Too awesome! I know all the songs as I've played all those games!: Super Mario World, Jurassic Park Part II: The Chaos Continues, and Donkey Kong Country.
that is so awesome dude! i pulled my shvc sound card out of a bad snes unit (video color was no good) so i decided to serch the sound cards specs and found this! XD great job building the snes ipod LOL!
i,ve discovered that the snes sound chip is more enable then only syntheses music.
it can even generate true 16bit 32 khz sound in echo ofsetting mode.
so if we wish to put the snes soundchip in a cd player to play music.
we only need a chip wich drops samples down from 44,1 khz into 32khz,it also must split those samples into sections of 64kb,the snes can then play one after other sasample and presto!!!!!
no doubt the snes is able to generate true 16bit 32 khz sound,or well near cd quality.
but non snes game had ever made use of it duo limmited space.
so if we want to put this audio chip in a cd player to play music, we only need a chip wich has to drop the sound from 44,1 khz down to 32khz, it also has to split the sound in sections of 64 kb,then it send those samples to the snes in echo offsetting moden or echo buffer,there you have it true 16bit sound!!!!!!!!!!!
@metroidfannumber1 Doesn't seem like there is yet; however, you can track music with your favorite program, like ModPlug, then convert it to .spc using a utility in the video comments. Works very well. Too bad development on this utility discontinued.
All SNES music is synthesized by a group of samples, similar to .mod tracker files. Yes, there is a limit of samples that can be stored in the 64KB of RAM in the SNES audio processor. SPC files are data dumps of the processor's RAM: the songs can be re-created from this. You want to find software that can re-create recorded music by both finding samples and identifying tones and automatically associating them to the correct samples? Not likely. AmazingMIDI, for example, can only do tones poorly.
Some games like Tales of phantasia use steam voices and swap instruments from ROM in order to overcome the 64KB limit.This causes problems for SNES music players because they only store the 64KB of the song and not actually swap music from the rom.This also prevents the ability to play steam voices(opening of TOP and lion king).
It would be even more cool if you could mess with variables to affect the music. For instance, that Super Mario World track had the Yoshi beat...which you wouldn't hear if you weren't riding on Yoshi.
Holy crap I want one so bad. I have all just about everything needed too. I just have no idea where to get started on such a thing. Has anyone else tried to make this or something similar?
Oh, wow is that awesome. I actually have a torn apart SNES at the moment that is missing the pin connector but I have the sound card, If only I had any Idea how to put it to use.
Ony Super Nintendo/s/Super Famicoms made before 1993 have "Detachable" Sound Cards as Super Nintendo made after 93 have the Sound chip on the main motherboard. Plus I noticed pre-1993 Snes turn yellow while post 1993 SNES have better plastic that does not turn yellow.
Don't get me wrong man..I can see what you have there represents alot of hardwork and time.
My ipod comment was stupid I apologize..
I am trying to think of the right thing to say to get my point across with this invention but i just can't invent the paragraph to do it without sounding mean.
I love video game music.
I love this box you made I just think its redundant.
The program you are looking for is called OpenSpc or OpenSpc lite. It works great and converts to the IT mod format. They have builds for Linux and windows/dos.
Yeah but as he stated in the video he uses it under VMware to have direct access to the Parallel Port (LP1). Newer OS:es like XP and Vista are kinda blocking low level communication like that.
LOL, a SNESPod. I like it. So that piece must be the sound card for the SNES, I was wondering what that was. I've taken apart somewhere around 100-150 SNESs and some don't have that piece in them.
There is a utility on zophar that will allow you to rip sample data from SNES roms. It tried it and it worked great. I used that for my Mortal Kombat video.
Imagine how awesome it would be to write your own spcs with something like xmsnes and then load them onto one of these. You could write beats and use it as a drum machine in a live setting, you could put external effects on it...
It would definitely be easier just to convert any spc files to wavs and mess with them in some other program though.
This is using a parallel port. I'm emulating windows 98 under VMWare so the audio loader program can, in a way, have direct access to the parallel port.
I have 2 super famicoms and one us snes. I opened the broken famicom and it had the silver sound card but the US super nintendo when I opened it it had a fwew chips but no seperate sound card.
With the spdif output I added, the audio coming from this unit is a perfect representation of the original music. With emulation (Winamp plug-ins) you can actually improve the quality by using better interpolation algorithms and sampling rates. Emulation can cheat in a way, but is not truly original.
It used to be like that in the early days of SNES emulation, so your not all wrong
A good example is the wind sound effect you can hear in some Squaresoft games, on the first SNES emulators it sounded all garbled and horrid, now that (almost) all the little bugs have been fixed we can emulate BETTER then the SNES could.
Now the focus is more drifting to 5th gen consoles such as the PS1 and N64. Yay for retro Gaming!
Have you had any luck converting MOD (.xm) files to .spc files. I have tried using ekids program and I have failed many times to produce a working SPC. I plan on composing my own tunes and then dumping them to the SPC audio box.
I appreciate any suggestions because I would really love to make this work. I plan on posting my research on the net for everyone.
I would put the app programs and the files to be converted in C:\spc. Next, go to Start menu > Run > then type "cmd" > type "cd\spc" > type "xm2snes -b -d (filename.xm)" That should do it; you must be aware that the mod or xm file must be small enough to be converted (as well as no more than 8 channels).
Thanks for the response. I have kept the .xm size below 57Kb with 8 channels. I am wondering if running this in XP is causing the problem. My Win98 box died a couple of years ago, so all I have is XP. I use FASTRACKER 2 in DOSbox .072. What OS are you using for your conversions?
It's strange. It creates the spc file, but the spc will not play in any spc players. I have tried quite a few players.
I have been pulling instrument samples from actual snes game roms. Then I load the samples into Fastracker2. The results have been great. But I just can't seem to create a working spc file. I feel like I am so close to getting this to work.
After I built this, I noticed that caitsith2 now sells a kit! Look him up in Google, go to his web site, go under SNES hardware page, then SNES APU, and you can purchase at the bottom of the page. It was kind of fun to build it though.
Generally, you cannot play .SPC files on an MP3 player. But, I suppose one could argue that it may be possible to convert the files to MP3. But either way, the produced sound is not entirely accurate to the SPU in the SNES. Thus, is why one would want to create such a device. And it's just plain cool to make such a project.
But you can convert SPC files to MP3. I've done it and the music is still original and accurate when converted to MP3. You just need winamp and the SPC input plug-in to convert it to MP3.
In all honesty, I installed RockBox on my MP3 player, and it has this great plug-in to play SPCs, and they sound good to me. I really wasn't expecting that feature, and it thoroughly surprised me. But of course, as you said, they could just as easily be converted to MP3. Either way, the music sounds Okay to me.
What is the name of this plug in because i can't find it on Winamp's website (maybe i'm retarded) but im really trying to put a beat on one of the songs from Vortex and i really want to know.
THATS SWEET! I have 2 SNES systems. One has that box in it and the other is a later model that doesn't. Does anyone know if there is any noticeable sound quality difference between the old and new models?
From what I know, it uses the same hardware. The only difference is that the newer one is integrated into the board; however, I never compared two units with good speakers / headphones.
Amazingly, there is! Just use your favorite mod tracker that can create .xm, .s3m, .mod, etc. Then simply convert it to .spc using the XM2SNES utility: Check it out in the video description to the right.
To use the converter program you must run it through the command line. Copy xm2snes program files and the .xm file to a folder named "SPC" in the C:\ drive. Go to start > run > type "cmd" > type "cd\spc" > type "xm2snes -b -d (name).xm." Should output .spc version! If file is too big, you must modify it. Also ur limited to 8 channels.
Can you use it as a sound modular?Use MIDI Keyboard to control it,just like a synthesizer?Or can the emulator snesapu.dll be used as a VSTi?When I tried this,failed......Thank you for your brilliant work to make my mouth open^_^
That would be awesome. But the system currently works by playing back pre-recorded mod-based music. You want to manipulate a set of sound samples? These vary from song to song. The easiest way to do this is to extract the samples from a rom file and make a midi soundfont out of it. This has already been done at Zophar's domain. Check out the soundfonts others have already made; they're cool. A utility called Snessor can rip samples from SNES roms. (at Zophar's domain) so u can make ur own.
Oh, yes! Absolutely. I really like the Title music, and also "Big Enemy 1", and "Arabian Abura". Any one of those songs would be great to hear playing on the SNES music box.
you can get a RCA to 1/4" jack cable, plug the RCA end into the SNES music box, plug the Jack into the pedal and the connect the pedal to an amp with a jack-to-jack cable.
First off, I didn't mess up anything or loose any money for the project. I bought a batch of three snes units claimed to be broken on ebay. I resold one working one and got all my money back.
There is a significant difference between the emulated spc files and the authentic synthetic audio. It's also neat that a computer can send the data like the snes would.
I wish. If it were possible, special hardware would have to be involved. Perhaps one of those USB to parallel converter cables? Or maybe something like a port replicator to get a parallel port. Win 98 would still have to be used. Authentically using USB would require a dramatic change in hardware and software. (I'm neither a software writer nor an electrical engineer).
First, big-ups to matts2007 for building this neat little box! I also build me one, but with the SPDIF mod.
And second, *please* anybody, program a gui tool to upload the spc files into the apu! I've tried many tools, but it would be super-sweet to have a winamp plugin that sends the file to the lpt.
Would be great, if anybody challenge this problem :-)
The SPDIF mod would be awesome. I'll have to look into this and upgrade mine :)
I would like to get it to work with XMPlay or Winamp, but I don't thank anyone created it. There has been one out for Linux: (see project site in "about this video") In the "Origional site" has a GUI unloader tool, but I find it easer to associate the spc files in windows to a command line uploader tool. It's the closest thing I could get to a play list.
Thanks for the information! I started using XMPlay with the plugin ALPHA-II SPC Player v3.2 (x86) and has given me very good results. The sound is incredible and is more easy to use than KuroNeko SPC, but the latest version of this program has some interesting features...
Woooow! this is a Jewel! But I use a program callde "KuroNeko SPC" that can read all SPC data from Snes9x and ZSnes emulators. You only must save the song inthe game that like you an then open the spc file with this program, is very easy to use. And if you like it, you can record (with this program) the spc file into WAV files in 48000 Hz with an amplify x8. Then you can use any program to transform wav files in MP3, wma, ogg, etc.
Neat! I've seen many cool spc programs floating around. Personally, I use the Alpha-II Winamp Plugin with XMPlay (better than winamp). It is very accurate, has a high sampling rate, and great sounding interpolation. XMPlay lets me play many other formats without using other programs; it also allows for me to dump the audio directly to wav, mp3, and ogg without converting.
There are many other cool ones too. One can show the stats of each channel (ie, audio envelopes, note pitch, volume, etc). Another can show the status of the 64K of ram while playing! It shows the ram allocation in a block-view. I'll have to dig up the program names...
uhmmm, no offense, but you have a looooot of spare time... tho i gotta admit this is kinda cool.
ScarlettDistraction 4 months ago
can do the same with SnesMusic on iPhone !!
tibabo 5 months ago
Awesome! :D
eriklima2 8 months ago
This is awesome! SO awesome! And, another awesome thing is your wallpaper, behind the computer. Was that a scowling cat wearing a cowboy hat?
MorfGworfmim 9 months ago
@MorfGworfmim Yup. Couldn't be more sad couldn't it?
matts2007 9 months ago
@matts2007 Well, I'd like it for my room :P
MorfGworfmim 9 months ago
Too awesome! I know all the songs as I've played all those games!: Super Mario World, Jurassic Park Part II: The Chaos Continues, and Donkey Kong Country.
bub777 11 months ago
that is so awesome dude! i pulled my shvc sound card out of a bad snes unit (video color was no good) so i decided to serch the sound cards specs and found this! XD great job building the snes ipod LOL!
fintogive 1 year ago
Very interesting, it would be cool if you added a S/PDIF digital audio out of the chip, so all the audio would be crystal clear!
zedrein18 1 year ago
@zedrein18 Click the link to the new video: it has S/PDIF in the new video.
matts2007 1 year ago
holy fuck.
just holy fuck.
LeafFr 1 year ago
I wish there was a USB version of this hack. I'd duct tape it to my laptop and have a cool setup! :)
videogameobsession 1 year ago
Sorry I meant "switch instruments".
SgtThom 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Snesost is a channel made to upload nothing but snes/sfc in the most HIGHEST quality of listening for.
if you have a snes ost you want uploaded, send a request and well have up as soon as possible!
SNESosT 1 year ago
i,ve discovered that the snes sound chip is more enable then only syntheses music.
it can even generate true 16bit 32 khz sound in echo ofsetting mode.
so if we wish to put the snes soundchip in a cd player to play music.
we only need a chip wich drops samples down from 44,1 khz into 32khz,it also must split those samples into sections of 64kb,the snes can then play one after other sasample and presto!!!!!
johneymute 1 year ago
no doubt the snes is able to generate true 16bit 32 khz sound,or well near cd quality.
but non snes game had ever made use of it duo limmited space.
so if we want to put this audio chip in a cd player to play music, we only need a chip wich has to drop the sound from 44,1 khz down to 32khz, it also has to split the sound in sections of 64 kb,then it send those samples to the snes in echo offsetting moden or echo buffer,there you have it true 16bit sound!!!!!!!!!!!
johneymute 1 year ago
dizzam i love your hook ups, niffty little snes item ya have there. and the killer stereo surround sound owns
TBOGmorris1113 1 year ago
comfortable music this. good feel.
doujindance 1 year ago
All that hard work and you show it off through cheap earphones....
rushnerd 1 year ago
@rushnerd You didn't see my new video. This old one is from '07
matts2007 1 year ago
you know how there's a famitracker that makes nes music? im looking for the same thing for the snes. do you know one?
metroidfannumber1 1 year ago
@metroidfannumber1 Doesn't seem like there is yet; however, you can track music with your favorite program, like ModPlug, then convert it to .spc using a utility in the video comments. Works very well. Too bad development on this utility discontinued.
matts2007 1 year ago
What was that song you played on your Hi-Fi? The second one you uploaded
ultimateshadowx9 1 year ago
Comment removed
johneymute 1 year ago
Comment removed
johneymute 1 year ago
All SNES music is synthesized by a group of samples, similar to .mod tracker files. Yes, there is a limit of samples that can be stored in the 64KB of RAM in the SNES audio processor. SPC files are data dumps of the processor's RAM: the songs can be re-created from this. You want to find software that can re-create recorded music by both finding samples and identifying tones and automatically associating them to the correct samples? Not likely. AmazingMIDI, for example, can only do tones poorly.
matts2007 1 year ago
@matts2007
Some games like Tales of phantasia use steam voices and swap instruments from ROM in order to overcome the 64KB limit.This causes problems for SNES music players because they only store the 64KB of the song and not actually swap music from the rom.This also prevents the ability to play steam voices(opening of TOP and lion king).
SgtThom 1 year ago
Comment removed
johneymute 1 year ago
MP3 is recorded, the others are synthesized. It's easy to go from synthesized to recorded, but not the other way around.
matts2007 1 year ago
It would be even more cool if you could mess with variables to affect the music. For instance, that Super Mario World track had the Yoshi beat...which you wouldn't hear if you weren't riding on Yoshi.
jevansturner 1 year ago
ipod + SNES player = an I-tendo :D
sergiocl91 2 years ago 4
can you try to convert a mp3 song to the snes format and then run it on the snes sounchip, i wonder how it sounds will like o n snes.
thanks
johneymute 2 years ago
wow u have windows 98 that was k
piedimont 2 years ago
it was running on VMWare Player.
GhostSonic 1 year ago
Holy crap I want one so bad. I have all just about everything needed too. I just have no idea where to get started on such a thing. Has anyone else tried to make this or something similar?
Clifurd 2 years ago
Oh, wow is that awesome. I actually have a torn apart SNES at the moment that is missing the pin connector but I have the sound card, If only I had any Idea how to put it to use.
Clifurd 2 years ago
Hook that thing up to an amp and start makin' tunes.
xXBR4D3NXx 2 years ago
I really like this project, its a fun way to get use from some older stuff.
jfa2001 2 years ago
Ony Super Nintendo/s/Super Famicoms made before 1993 have "Detachable" Sound Cards as Super Nintendo made after 93 have the Sound chip on the main motherboard. Plus I noticed pre-1993 Snes turn yellow while post 1993 SNES have better plastic that does not turn yellow.
SPS148669 2 years ago
Only some did it. An investigation showed that it was due to the flame retardant doping in the plastics.
CZroe 1 year ago
The mix of the flame retardant chemical was inconsistent, hence, some yellowed consoles, some not, some with only certain parts yellowed, etc.
CZroe 1 year ago
That's really an amazing machine.
intron9 2 years ago 2
I'd buy this instead of an ipod.
ggamer77 2 years ago 19
Don't get me wrong man..I can see what you have there represents alot of hardwork and time.
My ipod comment was stupid I apologize..
I am trying to think of the right thing to say to get my point across with this invention but i just can't invent the paragraph to do it without sounding mean.
I love video game music.
I love this box you made I just think its redundant.
Nervejunktion 2 years ago
Whats the name if the last song??!?!Please anyone tell me!!
deinalovesedward 2 years ago
@deinalovesedward It's Dark Jungle from Jurassic Park 2. Both JP1 & 2 have great music thanks to Dave Evans & John Dunn!
Some of my favorites:
Plok, Spider-Man Vs X-men, Equinox, Rock 'N Roll Racing - Tim Follin
Super Adventure Island, Actraiser 1&2 - Yuzo Koshiro
Mario World, Zelda, Yoshi's Island - Koji Kondo
Final Fantasy (all), Chrono Trigger - Nobuo Uematsu
Donkey Kong Country 1,2,3 - Dave Wise
Super Metroid, Demon's Crest, Zombies AMN, Contra III, Lion King, Top Gear 2, Mario Kart...
videogameobsession 1 year ago
Hi, I have been looking for a program that allows you convert spc (snes music files) to Mod, s3m, xm o it.
The only thing I found on the web, is spc2mid, but it sucks. I do not.
Any type tracker format is appropriate for spc file conversion. The problem is that I can not find any program that allows the conversion
I hope you can give me a hand. Thank you.
Greetings ;-)
Juliantube3 2 years ago
The program you are looking for is called OpenSpc or OpenSpc lite. It works great and converts to the IT mod format. They have builds for Linux and windows/dos.
matts2007 2 years ago
Thanks man, is what I was looking for.
Excellent! greetings ;-)
Juliantube3 2 years ago
Very cool man, this is VERY COOL. I'm eyeing my Snes and it is shrinking back into the closet...
TasuLife 2 years ago
Comment removed
johneymute 2 years ago
thats so cool :P
stanthecanadianman 2 years ago
okay, now I want that!
kusanagiclone 2 years ago
Windows 98? Lolz! Your Operating system is Dead lolz :) But still awesome :P
vashthestampid 2 years ago
Yeah but as he stated in the video he uses it under VMware to have direct access to the Parallel Port (LP1). Newer OS:es like XP and Vista are kinda blocking low level communication like that.
majahemma 2 years ago
Hes running it as a virtual machine in VMware
DarkPlagueStudios 2 years ago
Neato. Nice job with that.
1. SMW - Overworld+Yoshi
2. ???
3. DKC map
4. Same as 2
Samail666 2 years ago
??? = Jurassic Park 2 - Dark Jungle
I had to find out myself.
matts2007 2 years ago
Haha, that is just amazing! ^^
Julitrexx 2 years ago
LOL, a SNESPod. I like it. So that piece must be the sound card for the SNES, I was wondering what that was. I've taken apart somewhere around 100-150 SNESs and some don't have that piece in them.
hydrolisk1792 2 years ago
the older models have them in them. the lighter/smaller mobo newer revisions don't. simple as that. (it's integrated in the newer versions)
spiritro06 2 years ago
have you makes this?
Xp not good at parallel ports no, big shame!
Madcr0ws 2 years ago
Do you know if it's possible to take the samples out of the .spc so I can use them in a sample tracker?
velomicro 2 years ago
There is a utility on zophar that will allow you to rip sample data from SNES roms. It tried it and it worked great. I used that for my Mortal Kombat video.
matts2007 2 years ago
What is it called? I've been looking on zophar as well
chrisstorvik 2 years ago
Use the program called OpenSPC Lite, it will convert the SPC file to an IT module, then you can rip the samples with a decent tracker, I use ModPlug.
HarryMatic 2 years ago
Man, I'd love to have one of these but for NES NSF files.
NESMASTER14 2 years ago
You can buy a PowerPak and load .nsf files onto that and play it off the actual NES. ;)
velomicro 2 years ago
that is wiked awsome! make a video of your favorite videogame music! please!!
ivantopito 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
If you hear your music from the street, your player fell down to the street.
TicTacTraLaLa 2 years ago
Cool, can I get that in something like an Ipod size?
marscaleb 2 years ago
Where can I get that?
AlucardMorgurth 2 years ago
Ebay Item # 200310180372 - Some assembly and additional parts required. See vid description.
matts2007 2 years ago
Yeahh but I want to buy your box not the chip LOL!!! I don't know anything about electronics hahaha I just wanna have my own mpc-Ipod XD
AlucardMorgurth 2 years ago
SPC not MPC, duh. MPC = Akai Sampler, SPC = Sony SPC700 processor instructions and sample data.
KitsuneDarkStalker 2 years ago
Yes, I know all my snes music is in SPC format, I just don't know what the hell I was thinking when I wrote it LOL!!!
AlucardMorgurth 2 years ago
oh, ok my bad. Sorry! :3
KitsuneDarkStalker 2 years ago
This is cool.
Jayfeather113 2 years ago
That's way cool!
xiquiripat 2 years ago
before you connected this to your stereo at the end, what were you using for sound? does it have a built in speaker?
ThisIs2009 2 years ago
I held ear-buds up to the camera mic.
matts2007 2 years ago
yeah i realise that now :) this rocks!!! you posted this vid in early 2008, which is when I got my SNES :D
ThisIs2009 2 years ago
Super mario world: here we go! =P
Kevinskie555 2 years ago
here we go! WITH! yoshi
anonimato94 2 years ago
SNESpod
or
iSNES
YoshiFan501 2 years ago 2
wonderful! hardware is so much better then software!
impoliterobot 2 years ago
Awesome creation man!
KeeperCloud 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
very cool but completely useless
miwaro12 2 years ago
the new ipod
Ongbok06 2 years ago 3
really cool man!
sharpazn 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
dude just go buy a ipod
GuitarHeroWeirdo 3 years ago
Nintendo should make their own music player.. like microsoft , ipod , and all those other mp3 players....
like an mp3 player that can play spc , n64 audio , and all other nintendo audio as well as mp3s.
alexross8 3 years ago 3
They should, send them the idea, many people these days like the old classic music!
KeeperCloud 2 years ago
OMG.... i should do teaser art , that would be soooo cool!
alexross8 2 years ago
watch?v=Et0MPHvg2aE&feature=channel_page
^nintendo mp3 player art
alexross8 2 years ago
that would be so cool!
ThisIs2009 2 years ago
Imagine how awesome it would be to write your own spcs with something like xmsnes and then load them onto one of these. You could write beats and use it as a drum machine in a live setting, you could put external effects on it...
It would definitely be easier just to convert any spc files to wavs and mess with them in some other program though.
ChimichangaCongo 3 years ago
awesome xD
XiomaraCarebear 3 years ago
what kind of port is that why are you running windows 98?
seroyer2 3 years ago
This is using a parallel port. I'm emulating windows 98 under VMWare so the audio loader program can, in a way, have direct access to the parallel port.
matts2007 3 years ago
im tring to make a ps2/pc but it bareley fits the motherboard what about the gutts? and do you know where they sell the power on button?
roxasnobody9 3 years ago
holy shit
AZURE8BIT 3 years ago
is a little big for a ipod :P
XxD3MONULxX 3 years ago
yup and you'd defintely et laughed at if you walked around with it.
mannys94 3 years ago
Is there any way you can build me one or give me instructions on how to build one of these myself, I am very interested in this.
yeeheehawee 3 years ago
Most of what you need is in the video description.
matts2007 3 years ago
fucking awesome.
postalblowfish7 3 years ago 4
I have 2 super famicoms and one us snes. I opened the broken famicom and it had the silver sound card but the US super nintendo when I opened it it had a fwew chips but no seperate sound card.
SPS148669 3 years ago
good job but i'm sure they don't let you take this thing on board :-)
sron3dfx 3 years ago
What game was the third song from? I can't figure it out.
Vegetable4 3 years ago
donkey kong country
SamusFan64 3 years ago
Looks awesome, but could you make a proper comparison between this and listening in windows with plugins?
Alianger 3 years ago
With the spdif output I added, the audio coming from this unit is a perfect representation of the original music. With emulation (Winamp plug-ins) you can actually improve the quality by using better interpolation algorithms and sampling rates. Emulation can cheat in a way, but is not truly original.
matts2007 3 years ago
I see, interesting. I always thought it was the other way around.
Alianger 3 years ago
It used to be like that in the early days of SNES emulation, so your not all wrong
A good example is the wind sound effect you can hear in some Squaresoft games, on the first SNES emulators it sounded all garbled and horrid, now that (almost) all the little bugs have been fixed we can emulate BETTER then the SNES could.
Now the focus is more drifting to 5th gen consoles such as the PS1 and N64. Yay for retro Gaming!
Owen7Miller 3 years ago
is it possible to use this as a synth?
THE7thHAND 3 years ago
Yes, and someone should make it.
CarlOlav 3 years ago 2
Now if it was possible, the cool idea would be to make it compatible with a MIDI keyboard and be able to use it as a sound module
hookahschwa 3 years ago
cool, u are a genius XD
I like hardware stuff, someday i will try to do one SPC Player too.
endoedgar 3 years ago
Great job! I will be building one for myself.
Have you had any luck converting MOD (.xm) files to .spc files. I have tried using ekids program and I have failed many times to produce a working SPC. I plan on composing my own tunes and then dumping them to the SPC audio box.
I appreciate any suggestions because I would really love to make this work. I plan on posting my research on the net for everyone.
4bithero 3 years ago
I would put the app programs and the files to be converted in C:\spc. Next, go to Start menu > Run > then type "cmd" > type "cd\spc" > type "xm2snes -b -d (filename.xm)" That should do it; you must be aware that the mod or xm file must be small enough to be converted (as well as no more than 8 channels).
matts2007 3 years ago
Thanks for the response. I have kept the .xm size below 57Kb with 8 channels. I am wondering if running this in XP is causing the problem. My Win98 box died a couple of years ago, so all I have is XP. I use FASTRACKER 2 in DOSbox .072. What OS are you using for your conversions?
4bithero 3 years ago
I'm using XP. So it successfully produces a spc file, but it's unusable?
matts2007 3 years ago
It's strange. It creates the spc file, but the spc will not play in any spc players. I have tried quite a few players.
I have been pulling instrument samples from actual snes game roms. Then I load the samples into Fastracker2. The results have been great. But I just can't seem to create a working spc file. I feel like I am so close to getting this to work.
4bithero 3 years ago
so does the music never end like in the actual game, or does it act like a wave file and have a time limit, nice radio by the way
DrClay999 3 years ago
Yes, the music will loop indefinitely unless the instructions in the audio dump tells it to stop at a specific point.
matts2007 3 years ago
Well someone got bored...but I guess it looks and works good.
Also I'm looking to mod my Gameboy Advance to play Mp3s off of a built in memory stick. So if you have any advice, please contact me about it.
bloodynuggets 3 years ago
Someone should really sell these things.
I want one. O.O
saiyoucho 3 years ago
After I built this, I noticed that caitsith2 now sells a kit! Look him up in Google, go to his web site, go under SNES hardware page, then SNES APU, and you can purchase at the bottom of the page. It was kind of fun to build it though.
matts2007 3 years ago
Thanks. I'll check it out. =)
Even though it may be hard to build one seeing how I've never soldered anything before. >_>
saiyoucho 3 years ago
snesPod!
BeamerM3sRule 3 years ago 4
wouldnt it just be the same to find the song on the computer...and just play it?
sora887665 3 years ago
nice job man :)
laserbeak43 3 years ago
It looks like you constructed it out of a Game Boy. I could be wrong, though.
Super Mario World and Donkey Kong Country, but I couldn't place the second song...
But so cool!
twrex1989 3 years ago
I've always wanted one of those, but I want an NES version!
NESMASTER14 3 years ago
I'll take 10.
JediMasterMario 3 years ago
nice learning project but impractical! :P
leonheart00 3 years ago
SUPER MARIO WORLD!! yyea!
halferuga 3 years ago
....or you could just download the song files onto your mp3 player. CRAZY IDEA!!
jptrgoddess 3 years ago
Or you could , you know, MAKE something in your miserable life ?
Perhaps one can LEARN things from such activities, instead of being a consumer whore ?
KiitahKhan 3 years ago 2
But MP3s aren't as cool and not as accurate. Girls+technology = ¬_¬
KitsuneDarkStalker 3 years ago 2
Generally, you cannot play .SPC files on an MP3 player. But, I suppose one could argue that it may be possible to convert the files to MP3. But either way, the produced sound is not entirely accurate to the SPU in the SNES. Thus, is why one would want to create such a device. And it's just plain cool to make such a project.
Z3r0w 3 years ago
But you can convert SPC files to MP3. I've done it and the music is still original and accurate when converted to MP3. You just need winamp and the SPC input plug-in to convert it to MP3.
Shoryuken612 3 years ago
In all honesty, I installed RockBox on my MP3 player, and it has this great plug-in to play SPCs, and they sound good to me. I really wasn't expecting that feature, and it thoroughly surprised me. But of course, as you said, they could just as easily be converted to MP3. Either way, the music sounds Okay to me.
Z3r0w 3 years ago
What is the name of this plug in because i can't find it on Winamp's website (maybe i'm retarded) but im really trying to put a beat on one of the songs from Vortex and i really want to know.
mercurymixer 3 years ago
That is so cool! I have to make one of these!
Inuyashathe3rd 3 years ago
THATS SWEET! I have 2 SNES systems. One has that box in it and the other is a later model that doesn't. Does anyone know if there is any noticeable sound quality difference between the old and new models?
MN12BIRD 3 years ago
From what I know, it uses the same hardware. The only difference is that the newer one is integrated into the board; however, I never compared two units with good speakers / headphones.
matts2007 3 years ago
There doesn't seem to be a download available on the XM2SNES site you linked; or did I miss something?
majutsukai 3 years ago
Once you click on the link, click the "FILES" menu to the left. Next, click on "XMSNES binaries."
matts2007 3 years ago
So needless yet so awesome.
RichoRosai 3 years ago
if there were a tracker program or something that made .spc files it could totally be used to make SNES chiptunes!
goose510 3 years ago
Amazingly, there is! Just use your favorite mod tracker that can create .xm, .s3m, .mod, etc. Then simply convert it to .spc using the XM2SNES utility: Check it out in the video description to the right.
matts2007 3 years ago
um, HOW do you use that program!!?? when i drag the xm to the exe, it gives me an xms file.
Kargaroc286 3 years ago
To use the converter program you must run it through the command line. Copy xm2snes program files and the .xm file to a folder named "SPC" in the C:\ drive. Go to start > run > type "cmd" > type "cd\spc" > type "xm2snes -b -d (name).xm." Should output .spc version! If file is too big, you must modify it. Also ur limited to 8 channels.
matts2007 3 years ago
OMG......DUDE U RULE!!
Can you use it as a sound modular?Use MIDI Keyboard to control it,just like a synthesizer?Or can the emulator snesapu.dll be used as a VSTi?When I tried this,failed......Thank you for your brilliant work to make my mouth open^_^
chineseroller 3 years ago
That would be awesome. But the system currently works by playing back pre-recorded mod-based music. You want to manipulate a set of sound samples? These vary from song to song. The easiest way to do this is to extract the samples from a rom file and make a midi soundfont out of it. This has already been done at Zophar's domain. Check out the soundfonts others have already made; they're cool. A utility called Snessor can rip samples from SNES roms. (at Zophar's domain) so u can make ur own.
matts2007 3 years ago
Thank you so much for your information!!I'll try it now!!Thank you!!Language can't express my emotion!!
chineseroller 3 years ago
DUDE! thats nice...but why donkey kong? anyways
whts that last song? lol u did good...u should be an inventor of something..(O.O)
sailorlove587 3 years ago
Amazing. Would you record some footage of it playing back the music from the game "Deae Tonosama Appare Ichiban"?
Great work.
dusthillguy 3 years ago
I'm working on a new version of it, I probably will then. Have a specific song in mind?
matts2007 3 years ago
Oh, yes! Absolutely. I really like the Title music, and also "Big Enemy 1", and "Arabian Abura". Any one of those songs would be great to hear playing on the SNES music box.
Thanks very much!
dusthillguy 3 years ago
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
benjaminshinobi 3 years ago
Cool, but I dont really understand the point.
GamersLife 3 years ago
Do you think it's possible to configure this somehow to work as a guitar effect box?!
mrgrim333 3 years ago
you can get a RCA to 1/4" jack cable, plug the RCA end into the SNES music box, plug the Jack into the pedal and the connect the pedal to an amp with a jack-to-jack cable.
Fernoe 3 years ago
man you screwed up your SNES just for that piece of crap?, its A LOT easier convert SPC files to MP3 and burn some cd's
MT12XD 3 years ago
First off, I didn't mess up anything or loose any money for the project. I bought a batch of three snes units claimed to be broken on ebay. I resold one working one and got all my money back.
There is a significant difference between the emulated spc files and the authentic synthetic audio. It's also neat that a computer can send the data like the snes would.
Why would I just listen to snes music on a cd?
matts2007 3 years ago
can you mod it for USB? there's alot of us who don't have parallel ports on our comps
Kargaroc286 3 years ago
I wish. If it were possible, special hardware would have to be involved. Perhaps one of those USB to parallel converter cables? Or maybe something like a port replicator to get a parallel port. Win 98 would still have to be used. Authentically using USB would require a dramatic change in hardware and software. (I'm neither a software writer nor an electrical engineer).
matts2007 3 years ago
this is obscenely awesome
somerandomvideo 3 years ago
that is awesome
Nateconq 3 years ago
Hi Guys!
First, big-ups to matts2007 for building this neat little box! I also build me one, but with the SPDIF mod.
And second, *please* anybody, program a gui tool to upload the spc files into the apu! I've tried many tools, but it would be super-sweet to have a winamp plugin that sends the file to the lpt.
Would be great, if anybody challenge this problem :-)
*peace* Slash
SlashKatana1979 3 years ago
The SPDIF mod would be awesome. I'll have to look into this and upgrade mine :)
I would like to get it to work with XMPlay or Winamp, but I don't thank anyone created it. There has been one out for Linux: (see project site in "about this video") In the "Origional site" has a GUI unloader tool, but I find it easer to associate the spc files in windows to a command line uploader tool. It's the closest thing I could get to a play list.
matts2007 3 years ago
Nice.
The Sony sound module there is definitely from a 1st generation SNES as later revisions have the module integrated with the mainboard.
Watcher3223 3 years ago
your rock matts2007, build a device that sends music down a laser. You'll be making millions with the goverment.
Totalyvaporized 4 years ago
Thanks for the information! I started using XMPlay with the plugin ALPHA-II SPC Player v3.2 (x86) and has given me very good results. The sound is incredible and is more easy to use than KuroNeko SPC, but the latest version of this program has some interesting features...
saintpauloayu 4 years ago
Woooow! this is a Jewel! But I use a program callde "KuroNeko SPC" that can read all SPC data from Snes9x and ZSnes emulators. You only must save the song inthe game that like you an then open the spc file with this program, is very easy to use. And if you like it, you can record (with this program) the spc file into WAV files in 48000 Hz with an amplify x8. Then you can use any program to transform wav files in MP3, wma, ogg, etc.
saintpauloayu 4 years ago
Neat! I've seen many cool spc programs floating around. Personally, I use the Alpha-II Winamp Plugin with XMPlay (better than winamp). It is very accurate, has a high sampling rate, and great sounding interpolation. XMPlay lets me play many other formats without using other programs; it also allows for me to dump the audio directly to wav, mp3, and ogg without converting.
matts2007 4 years ago
There are many other cool ones too. One can show the stats of each channel (ie, audio envelopes, note pitch, volume, etc). Another can show the status of the 64K of ram while playing! It shows the ram allocation in a block-view. I'll have to dig up the program names...
matts2007 4 years ago
Comment removed
johneymute 4 years ago