Paula

Commodore Paula 8364

Overview

The Paula 8364 is the custom audio chip of the Commodore Amiga. It is fundamentally different from chips such as the SID or YM2149 because its audio system is based on digital sample playback rather than purely synthesized waveforms.

Paula provides four hardware audio channels, each capable of playing an 8-bit sample with independently programmable volume and playback period.

Two channels are normally routed to the left channel and two to the right channel, providing the Amiga with stereo sample playback.

Technical characteristics

• Manufacturer: Commodore
• Chip: 8364
• Channels: 4
• Resolution: 8-bit samples
• Architecture: DMA sample playback
• Output: Stereo

Importance to tracker music

The Amiga is one of the most important platforms in tracker history.

The combination of Paula's sample playback and the Amiga's relatively powerful 68000 CPU made it possible for trackers to turn sampled instruments into complete musical arrangements.

Tracker software such as Soundtracker, NoiseTracker and ProTracker became closely associated with Paula's four-channel architecture and helped establish the MOD format as one of the defining formats of computer music.

Amiga enthusiasts also developed techniques for effectively increasing the number of voices. Software such as OctaMED could use CPU processing to produce arrangements beyond Paula's four physical channels.

Further reading

• Amiga Paula technical information