AY3 MKII

AY3 MKII turns the unmistakable AY sound into a real performance polysynth: six voices, dual-chip stereo width, instant arpeggiation, onboard sequencing, AYMID song playback, live remix tools, and a compact control matrix that keeps the chip under your hands.

Classic computer tone, widened and made playable

The AY-3 sound is direct, bright, and full of character: square-wave melodies, crunchy basses, noise textures, and glassy old-machine harmonics. AY3 MKII keeps that identity, then gives it the control and stereo movement needed for modern hardware sessions.

Two AY-3 chips create a dual-chip stereo architecture with three voices per side. Use it as a six-voice polyphonic synth, stack all six voices in unison with dedicated detune, or split the voices into instant chord shapes with six built-in chords.

AYMID playback becomes a performance source

AYMID support lets AY3 MKII receive and play song data from Ay_Emul, but the interesting part is what happens next: you can remix incoming material in real time, bend it away from straight playback, and use classic song data as live performance fuel.

The 16-step sequencer handles gates, pitch, and noise, while four pitch-modulation/LFO modes and four arpeggiator modes add movement fast. Dual synchronised timers give patches and playback a wider, more animated stereo image than a single-chip design.

The right clock for the sound you want

AY3 MKII supports Atari ST, ZX Spectrum on Rev. B boards, and Legacy clock modes. Legacy mode keeps compatibility with older 2 MHz behavior, while ZX Spectrum mode on Rev. B boards gives the pitch reference expected for that sound.

Hands-on, not menu-bound

The 5x6 mode matrix gives direct access to volume, pitch, noise level, envelope assignments, arpeggiator modes, sequencer routing, and more. Five high-quality pots, an endless push encoder, 40 subtle white LEDs, sustain pedal support, improved voice allocation, and full MIDI CC control make AY3 MKII feel like an instrument instead of a chip demo.

Highlights

• Dual-chip stereo architecture with three voices per channel
• Six-voice polyphony plus six-voice unison with dedicated detune
• Six built-in chords, glide mode, and improved voice allocation
• Atari ST, ZX Spectrum Rev. B, and Legacy 2 MHz clock modes
• Note-follow options for noise and envelope generators
• Logarithmic and linear envelope shaping across the full range
• Linked or independent editing of noise and envelope parameters across both chips
• 16-step sequencer for gates, pitch, and noise
• Four pitch-modulation/LFO modes and four arpeggiator modes
• AYMID protocol support for song playback and real-time remixing via Ay_Emul
• 32 Creator sound presets included and flashable
• 64-preset memory arranged as eight banks of eight presets
• Full MIDI CC control of all knobs and features
• MIDI input with channel selection on TRS Type A
• Sustain pedal support and AYMID song-data reception