Formats
Here we have a list of specialized music formats (not mp3 or wav), used to log and store chip-based game music. Some formats are for a single chip (such as AY), others for a whole range of chips (such as VGM).
Music file formats
Logged formats
These are formats which are streamed logs of data being sent to specific registers on the soundchip(s). The rate of this data being logged is either at the speed of the music engine, typically 60Hz or 50Hz, or at a 44.1KHz sample rate and other common PCM sample rates.
Ripped formats
These are formats which are typically ripped from game code to remove everything but the music engine and the music data. They consist of a header and assembly code. The assembly code portion itself can run on its respective hardware.
- 2SF File Format
- AY File Format
- DSF File Format
- GBS File Format
- GSF File Format
- HES File Format
- KSS File Format
- NSF File Format
- PSF File Format
- PSF2 File Format
- QSF File Format
- RSN File Format
- SAP File Format
- SGC File Format
- SID File Format
- SNDH File Format
- SPC File Format
- SSF File Format
- USF File Format
Driver formats
These are formats which are only music data targeted for a specific music engine. They typically have standalone players for the music data.
- BAM File Format
- MDX File Format
- MGS File Format
- SMPS File Format
- ZMD File Format
- EUP (Euphony) File Format (for FM Towns)
Tracker formats
These are formats which are source files for music tracker software.
Instrument file formats
- DefleMask Preset file format, contains YM2612 FM preset data usable in DefleMask Tracker
- Genesis YM Bank file format, contains YM2612 FM preset data usable in mid2smps, mid2vgm YM2612, and the mid2smps MIDI Driver.
- SMPS Instrument format
- VGM Music Maker Instrument file format, contains YM2612 FM preset data usable in VGM Music Maker and DefleMask Tracker
- TFM Music Maker Instrument file format, contains YM2203 FM preset data usable in TFM Music Maker and DefleMask Tracker
- Echo Instrument Format file format, contains YM2612 FM preset data usable in Echo Sound Format songs and conversion tools
- Y12 file format, contains YM2612 FM preset data usable in MVSTracker
- OPM bank file format, contains YM2151 FM preset data usable in VOPM.
- ScreamTracker instrument format, contains sample data and OPL2 presets
- Amigasam format, contains samples for Amiga