1987 IBM Music Feature Card: Is it really worth $3000?
LGR・2 minutes read
The IBM Music Feature Card from 1987 was the first general-purpose sound card for PCs, valued for its stereo sound and FM synthesis capabilities. Despite its decline in popularity due to limited software support and high cost, the card remains sought after by collectors for its historical significance and rarity.
Insights
- The IBM Music Feature Card, released in 1987, was the first sound card for PCs designed for applications and gaming, offering stereo sound and advanced features like a MIDI interface and more operators per channel than its competitors.
- Despite its initial innovative design and popularity among musicians due to bundled software and accessories, limited software support and high cost eventually led to the Music Feature Card's decline, making it a rare and sought-after item for collectors today.
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Recent questions
What was the first general-purpose sound card for PCs?
IBM Music Feature Card
How much can a complete boxed IBM Music Feature Card sell for?
Up to $3000
What set the IBM Music Feature Card apart from the AdLib Personal Computer Music System?
Stereo sound
What interface did the IBM Music Feature Card feature for composing music?
MIDI 1.0 interface
Why is the IBM Music Feature Card considered a sought-after item among collectors?
Limited sales and software support
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Summary
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IBM Music Feature Card: Rare and Valuable Sound Innovation
- The IBM Music Feature Card from 1987 was the first general-purpose sound card for PCs, working with applications and gaming.
- The card is rare and highly valued, with complete boxed examples selling for up to $3000 and the card alone fetching $900.
- The Music Feature Card was launched before the AdLib Personal Computer Music System, offering stereo sound compared to AdLib's mono.
- Both cards used FM synthesis with Yamaha chips, but the IBM card had more operators per channel.
- The Music Feature Card was designed for composing music with the computer, featuring a MIDI 1.0 interface and a breakout box for MIDI connections.
- The card was often sold in bundles with keyboards, cables, and composition software, making it popular among musicians.
- The card is rare due to limited sales and software support, making it a sought-after item among collectors.
- The card comes with paperwork, diagnostic disks, and a MIDI breakout box for MIDI connections.
- The card features a YM2164 Yamaha FM synth chip, with options for dual card mode for enhanced FM synth capabilities.
- While the Music Feature Card was innovative for its time, limited software support and high cost led to its eventual decline in popularity compared to other sound cards.
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Sega arcade music conversions preserved by community
- The Revision 2019 demo showcased Sega arcade music conversions from Desire & CRTC, highlighting the community's efforts in preserving these rare cards and supporting them through custom DOSBox forks with IMFC support, ultimately making seeking out a Music Feature card mainly for historical and collector's value, as the community's work has enabled existing FB-01 support for desired games.
