Beavis Ultrasound: Open-Source Clone of the Legendary Gravis Ultrasound Sound Card
Photo: Tom's Hardware
Quick answer
Beavis Ultrasound is an open-source hardware clone of the Gravis Ultrasound sound card, featuring full schematics, PCB layouts, and reverse-engineered GAL logic for IDE CD-ROM support.
A new open-source project, Beavis Ultrasound, has emerged on GitHub as a hardware clone of the legendary Gravis Ultrasound (GUS) sound card for ISA bus systems. Developer schlae has released complete KiCad schematics, PCB layouts, ROM images, and even reverse-engineered GAL logic to enable IDE interface support for CD-ROM drives, matching the advanced GUS PnP version.
Unlike software emulations or microcontroller-based alternatives, this project aims for authentic 90s audio reproduction at the hardware level. However, assembly requires the rare AMD AM78C201 InterWave chip, which is difficult to source. The developer also warns that the board has not been tested in real-world conditions, and assembly is undertaken at the builder's own risk.
The project targets retro-computing enthusiasts seeking to recreate the authentic sound of 90s hardware. Alternatives like the commercial Orpheus II or the DIY PicoGUS solution based on Raspberry Pi Pico offer convenience but lack the same level of hardware accuracy.
Common questions
- What is Beavis Ultrasound?
- An open-source project to recreate a hardware clone of the Gravis Ultrasound sound card for ISA bus systems, including schematics, PCB layouts, and reverse-engineered GAL logic.
- What components are needed to build Beavis Ultrasound?
- The primary component is the AMD AM78C201 InterWave chip, which is difficult to source. Additional parts must be assembled according to the published schematics.
- Does Beavis Ultrasound support CD-ROM connectivity?
- Yes, thanks to reverse-engineered GAL logic, the project includes IDE interface support for CD-ROM drives, just like the original Gravis Ultrasound PnP.
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