OPL Studio Retro FM-Synthesizer Workstation

Cheerful Electronic OPL Studio

OPL Studio from Cheerful Electronic is a dedicated OPL2/OPL3 MIDI FM-synthesizer that faithfully resurrects the unmistakable sound of 90s PC games on an appropriately vintage UI. Powered by dual YMF262 OPL3 chips and a fast Teensy 4.1 controller, it delivers an impressive thirty-six channels of authentic FM synthesis through a tactile, Windows 3.1-inspired mini DAW. This vintage-tinged UI is complete with a 240 x 320 color touchscreen, rotary encoders, and a Palm Pilot-style built-in stylus. Easily compose melodies and program drums with dedicated sequencers for each, then arrange them all with the composer. USB MIDI and MIDI DIN I/O make it exceptionally versatile as a hardware sound module or a DAW-connected instrument, while six assignable 3.5 mm analog inputs allow for connections to external modular equipment.

The OPL Studio might offer nostalgia in its aesthetics, but don't let that fool you: deep patch editing with support for 2-OP, 4-OP, and pseudo 4-OP instruments, MIDI CC mapping, and a bevy of other modern features makes this exist firmly in the contemporary timeline. The Melody Sequencer and Drum Sequencer are the programs that will see the most use, giving you comprehensive compositional control with your stylus at the ready. Each one gives you thirty-two slots for sequence storage and each sequence can be up to sixty-four steps long. The interface is a familiar piano roll and allows for injecting random values that can serve as a foundation for harmony, inspiration for changes, or just something to add a little variety, especially when using General MIDI classics like fret noise or helicopter. When you're finished with your sequences, arrange them all with the six track Composer app. Add SD card storage for saving and loading your projects or new sound libraries; a built-in media player for classic formats like MIDI, VGM, and IMF rounds out the retro feeling. Truly unique in the realm of handheld OPL-chip-festooned devices, the OPL Studio from Cheerful Electronic sounds great and is fun to use.

OPL Studio Features

• Dual YMF262 OPL3 FM chips delivering up to 36 channels of polyphony
• USB MIDI and MIDI DIN input/output with full 16-channel support
• Six 3.5 mm analog inputs for CV, triggers, or parameter control
• 1/4" Stereo line and speaker audio outputs
• Powerful suite of Windows 3.1-inspired software including melody and drum sequencers
• Built-in media player for *.MID, *.VGM, *.DRO, *.IMF, and other formats
• Flexible MIDI CC mapping with channel aftertouch and clock sync support
• Touchscreen interface with stylus