Existing video game music formats

[vampirefrog]

I've moved this info in the wiki: Formats

Hello again guys! After starting the libraries and game database listings, I figured it is time to list all the formats available. A format only makes this list if there is a large database available in that format, or if it is particularly interesting.

A couple of notes: this topic and the other two I've mentioned will all go in the new wiki that we're planning, along with a lot of other topics that belong in a wiki format instead of a forum. Also, the VGM format specification belongs in a wiki page on our site, with proper formatting, instead of text format on the SMSPower wiki.

Later, when we have the wiki, we can invite maintainers of other formats to create an account and maintain a wiki page for their own formats, instead of having a txt file on an obscure ftp server or something.

http://vgm.mdscene.net/vgm-formats.ods

Please reply with info and links to complete the table.

Thanks!

[MaliceX]

.HES is a binary format if I'm not mistaken. As in, it's a ROM format for the TG-16/PCE. Much like NSF, it wouldn't be limited to just "music" data.

[vampirefrog]

That's ok, as long as it can store music and we can find collections online.

[RichterEX2]

There's one I've encountered recently: MIDI + SF2. Essentially an alternative to USF/GSF that offers better sound quality than the original hardware most times (some glitches on occasion). It's far easier to do with GBA games than it is with N64 currently, however.

It involves using some special tools to extract the sounds and soundbanks as MIDI files. Then arranging the sounds into actual soundfonts and playing them along with the MIDIs. The GBA tools does this all automatically. The N64 one...doesn't. So it has quite a steep learning curve.

Example: http://www.mediafire.com/download/e2rfe ... f_Lodis.7z

Also, only certain MIDI plugins will autoload the SF2 file with the MIDI set. Foobar's BASSMIDI will, which is what I use.

[vampirefrog]

So strange. I've taken a look. It looks like the chip emulation is replaced by the soundfont. I'm not sure where to fit this format. Can you try to add it to the Formats list in the wiki? Maybe create a page for it as well?

[neologix]

Don't bother. Unless we're adding MIDI+soundfont (either DLS or SF2) capabilities to the VGM format this is simply "conversion from some format X to MIDI," but also including soundfont conversion. VGMTrans can do it, too.

Just because it's MIDIs and soundfonts of video game music doesn't automatically make it VGM. I've been chided for this a couple of times long ago.

[vampirefrog]

I consider it useful for composers/transcribers, so I'd definately include it in a list somewhere. It's also the reason why I got interested in MDX and other MML based formats - the ability to obtain the sheets automatically, without by-ear transcription.

[zzo38]

You could mark according to which are executable (such as NSF) or logged (such as VGM) formats.

Don't bother. Unless we're adding MIDI+soundfont (either DLS or SF2) capabilities to the VGM format...

MIDI+soundfont is not a sound chip.

[Xyz]

There is also .sgc which has its full documentation and library contained in the .rar in the OP of this thread http://forums.nesdev.com/viewtopic.php?t=5887
In short, binary format for SMS, Sega Gamegear, and Coleco Vision. Can contain multiple subsongs.

.mod is the format for the Amiga. Although it is moreso a tracker format, it should be comparable to mdx in the right of: MML>MDX>YM2151::PROTRACKER::MOD::PAULA chip . Format specs here http://www.aes.id.au/modformat.html

.ahx is a subset within .mod meant to sound like a SID. Format specs here http://lclevy.free.fr/exotica/ahx/ahxformat.txt Archives for both mod and ahx can be found at modarchive.org

.sid is the format of choice for Commodore 64's chip of the same name. Format spec here http://ocremix.org/info/SID_Format_Specification and the main archive is http://www.hvsc.c64.org/

[vampirefrog]

Thanks, this is good research. Added to the wiki page.