EX-NAMCO106 <num>

Enables NAMCO163 channels P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W.

<num> (1 to 8)
The number of channels you want to enable simultaneously. For example, entering 3 will enable P, Q and R only. Entering 8 will all eight channels (P through W).

Channel selection exists because choosing to leave out some of the 8 channels out actually makes a difference. The reason for this is that it appears that the NAMCO163 is incapable of clocking all channels at the same time, so it cycles through channels one at a time, clocking one each cycle. Fewer channels means each one is clocked more often, resulting in higher tones and allowing more control over the length of waveforms. On the other hand, enabling more channels means each channel is clocked less often, resulting in lower tones and waveforms with a lower resolution. In addition to this, disabled channels free up registers and allows those registers to be used for waveform data instead. [1]

It should be noted that using any 3, 5, 6 or 7 channels means your notes are going to be transposed. For instance, if only 3 channels are turned on, a C becomes an F; using K<num> is necessary to counter this.

Bibliography
1. Source: Nesdev article.
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