Plogue Chipsynth OPMZ is a new multi-layer FM synth that models four classic Yamaha FM chips (OPM, OPP, OPZ, OPZ2) down to the last bit.
In late August, Canadian developer Plogue teased the next Synthesizer in its Chipsynth series. The Chipsynth instruments are based on recreations of well-known chips used in vintage synths. For example, from Yamaha.
The wait is over and the new Plogue Chipsynth OPMZ is now available.
Plogue Chipsynth OPMZ
Chipsynth OPMZ is a new multi-layer FM Synthesizer plugin that is based on meticulous recreations of the original OPM (YM2151), OPP (YM2164), OPZ (YM2414), and OPZ2 (YM2424) sound chips. So, four Yamaha FM synths in one synth plugin.
At first glance, OPMZ is a 4-operator FM Synthesizer. But with the myriad extras on the left and right, it’s an FM synth paradise that gives you all the magic of vintage 4-operator FM synths in a plugin.
According to Plogue, these are deep emulations from numerous digital captures, including many undocumented features. They aren’t simple emulations of the four chips; the plugin goes far beyond that.
For example, the chipsynth OPMZ features the OPM’s CSM, aka Composite Sine Mode (Speech Synthesis or Carrier Suppress Modulation), that you can use here in music production. It also fully recreates the exact pattern and mechanics of the often-neglected noise generator, plus all the quirks of its LFO.
One of the trickiest recreations for the OPMZ synth was the OPZ chip from the legendary Yamaha TX81Z, as it was completely undocumented. Through full reverse engineering, they could model the mysterious register overlays and previously unknown functionality, such as internal volume ramping.
David Viens went even further and took a deep dive into how Yamaha used the chips in different vintage synths: DX100, DX27, DX21, TX81Z, and DX11. This includes the behavior, the analog output stage, and the DX21’s chorus.
Like a traditional FM synth, you can adjust each operator independently, with the parameters available on the original hardware. With the “features” function, you can enable features found on later synths using the OPZ or OPZ2 chips, like the TX81Z, DX11, DX50, and TQ-5.
Multi-Layer Sounds & Sound Design
On the stack page, you can layer up to 8 sounds from either A or B, with keyboard mappings and more. Of course, you can also load your favorite SysEx patch files into the synth via the dedicated Sysex manager.
Modulation is also available—including the types familiar from the original synths, plus three new step modulators with editors. A comprehensive mod matrix manges all the assigned modulation.
Alongside this, you have a multi-FX processor with a fully adjustable chorus, ambient reverb, and stereo delay. On the same UI page, you also have a built-in multimode arpeggiator.
As a bonus to round out the entire 4-operator synth paradise, Plogue also added a VGM section to the Chipsynth OPMZ, allowing you to play back video game soundtracks using .mod files (VGM format). Oh yeah, you can also use OPMZ as a hardware librarian with SysEx support.
Other features are:
- custom tuning via Scala and MTS-ESP
- MPE support
- Native Instruments NKS support
- and more
The developer provides deep insight into the work and the emulations in this detailed video.
Plogue Chipsynth OPMZ First Impression
Several synths currently try to emulate classic 4-operator FM synthesis. However, no one has achieved the depth Plogue has reached with this plugin. Anyone who wants to explore the full spectrum of vintage Yamaha 4OP synthesizers directly from their DAW is in the right place.
Especially given how cryptic these synths (FB-01…) can be to operate and how often they’re in less-than-perfect condition, this is a better way to explore them. Plus, you can also use this as a librarian, which is great for hardware owners.
Plogue Chipsynth OPMZ is available now for around 53€ with tax. It runs as a VST3, AU, CLAP, and AAX on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel), Linux, and Windows.
More information here: Plogue
Article from August 29, 2026
Canadian developer David Viens, or Plogue, loves chips from retro synths, and this passion also shows up in his product lineup. In his various chipsynth plugins, he has already emulated a multitude of these with great attention to detail.
A new synth in this series is just around the corner. Plogue has teased Chipsynth OPMZ, a new FM Synthesizer plugin that bundles four Yamaha chip emulations in a single plugin. It could be the holy grail of 4-operator synth plugins.
First Info
Chipsynth OPMZ will be the next Synthesizer plugin in its popular line of chipsynths. This time the topic is 4-operator FM synths.
According to Plogue, Chipsynth OPMZ models four classic 4-operator-based Yamaha FM chips: OPM, OPP, OPZ, and OPZ2, and packs them into a single synth plugin.
Four in one is many, and thus represents much of Yamaha’s history in a single virtual instrument. The developer hasn’t shared all the details about the new OPMZ synth, only which chips it emulates.
It starts with the OPM, also known as the Yamaha YM2151 chip, which was used in the 4-operator FM synths DX21, DX27, and DX100, as well as many arcade machines. These came onto the market in 1985.
Then the OPP, aka YM2164, was used in synths like the FB-01 and SFG-05, and again in the DX21, DX27, and DX100. As an FB-01 owner, I’m pleased that Plogue now also offers a plugin that emulates this.
The OPZ, aka YM2414, is one of the most exciting 4-operator FM chips from the past, as it was used in the legendary TX81Z and the DX11. Unlike others before, it offered eight synthesis channels, eight selectable waveforms, a fixed-frequency mode, and dual low-frequency oscillators.
The fourth and final chip he modeled for the Chipsynth OPMZ is the OPZII (YM2424), which you can only find in the Yamaha V50 workstation. It offered more polyphony than the YX81Z and 0hz operators
Early Impression
Plogue has many loyal customers, and I’m sure this synth will interest many people again. I think it will also appeal to many who don’t currently own a Plogue synth, because there aren’t many well-emulated Yamaha 4-operator synths available.
On iOS, you have the KQ-Tixie synth, which also models various 4-operator synths and supports macOS.
Plogue Chipsynth OPMZ will be available soon.
More info will follow here: Plogue
Great article, but it has some errors or typos. The OPM was never used outside of arcade machines in the 80s. The OPP was the one used in the DX100, DX21, DX27, and FB-01. It was also used in an MSX music computer that Yamaha made.
The OPM was used in the Sega Outrun arcade machines 😉
The OPM in the seocnd is an typo, it should be OPP indeed
I realized that pinball machines also used the OPM
Chipsynth OPMZ is now available at https://www.plogue.com/products/chipsynth-opmz.html
yes that why the article has been updated 😉