VGM Players

From vgmrips
Note: This article does not include custom hardware VGM Players, which require a bit of advanced knowledge in modding consoles and/or custom removable media.

A VGM Player is a sound player that plays VGM and (often also) VGZ files.

VGM Only

Stand-alone

Plugins

For consoles

For smartphones

For portables

For older computers

Web

  • webVgm (WebAudio based, up to VGM v1.70 based on VGMPlay)

Multi-format

Stand-alone

  • Audio Overload (Windows/Linux/Mac, up to VGM v1.50)
  • KbMedia (Windows, up to VGM v1.50)
  • ZXTune (Windows/Linux/Mac, uses libvgm as a core)
  • RetroArch (multiplatform, uses Game Music Emu as a core)
  • XMMS2 (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux & BSD)
  • VLC media player (multiplatform, uses Game Music Emu as a decoder)

Plugins

  • foo_input_gme (for foobar2000 [Windows], up to VGM v1.61)
  • foo_gep (for foobar2000 [Windows], up to VGM v1.61)

For consoles

  • G.W.M.P (for Nintendo GameCube, Wii and Wii U (running in Wii mode), plays SN76489 VGMs)

For smartphones

  • ANYPLAY (iOS 4.2 based devices, plays SN76489 VGMs)
  • ConsoleMusic (iOS 5.0 based devices, plays YM2612 and SN76489 VGMs)
  • GaMBi (iOS 7.0 based devices, plays YM2612? and SN76489 VGMs)
  • Modizer (github) (iOS 5.1.1+ based devices, up to VGM v1.70 using VGMPlay as a base)
  • Droidsound-e (Android 4.0, up to VGM v1.70 using VGMPlay as a base)
  • OldNoise (Windows Phone 8 / Windows Phone 8.1, plays YM2612, YM2413 and SN76489 VGMs)
  • VGMiser (iOS 6.0 based devices)
  • MODo (for Android)
  • ZXTune (Android 4.0+, uses libvgm as a core)

For portables

  • GameMusicGear MX (for PlayStation Portable, plays SN76489 VGMs by using plugins)

Web

  • ChiptuneBlaster (WebAudio based, up to VGM v1.70 using VGMPlay as a base)
  • Muki (WebAudio based, up to VGM v1.61 based on Game Music Emu)
  • Chip Player JS (WebAudio based, up to VGM v1.71 based on libvgm)

In development

  • VGMPlay-web (in-browser, currently up to 1.10)
  • SharpVGM (XNA, plays YM2612 and SN76489 VGMs)
  • UltraPlayer 64 (no builds available) (for Nintendo 64, plays SN76489 VGMs).
  • Pop!Art VGM Player (for all line of the MSX standard, plays AY8910, YM2149, YM2413, K051649 (SCC), YM3526, Y8950, YM3812, YMF262, YMF278B (MoonSound) and YM2151 VGMs)
  • Clementine supports vgm through its GStreamer backend, which is currently out of date and inaccurate on some systems. Does not support VGZ. Currently able to populate media database with proper tag data, but more work needs to be done in regards to writing metadata into the vgm file.
  • MDPlayer (for Windows Vista ~ 10, multi-format, uses VGMPlay as his VGM player). Japan

Mini-FAQ

How I can run VGM files on my modern PC?

You can use VGMPlay for Windows and Linux-based systems. See the original topic for more details.

For OS X, you can use Audio Overload. Alternatively you can try to compile VGMPlay on OS X.

How I can play VGM files on my modern PC by using real hardware?

You can use VGMPlay for Windows and Linux-based systems. You must need PortTalk installed on your PC. See the original topic for more details.

How I can run these VGM players for older PCs?

Most of these requires a OS for running them and/or a minimum knowledge in BASIC commands. Players such as VGMPlay for MSX2 requires MSX-DOS2 to run.

How I can run these VGM players for third-and-up-generation systems?

  • nesvgm: A flashcart that has support to play the VRC6 sounds will suffice.
  • dmvgm: A flashcart for GB/GBC, such as the Bing one.
  • pokevgm: A flashcart for NGP/NGPC.
  • Genesis VGM Player and VGM_Player: A flashcart such as Mega Everdrive, your system does not need to be region-free.
  • SMS VGM Player: A flashcart such as Master Everdrive and/or Everdrive GG (if you want to play it on a Sega Game Gear).
  • GBA VGM Player: A flashcart that can be accepted by the GBA BIOS (e.g.: Show the Nintendo logo above the Game Boy one).
  • G.W.M.P: For GC, you must need to find a way of running homebrew on it. For Wii and vWii (Wii virtual mode on Wii U), it requires The Homebrew Channel installed.
  • GameMusicGear MX: You must need to find a way of running homebrew on PSP.

If your systems are NOT listed here:

Nintendo systems

  • Nintendo 64: A VGM Player is WIP.
  • Nintendo 64DD: No VGM Players available.
  • Virtual Boy: No VGM Players available.
  • Nintendo DS: No VGM Players available, but you can use GBA VGM Player to run it on GBA mode.
  • Nintendo DSi: No VGM Players available, use of flashcards and emulators are required.
  • Nintendo 3DS/XL/2DS: No VGM Players available, use of emulators are required. You must need to find a way to run homebrew on your system. Despite RetroArch having GME as an core on 3DS version, the GME core doesn't run and crashes the system.
  • New Nintendo 3DS / XL / 2DS XL: Same as 3DS.
  • Nintendo Switch: No VGM Players available, you cannot even hear VGMs online, as it does not include a built-in Internet Browser as their predecessors did.
    • If you are crazy enough, you can use a VGM Player for Linux in your Switch.

The Pokémon Mini sound hardware is not powerful enough to play any kind of VGM files, regardless of what soundchip is used.

Atari systems

  • Atari 5200: No VGM Players available.
  • Atari 7800: No VGM Players available.
  • Atari Lynx: No VGM Players available.
  • Atari Jaguar: No VGM Players available.
  • Atari ST / Mega ST: No VGM Players available.
  • Atari STE / Mega STE: No VGM Players available.
  • Atari 32-bit PCs: No VGM Players available.

Sega systems

  • SG-1000: No VGM Players available.
  • SC-3000: No VGM Players available.
  • Sega Game Gear: You can use VGM_Player for the Game Gear with Everdrive GG, also you can use SMS VGM software, if you have a way of playing SMS games on GG.
  • Sega Mega-CD: No VGM Players available.
  • Sega Pico: Genesis VGM Player and VGM_PLAYER can suffice, however, you only hear SN76489 data. You must also need (if exists) a flashcart.
  • Sega Saturn: No VGM Players available, use of emulators are required.
  • Sega 32x: You can use Genesis VGM Player and VGM_Player, although it does not play PWM.
  • Sega Dreamcast: Same as Saturn, you also need to find a way to run homebrew on your DC if your model does not support the MIL-CD format.

Sony systems

  • Sony PlayStation, PS2, PS3 and PS4: No VGM Players available, use of emulators are required. From PS2 up to PS4, you must have a way to run homebrew on these systems.
  • PlayStation Vita: You can use GameMusicGear MX in the sandbox-PSP mode.

Microsoft systems

  • Xbox family: No VGM Players available, use of emulators are required. You must have a way to run homebrew on these systems.

My PC is not playing a specific VGM file. What can I do?

It might not play due to the following reasons:

  • Your PC is not powerful enough to play the song. (sound stutters) This is unlikely unless the VGM uses 3+ sound chips. 400 MHz should be enough for the more complex sound chips like SCSP.
  • YRW801.rom is missing. (required for some YMF278B/OPL4 songs)
  • Your VGM file is damaged.
  • Your VGM file plays soundchip data that isn't supported by your VGM Player.
  • Your PC sound volume is muted.
  • You don't have soundcard / drivers installed on your PC.
  • Your headphones / headset / speakers are broken.
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