Hardware: Audio - AmigaFAQ

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Hardware: Audio

The Amiga's sound hardware and how to get the best from it.

What sound hardware does the Amiga have?

Sound comes from the Paula custom chip, which plays four channels of 8-bit sampled sound at the same time, two on the left and two on the right. Because it plays real recorded samples rather than synthesized tones, the Amiga could produce music and effects far more realistic than most home computers of the 1980s.

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Why does Amiga sound seem muffled at times?

Most Amigas have a built-in low-pass audio filter that softens high frequencies. On many models it is linked to the power LED: when software switches the filter off, the power light dims. Some programs and games turn the filter on or off, which is why the same machine can sound brighter or duller.

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How do I connect an Amiga to speakers or an amplifier?

Most Amigas have two RCA (phono) sockets, one for the left channel and one for the right, carrying a line-level signal. Connect them to powered speakers, a stereo amplifier or a mixer using an ordinary RCA cable, with an RCA-to-3.5mm adapter if your speakers need one.

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Can an Amiga play higher-quality sound?

Yes. Expansion sound cards add 16-bit audio, and the AHI system lets programs use them in a standard way. AHI can also combine Paula's channels in software to get better than 8-bit quality from the built-in hardware.

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Can I use MIDI with an Amiga?

Yes. A MIDI interface plugs into the Amiga's serial port, letting it control synthesizers and other MIDI instruments with sequencer software.

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