AdLib Music Synthesizer Card Overview & Compatible Games
Released in August 1987, the AdLib Music Synthesizer Card was the first widely accepted add-on sound card for IBM PCs and compatibles. It was developed by the Canadian company AdLib, Inc., founded by Martin Prevel, a former music professor.
- At launch, the AdLib card was priced at $219.99
- Around 1,800 PC games are compatible with the card, and several modern clones have since been made to replicate its sound
Technical Specifications
- Sound chip: Yamaha YM3812 (also known as "OPL2")
- Synthesis type: Pure FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesis — no support for digital audio (PCM)
- Channels: 9 simultaneous music channels, or 6 music channels plus 5 percussion instruments
- Interface: Fits in a standard 8-bit ISA slot
AdLib Sound Card Revisions (1987-1990)
There were three main versions of the original AdLib card:
- 1987 Original – Used a mono audio output with a ¼-inch jack
- 1990 Revision – Switched to a 3.5 mm mono jack, aligning with industry standards for PC gaming
- MCA Version – Designed for IBM’s PS/2 systems with Micro Channel Architecture (MCA)
AdLib Gold (1992) & Later Sound Cards (1996-1997)
In 1992, AdLib, Inc. was sold to a German company, Binnenalster GmbH, which renamed it AdLib Multimedia, Inc. The new company released the AdLib Gold 1000, featuring:
- Sound chip: Yamaha YMF262 (also called "OPL3")
- Audio: 12-bit digital PCM support
- Compatibility: Backward-compatible with the original OPL2
- Optional module: Surround-sound add-on
Other sound cards released by AdLib Multimedia included:
- AdLib MSC 16/3D and 32 Wave/3D (1996)
- AdLib ASB 16/32/64 (1997)
PC Games Supporting the AdLib Card
Thousands of classic DOS games supported the AdLib sound card, offering enhanced music and sound effects. (A table of supported games would go here.)
Table: Some of the games supporting the Adlib Music Card
| GAME | YEAR | DEVELOPER | GAME | YEAR | DEVELOPER |
| 007 James Bond -The Stealth Affair | 1990 | Delphine Software International | Magic Carpet | 1994 | Bullfrog Productions, Ltd. |
| 1869 | 1992 | Max Design GesMBH | Magicland Dizzy | 1990 | Codemasters |
| 1942: The Pacific Air War | 1994 | MPS Labs | Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle | 1993 | LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC |
| 3D Ball Blaster | 1992 | Dungeon Entertainment | Mario Teaches Typing | 1992 | Interplay Entertainment Corp. |
| 688 Attack Sub | 1989 | Electronic Arts, Inc. | Maupiti Island | 1990 | Lankhor |
| 7 Colors | 1991 | Gamos Ltd. | Mega lo Mania | 1991 | Sensible Software |
| A-10 Tank Killer | 1989 | Dynamix, Inc. | Microcosm | 1993 | Psygnosis Limited |
| Aces of the Deep | 1994 | Dynamix, Inc. | Microsoft Flight Simulator (v5.0) | 1993 | Bruce Artwick Organization Ltd., The |
| Aces of the Pacific | 1992 | Dynamix, Inc. | Midwinter | 1989 | Maelstrom Games Ltd |
| Aces Over Europe | 1993 | Dynamix, Inc. | MiG-29 Fulcrum | 1991 | Simis Limited |
| Advanced Civilization | 1995 | Avalon Hill Game Company, The | Might and Magic Trilogy | 1995 | Catware, Inc. |
| Advanced D&D: Collectors Edition | 1994 | Strategic Simulations Inc. | Mission: Impossible | 1991 | Distinctive Software, Inc. |
| Advantage Tennis | 1991 | Ikos | Monopoly Deluxe | 1991 | LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC |
| Albion | 1995 | Blue Byte Studio GmbH | Moonstone: A Hard Days Knight | 1992 | Parker Brothers |
| Alcatraz | 1992 | 221B Software Development | Mortal Kombat | 1991 | Midway Games |
| Alien Breed | 1993 | Team17 Software Limited | Ms Pac PC | 1992 | Midway Manufacturing Company |
| Alone in the Dark | 1992 | Infogrames Multimedia SA | NBA Jam Tournament Edition | 1994 | Midway Manufacturing Company |
| Alone in the Dark 2 | 1993 | Infogrames Multimedia SA | Nicky Boom | 1992 | Microïds |
| Altered Beast | 1990 | Team Shinobi | Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos | 1990 | Tecmo, Inc. |
| Amberstar | 1992 | Thalion Software GmbH | Obitus | 1991 | Scenario Developments |
| Arcade Pool | 1994 | Team17 Software Limited | Operation Neptune | 1991 | Learning Co., Inc., The |
| Archon Ultra | 1994 | Free Fall Associates | Operation Wolf | 1987 | Taito Corporation |
| Arkanoid: Revenge of DOH | 1989 | Taito Corporation | Oscar | 1993 | Flair Software Ltd. |
| Armour-Geddon | 1992 | Psygnosis | OverKill | 1992 | Tech-Noir |
| Arnie Savage: Combat Commando | 1993 | Zeppelin Games Limited | Overlord | 1990 | Probe Software Ltd. |
| Atomino | 1990 | Blue Byte Software GmbH | Panzer General | 1994 | Strategic Simulations, Inc. |
| AV-8B Harrier Assault | 1992 | Simis Limited | Paperboy 2 | 1991 | Mindscape, Inc. |
| B-17 Flying Fortress | 1992 | MicroProse Software, Inc. | Pinball Dreams | 1992 | Digital Illusions HB |
| Baby Jo in: "Going Home" | 1991 | Loriciel SA | Pinball Fantasies | 1992 | Digital Illusions HB |
| Back to the Future Part II | 1990 | Images Software Ltd. | Pirates! Gold | 1993 | MPS Labs |
| Back to the Future Part III | 1991 | Probe Software Ltd. | Pit-Fighter | 1990 | Atari Games Corporation |
| Battle Chess 4000 | 1992 | Interplay Entertainment Corp. | Pools of Darkness | 1991 | Strategic Simulations, Inc. |
| Battle Chess II: Chinese Chess | 1990 | Interplay Productions, Inc. | Overlord | 1990 | Probe Software Ltd. |
| Battle Command | 1990 | Realtime Games Software Ltd. | Out of This World | 1991 | Delphine Software International |
| Battle Isle | 1991 | Blue Byte Software GmbH | ROM Gold: Rings of Medusa | 1994 | Starbyte Software |
| Battle Master | 1991 | Personal Software Services | Quest for Glory I | 1992 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. |
| Beneath a Steel Sky | 1994 | Revolution Software Ltd. | Puzznic | 1989 | Taito Corporation |
| Betrayal at Krondor | 1993 | Dynamix, Inc. | Push-Over | 1992 | Red Rat Software Ltd |
| Birds of Prey | 1992 | Argonaut Software Ltd. | Prophecy: Viking Child | 1990 | Imagitec Design Inc. |
| Blue Max: Aces of the Great War | 1990 | Artech Digital Entertainments, Inc. | Project-X | 1992 | Team17 Software Limited |
| Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess | 1994 | Bookup, Inc. | Prince of Persia | 1989 | Arsys Software, Inc. |
| Body Blows | 1993 | Team17 Software Limited | Primal Rage | 1994 | Atari Games Corporation |
| Bubble Bobble | 1988 | Taito Corporation | Premier Manager | 1992 | Realms of Fantasy |
| Bubble Dizzy | 1993 | Codemasters Software Company Limited, The | Prehistorik | 1991 | Titus France SA |
| Budokan: The Martial Spirit | 1989 | Electronic Arts, Inc. | Predator 2 | 1991 | Arc Developments Limited |
| Cadaver | 1991 | Bitmap Brothers, The | PowerMonger | 1990 | Bullfrog Productions, Ltd. |
| Cadillacs and Dinosaurs: The Second Cataclysm | 1995 | Rocket Science Games, Inc. | Populous | 1989 | Bullfrog Productions, Ltd. |
| Caesar | 1992 | Impressions Games | Roberta Williams' Phantasmagoria | 1995 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. |
| California Games II | 1990 | Epyx, Inc. | Roberta Williams' King's Quest I | 1990 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. |
| Cannon Fodder | 1993 | Sensible Software | Risky Woods | 1992 | Dinamic Software |
| Cannon Fodder 2 | 1994 | Sensible Software | Rise of the Triad: Dark War | 1994 | Apogee Software, Ltd. |
| Captain Dynamo | 1993 | Codemasters Software Company Limited, The | Rise of the Dragon | 1990 | Dynamix, Inc. |
| Carnage | 1993 | Warped Minds | Rick Dangerous 2 | 1990 | Core Design Ltd. |
| Castle of Dr. Brain | 1991 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. | Revolt of Don's Knights | 1996 | Welforce |
| Castles | 1991 | Interplay Productions, Inc. | Renegade | 1986 | Technos Japan Corp. |
| Castles II: Siege & Conquest | 1992 | Quicksilver Software, Inc. | Red Baron | 1990 | Dynamix, Inc. |
| Castlevania | 1990 | Konami Industry Co. Ltd. | Realms | 1991 | Graftgold Ltd. |
| Centurion: Defender of Rome | 1990 | Bits of Magic | Reach for the Skies | 1993 | Rowan Software Ltd. |
| Champions of Krynn | 1990 | Strategic Simulations, Inc. | Rayman | 1995 | Ubi Soft Paris Studios |
| Chuck Yeager's Air Combat | 1991 | Electronic Arts, Inc. | Rastan | 1987 | Taito Corporation |
| Cisco Heat | 1991 | Jaleco Ltd. | Rampart | 1990 | Atari Games Corporation |
| Code-Name: Iceman | 1989 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. | Rambo III | 1988 | Ocean Software Ltd. |
| Command & Conquer: Worldwide Warfare | 1998 | Westwood Studios | Raiden | 1990 | Seibu Kaihatsu Inc. |
| Commander Keen | 1998 | id Software, Inc. | Sid Meier's Colonization | 1994 | MPS Labs |
| Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail | 1990 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. | Sid Meier's Civilization | 1991 | MPS Labs |
| Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood | 1991 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. | Shadow Sorcerer | 1991 | U.S. Gold Ltd. |
| Cool Spot | 1993 | The Global Team | Sensible Soccer: 92/93 Edition | 1992 | Sensible Software |
| Cruise for a Corpse | 1991 | Delphine Software International | Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe | 1991 | Lucasfilm Games LLC |
| Curse of Enchantia | 1992 | Core Design Ltd. | Sargon V: World Class Chess | 1991 | Activision, Inc. |
| Dark Seed | 1992 | Cyberdreams, Inc. | S.T.U.N. Runner | 1989 | Atari Games Corporation |
| Day of the Viper | 1989 | Accolade | Rock 'n Roll | 1989 | Rainbow Arts Software GmbH |
| Deluxe Trivial Pursuit | 1992 | Oxford Digital Enterprises Ltd. | Robot Redemption | 2014 | id Software, Inc. |
| Doom | 1993 | id Software, Inc. | RoboCop 3 | 1992 | Digital Image Design Ltd. |
| Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone | 1990 | East Technology Corp. | Simon the Sorcerer I & II | 1995 | Adventure Soft |
| Double Dribble | 1986 | Novotrade Software Kft. | SimCity Classic | 1992 | Maxis Software Inc. |
| Dragon's Lair I, II & III | 1990 | Sullivan Bluth Interactive Media, Inc. | SimCity 2000 | 1994 | Maxis Software Inc. |
| Drakkhen | 1989 | Infogrames Europe SA | Silent Service II | 1990 | MPS Labs |
| Dune | 1992 | Cryo Interactive Entertainment | Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon | 1990 | MPS Labs |
| Dungeon Master | 1987 | FTL Games | Spot | 1990 | Virgin Mastertronic Ltd. |
| Eagle Eye Mysteries | 1993 | Stormfront Studios | Space Quest I: Roger Wilco in the Sarien Encounter | 1991 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. |
| Electroman | 1992 | xLand Games | Sorcerian | 1987 | Nihon Falcom Corp. |
| Elf | 1991 | Nirvana Systems | Suburban Commando | 1993 | Alternative Software Ltd. |
| Elite Plus | 1991 | Realtime Games Software Ltd. | Stronghold | 1993 | Stormfront Studios |
| Elvira | 1990 | Horror Soft Ltd. | Strip Poker Professional (NSFW) | 1994 | Artworx Software Company, Inc. |
| Exterminator | 1989 | D. Gottlieb & Co. | Street Fighter II | 1991 | Capcom Co., Ltd. |
| Eye of the Beholder | 1991 | Westwood Associates | Stratego | 1990 | MindSpan Technologies Corp. |
| F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter 2.0 | 1991 | MicroProse Software, Inc. | Star Wars: X-Wing | 1993 | LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC |
| F-14 Tomcat | 1990 | Virtucraft | SSN-21 Seawolf | 1994 | Electronic Arts, Inc. |
| F-15 Strike Eagle II & III | 1989 | MPS Labs | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | 1991 | Midway Manufacturing Company |
| F-19 Stealth Fighter | 1988 | MicroProse Software, Inc. | Tennis Cup 2 | 1992 | Loriciel SA |
| F29 Retaliator | 1989 | Digital Image Design Ltd. | Tempest 2000 | 1994 | Atari Corporation |
| Falcon 3.0 & Gold | 1991 | Sphere, Inc. | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | 1989 | Konami Co., Ltd. |
| FIFA International Soccer | 1993 | Extended Play Productions | Team Yankee | 1990 | Oxford Digital Enterprises Ltd. |
| Fire & Forget II | 1990 | Titus France SA | Team Suzuki | 1991 | Gremlin Graphics Software Limited |
| Fire & Ice | 1992 | Graftgold Creative Software | Taito's Super Space Invaders | 1990 | Kremlin, The |
| First Samurai | 1991 | Vivid Image | Super Tetris | 1991 | Sphere, Inc. |
| Flames of Freedom | 1991 | Maelstrom Games Ltd | Super Street Fighter II Turbo | 1994 | Capcom Co., Ltd. |
| Flashback: The Quest for Identity | 1992 | Delphine Software International | Subwar 2050 | 1993 | Particle Systems Ltd. |
| Flight of the Amazon Queen | 1995 | Interactive Binary Illusions | The Curse of Monkey Island | 1999 | Lucasfilm Ltd |
| Flight of the Intruder | 1990 | Spectrum Holobyte, Inc. | The Colonel's Bequest | 1989 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. |
| Frontier: Elite II | 1993 | David Braben, GameTek | The Clue! | 1994 | ... and avoid panic by |
| Full Metal Planet | 1989 | Hitech Productions | The Chessmaster 3000 | 1991 | Software Toolworks, Inc., The |
| Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers | 1993 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. | The Blues Brothers | 1991 | Titus France SA |
| Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf | 1992 | KOEI Co., Ltd. | The Amazing Spider-Man | 1990 | Oxford Digital Enterprises Ltd. |
| Ghostbusters II | 1989 | Dynamix, Inc. | The Adventures of Willy Beamish | 1991 | Dynamix, Inc. |
| Goal! | 1993 | Dini & Dini Productions | The Adventures of Robin Hood | 1991 | Millennium Interactive Ltd. |
| Gobliiins 1 & Gobliins 2 | 1995 | Coktel Vision | TFX | 1993 | Digital Image Design Ltd. |
| Gods | 1991 | Bitmap Brothers, The | Test Drive III: The Passion | 1990 | Accolade, Inc. |
| Golden Axe | 1989 | Digital Eclipse Entertainment Partners Co. | The Perfect General | 1991 | White Wolf Productions, Inc. |
| Golden Eagle | 1991 | Loriciel SA | The Immortal | 1990 | Sandcastle |
| Gunboat | 1990 | Accolade, Inc. | The Hunt for Red October | 1990 | Audio Visual Magic Ltd. |
| Gunship 2000 | 1991 | MPS Labs | The Humans | 1992 | Imagitec Design Inc. |
| Guy Spy and the Crystals of Armageddon | 1992 | ReadySoft Incorporated | Titus the Fox: To Marrakech and Back | 1992 | Titus France SA |
| Harley-Davidson: The Road to Sturgis | 1989 | Incredible Technologies, Inc. | Times of Lore | 1988 | ORIGIN Systems, Inc. |
| Heimdall | 1991 | 8th Day, The | Theme Park | 1994 | Bullfrog Productions, Ltd. |
| Hero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero | 1989 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. | Their Finest Hour: The Battle of Britain | 1989 | LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC |
| Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars | 1996 | PopTop Software Inc. | Theatre of Death | 1993 | Software Shed, The |
| HeroQuest | 1991 | 221B Software Development | The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici | 1996 | Blue Byte Software GmbH |
| Hired Guns | 1993 | DMA Design Limited | The Secret of Monkey Island | 1992 | Lucasfilm Games LLC |
| Hocus Pocus | 1994 | Moonlite Software | The Punisher | 1990 | Paragon Software Corporation |
| Holiday Lemmings | 1993 | DMA Design Limited | Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds | 1993 | Looking Glass Technologies, Inc. |
| Home Alone | 1991 | Manley & Associates, Inc. | Ultima I-VI Series | 1992 | Electronic Arts, Origin Systems |
| Hook | 1992 | Ocean Software Ltd. | UFO: Enemy Unknown / X-COM: Terror from the Deep | 1997 | Firaxis Games |
| Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis | 1992 | LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC | Tyrian | 1995 | Eclipse Software |
| Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure | 1989 | Lucasfilm Games LLC | Tubular Worlds | 1994 | Creative Game Design |
| Indianapolis 500: The Simulation | 1989 | Papyrus Design Group, Inc. | Trump Castle II | 1991 | Brian A. Rice, Inc. |
| Inferno | 1994 | Digital Image Design Ltd. | Trolls | 1992 | Flair Software Ltd. |
| Infestation | 1990 | Psygnosis Limited | Troddlers | 1992 | Atod Design KB |
| Innocent Until Caught | 1993 | Divide By Zero, Ltd. | Treasure Trap | 1990 | Emerald Software Ltd. |
| It Came from the Desert | 1989 | Cinemaware Corporation | WarCraft II: Battle Chest | 1996 | |
| James Pond 2: Codename: RoboCod | 1991 | Vectordean Ltd. | Volfied | 1989 | Taito Corporation |
| JetFighter II: Advanced Tactical Fighter | 1990 | Velocity Inc. | Utopia: The Creation of a Nation | 1991 | Celestial Software |
| Jetpack | 1993 | Adept Software | Unreal | 1990 | Art & Magic S.A. |
| Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour | 1991 | Blue Byte Software GmbH | Universe | 1994 | Core Design Ltd. |
| Jimmy White's Snooker | 1991 | Virgin Interactive Entertainment | Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss | 1992 | Blue Sky Productions |
| Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja | 1991 | Data East Corporation | Wizkid: The Story of Wizball II | 1992 | Sensible Software |
| KGB | 1992 | Cryo Interactive Entertainment | Wing Commander | 1990 | ORIGIN Systems, Inc. |
| Kings of the Beach | 1989 | Electronic Arts, Konami | Whale's Voyage | 1993 | neo Software Produktions GmbH |
| Knights of the Sky | 1990 | MPS Labs | Weird Dreams | 1988 | Best Ever Games Company |
| Lakers versus Celtics | 1989 | Electronic Arts, Inc. | Warlords | 1989 | Strategic Studies Group Pty Ltd. |
| Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge | 1991 | Sierra On-Line, Inc. | WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness | 1995 | Blizzard Entertainment Inc. |
| Lemmings | 1991 | DMA Design Limited | Yo! Joe! Beat the Ghosts | 1993 | Scipio |
| Lethal Weapon | 1992 | Ocean Software Ltd. | Xmas Lemmings | 1991 | DMA Design Limited |
| Life & Death II: The Brain | 1990 | Software Toolworks, Inc., The | Xiphos | 1990 | Voodoo |
| Links: The Challenge of Golf | 1990 | Access Software, Inc. | X-Men II: The Fall of the Mutants | 1991 | Paragon Software Corporation |
| Loom | 1990 | LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC | X-Men | 1989 | Paragon Software Corporation |
| Lords of the Realm | 1994 | Impressions Games | WWF WrestleMania | 1995 | Midway Manufacturing Company |
| Lotus: The Ultimate Challenge | 1992 | Magnetic Fields (Software Design) Ltd. | Wrath of the Demon | 1990 | Abstrax |
| Lure of the Temptress | 1992 | Revolution Software Ltd. | Wonderland | 1990 | Magnetic Scrolls |
| M1 Tank Platoon | 1989 | MPS Labs | Wolfenstein 3D | 1992 | id Software, Inc. |
| Magic Boy | 1993 | Blue Turtle | Wolf Pack | 1990 | NovaLogic, Inc. |
- The AdLib Music Synthesizer Card
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