---
title: "OUAH! Sound Example"
id: 63151
type: "computer_media"
slug: "ouah-sound-example"
url: "http://localhost/computer_media/ouah-sound-example/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/computer_media/ouah-sound-example.md"
published_at: "2026-01-30T17:36:44+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-04-03T07:57:58+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ouah.png"
excerpt: "A Byte Power demo fires up the AY sound chip with a single SOUND statement, then silences it on a keypress — minimal code, maximum bark."
category:
  - name: "Archived Media"
    slug: "archived-media"
    taxonomy: "category"
    url: "http://localhost/category/archived-media/"
post_tag:
  - name: "Downloadable"
    slug: "downloadable"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/downloadable/"
  - name: "TS 2068"
    slug: "ts2068"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ts2068/"
model:
  - name: "Timex/Sinclair 2068"
    slug: "ts-2068"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/ts-2068/"
indiv:
  - name: "Kristian Boisvert"
    slug: "boisvert-kristian"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/boisvert-kristian/"
genre:
  - name: "Sound"
    slug: "sound"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/sound/"
media_contents:
  - id: 63045
    title: "Byte Power September 1986"
    type: "computer_media"
    url: "http://localhost/computer_media/byte-power-september-1986/"
media_type: "Program"
programmers:
  - name: "Kristian Boisvert"
    slug: "boisvert-kristian"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/boisvert-kristian/"
mediadate: "1986"
producer_company:
  - id: 25181
    title: "Byte Power"
    type: "company"
    url: "http://localhost/company/byte-power/"
images:
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ouah.png"
article_media:
  - id: 63031
    title: "Better Programming"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/better-programming-4/"
media_type_tags: "Sound"
---

# OUAH! Sound Example

This program plays a short musical or sound effect using the AY-3-8912 sound chip, then waits for a keypress before silencing all sound generators. The SOUND command sequences configure the AY chip’s registers directly: registers 8–10 set channel volumes, register 7 controls the mixer (enabling tone/noise), registers 12–13 set the noise/envelope period, and registers 0–1 set channel A’s tone period. The REM statement on line 0 contains the title “OUAH!” and credits K. Boisvert and Byte Power (1986). The program uses PAUSE 0 to hold the sound until any key is pressed, after which register 13 is reset to stop the envelope generator.

***

## Program Structure

The program is extremely compact, consisting of just four lines:

1. `0 REM` — Title and copyright banner embedded in a REM statement on line 0, a common technique to store metadata without affecting execution.
2. `10 SOUND` — Configures multiple AY-3-8912 registers in a single statement to produce a sound effect.
3. `20 PAUSE 0` — Halts execution indefinitely until a key is pressed, allowing the sound to play out.
4. `30 SOUND 13,0` — Resets envelope register 13 to silence the AY chip.

## AY-3-8912 Register Usage

The `SOUND` statement on line 10 programs the following AY chip registers in sequence:

| Register | Value | Function |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 8 | 0 | Channel A amplitude — set to 0 initially (envelope mode not yet active) |
| 9 | 0 | Channel B amplitude — off |
| 10 | 0 | Channel C amplitude — off |
| 8 | 16 | Channel A amplitude — bit 4 set, enabling envelope generator control |
| 7 | 62 | Mixer register — value 62 (0b00111110): Channel A tone enabled, others off |
| 12 | 2 | Envelope period fine (low byte) |
| 13 | 14 | Envelope shape — value 14 (0b1110): attack, alternate, hold; produces rising then sustaining envelope (“woof” shape) |
| 0 | 200 | Channel A tone period fine (low byte) — sets a low-pitched tone |
| 1 | 1 | Channel A tone period coarse (high byte) — combined with reg 0: period = 200 + 256 = 456, giving ~240 Hz |

## Notable Techniques

- The paired `SOUND` register writes in a single statement exploit the TS2068’s ability to write multiple register/value pairs, avoiding multiple lines and saving memory.
- Register 8 is written twice: first to 0 to reset it, then to 16 to engage envelope mode. This double-write within one `SOUND` call ensures a clean envelope trigger.
- `PAUSE 0` without a subsequent `INKEY$` check is used purely to suspend the program while the AY chip’s envelope hardware plays autonomously — no CPU intervention needed during playback.
- Line 0 for the REM is a well-known trick: line 0 is always the first line executed but also stores metadata conveniently at the top of the listing.
- The title “OUAH!” is French onomatopoeia for a dog’s bark (“woof”), which matches the envelope shape chosen (register 13 = 14 produces a sharp attack with sustain).

## Source Code

```
 0 REM                                                            OUAH!                           WRITTEN BY K. BOISVERT          ©1986 BYTE POWER                        
   10 SOUND 8,0;9,0;10,0;8,16;7,62;12,2;13,14;0,200;1,1
   20 PAUSE 0
   30 SOUND 13,0
```