Editing Ad Lib, Inc. (section)

===AdLib Music Synthesizer Card (1987)===
AdLib used [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]]'s [[Yamaha YM3812|YM3812]] [[sound chip]], which produces sound by [[Frequency modulation synthesis|FM synthesis]]. The AdLib card consisted of a YM3812 chip with off-the-shelf external [[glue logic]] to plug into a standard PC-compatible ISA 8-bit slot.

PC software-generated [[multitimbral]] music and sound effects through the AdLib card, although the acoustic quality was distinctly synthesized. Digital audio ([[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]]) was not supported; this would become a key missing feature when the competitor Creative Labs implemented it in their [[Sound Blaster]] cards. It was still possible, however, to output PCM sound with software by modulating the playback volume at an audio rate, as was done, for example, in the [[MicroProse]] game ''[[F-15 Strike Eagle II]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.homeoftheunderdogs.net/game.php?id=2228 |title=F-15 Strike Eagle II : DOS - 1989 |publisher=[[Home of the Underdogs]] |access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref> and the multi-channel music editor Sound Club for MS-DOS.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluemoon.ee/history/scdos/index.html |title=Sound Club is a good example of what can happen to a product when the developer is under no pressure |publisher=Bluemoon.ee |access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref>

There are two separate revisions of the original AdLib sound card. The original design from 1987 provided mono output to a [[Phone connector (audio)|¼-inch jack]] aimed for composers and musicians, while the second design from 1990 used a 3.5&nbsp;mm miniature mono output, which was quickly becoming the new standard in the computer and game industry.

<gallery>
AdLib_Music_Synthesizer_Card.jpg|Original 1987 AdLib Music Synthesizer Card model
Adlib_sound_card_version_1.5.jpg|AdLib Music Synthesizer Card from 1990
</gallery>

AdLib also released a version of the AdLib sound card for IBM's [[Micro Channel architecture|MicroChannel architecture]], the AdLib&nbsp;MCA, which used an MCA&nbsp;P82C611 interface IC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ps-2.kev009.com/ohlandl/sound/adlib_mca.html |title=AdLib MCA |publisher=Ps-2.kev009.com |access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref> Notable updates for this MCA version was the use of a volume wheel, as the original [[potentiometer]] made the card too thick for the MCA standard.