State of the Art Sound Chips

I am looking for way to add sound effects to one of my projects (pimped scale model of Battlestar Gallactica).

The first thing that came to my mind where sound chips from when I was young (SID, POKEY, ...). But POKEY is hard to get, SID is bloody expensive. SN76489 (TI-99/4A) would be an alternative (they sell for 1$ each) - but are limited to only square wave.

What affordable, state of the art, sound chips are there today that are suitable for Arduino projects?

While searching for sound chips I found this here: play-v6

A guy that wrote a sketch for a 6-channel ADSR synth.

All that he uses is

  • the Arduino
  • a few resistors
  • 5 capacitors

Awesome!

There are several soundchips that are cheaper than the SID and more complex.

One of them is the YM2151 for which there has been some dev previously. Has 8 channels and 4op per channel. It needs a DAC though, the YM3012.

An easier to interface but more limited chip is the YM2612. Internal DAC, 6 channel 4Op. One of the channels can be used as a PCM playback output.Needs a tricky 7.67mhz clock signal though.

Both soundchips are stereo.

villahed94:
One of them is the YM2151 for which there has been some dev previously. Has 8 channels and 4op per channel.

Unfortunately those chips occupy lots of I/O pins. I had hoped for some I2C sound chips.

Zealot:
Unfortunately those chips occupy lots of I/O pins.

Then use a port expander.