''.
See also
* IBM Personal Computer/AT, IBM PC
* Sound card
* Sierra Entertainment, Sierra Online
* Roland LAPC-I, MPU-401 and Roland MT-32, MT-32
References
External links
IBM Music Feature store demonstration software(YouTube)
{{DEFAULTSORT:IBM Music Feature Card
Sound cards
X86 IBM personal computers, Music Feature Card