Genesis/Megadrive music rip project!

[Dimitri]

Ah, we've finally gotten the first part of our project complete and open to the public. Behold!

http://project2612.bandwidthmonkey.net

Project2612 is a project with the goal of ripping and distributing Genesis/Megadrive game soundtracks in the VGM format. We've already gotten 75 complete soundtracks up for download...if you're into game music (particularly that which can't be purchased on CD -- very few MD soundtracks were ever published!) then I invite you to check it out sometime. We're looking for more rippers, and especially taggers.

The VGM format is useful for a wide variety of systems, but we're concentrating soley on MD rips. The sound quality is VASTLY superior to the existing GYM format, and they've also got proper looping. Check out the site for more info...

Now hopefully this won't get locked for copyright or spam reasons. I've been working on this with my friend for almost a year now and I'm ecstatic that we've finally launched... :)

[thegreatescape]

Very nice! Im listening to the rocket Knight soundtrack right now, and I made it the highest ranked soundtrack too :D
As much as I'd like to, Im probably too busy to help with ripping/tagging, but I can put a link on my site, which hopefully gets you a visitor or two. gl guys!

[Bratwurst]

If you could rip the music from McDonald's Treasureland Adventure and Bio Hazard Battle, my life would be complete.

[Flack]

How difficult is it to rip the soundtracks out of the games? Just curious.

[Rabid Peanut-Butter]

Awesomeness!!!!

[Ed Oscuro]

I've never really tried out the VGM format, as I prefer to have system-specific formats. However...

- Vastly superior file size (looks to be 1/20 the size of RARed GYM archives)
- Better sound quality (I'll take your word for this, it can't be worse)
- Proper looping

That has me sold. There are some secondary considerations, however. I'm currently using a public computer, so could you give me the rundown on the status of:

- Winamp compatible tagging
- PAL/NTSC timing differences (if that comes into play)
- Enabling/disabling chips (handy feature of the Gens emulator, for example)
- CPU usage

If you DO get shut down...hell, you can always find another place to get hosted!

[chrisbid]

a lot of genesis games have sound test modes, why use these kinds of formats that only computers can play. why not just rip the audio directly from an above average stereo connection, then compress to a high quality mp3?

[Ed Oscuro]

You have no class!

You can fit a dozen VGM-style rips into the space a single MP3 would take up; VGM style rips don't necessarily use more processing power, they sound better (if the emulation is right), and sometimes you get nifty post-processing options (which I rarely use, but they're nice to have).

Besides, I'd rather be using OGG. Anybody who says MP3 is better, bit for bit, has a TIN EAR LOL

[chrisbid]

mp3 files are versitle

i have great computer speakers, but my stereo still has better sound

[Bratwurst]

a lot of genesis games have sound test modes, why use these kinds of formats that only computers can play. why not just rip the audio directly from an above average stereo connection, then compress to a high quality mp3?

NSFs, SIDs and a multitude of native sound formats bear the benefits of natural audio and smaller file sizes compared to MP3s. MP3s are good and fine for your car CD player if you want but when Winamp has plugin support there's just no reason to convert.

[Ed Oscuro]

mp3 files are versitle

i have great computer speakers, but my stereo still has better sound
If you really are THAT interested, you can always load a ROM into Genesis and do it yourself (I've done it myself for other systems where I didn't have emulation; haven't made any personal soundtrack discs though I really should to spare the wear on my bought ones). This topic was supposed to be about these Formats for those of us who like them - keep your inferior general-purpose formats out of this thread! LOL

I also would like the conversation to stay on track :D

[evildead2099]

I'd love to hear rips of music to Splatterhouse 2 and 3

[-hellvin-]

I really like the site! I've got quite a few gym soundtracks on the pc which already sound AMAZING so I'm interested in checking this out. I do have a favor to ask of any rippers:

PLEASE rip the Splatterhouse 2 soundtrack!!

One of my favorite genesis soundtracks and I can't find it ANYWHERE.

[Dimitri]

I'd love to hear rips of music to Splatterhouse 2 and 3
Both are being worked in at this moment. :)


I'm currently using a public computer, so could you give me the rundown on the status of:

- Winamp compatible tagging
- PAL/NTSC timing differences (if that comes into play)
- Enabling/disabling chips (handy feature of the Gens emulator, for example)
- CPU usage
Winamp tagging is formattable within the plugin. I think the direct transition for advanced formatting is something like:
Artist = composer
Album = game title
Title = song title

PAL/NTSC isn't really an issue. A VGM file can be played back at any frequency, and will by default play back at the speed it's recorded at.

The PSG can have individual channels turned on and off, and the YM2612 can be entirely enabled and disabled -- no per-channel settings yet, though.

CPU usage, as far as I'm aware, is quite low. It might shoot up when seeking in DAC-heavy tracks, but that's not an issue if you're gonna just stick them in your playlist anyway. :)


How difficult is it to rip the soundtracks out of the games? Just curious.
It's more intensive than GYM ripping, but I can prettymuch do it in my sleep now since I've done it so much. You basically log the entire song in an emulator, then convert the raw VGM file to a WAV, then you find the loop points in an editor like Sound Forge (easily the most difficult and time-consuming part), then finally you tag and pack the set.

Trust me when I say finding loop points takes some practice. We've had a couple rippers give up entirely while doing their first set because they couldn't get the hang of it. Been great help with tagging since, though. :)

Oh yeah, if you wanna help out or send us comments directly, check out our IRC channel.

/spam...

[rbudrick]

I've been dying for a rip of Last Battle, aka Hokuto no Ken for years. If you get a chance, pretty please? :D

-Rob

[kevin_psx]

mp3 files are versitle. i have great computer speakers, but my stereo still has better sound

HA! Connect your computer to your stereo - like I did. PC games sound beautiful on room-sized surround speakers!

Differing formats like SID, PSF, GYM are tiny. All 10,000 Commodore 64 tunes only take 200 kilobytes. Same with NES tunes. Genesis tunes are a little bigger but not much.

MP3 just wastes too much space.

[Nescollector]

Wow, big improvement over VQF. Just compared Granada (one of my favorite genesis sound tracks) and it kills it :) Like the site also, nice and clean.

Thanks for your work. The Genesis had sooo many great tunes.

[evil_genius]

I love the opening song for Raiden Trad.

[CaryMG]

Project2612 is a project with the goal of ripping and distributing Genesis/Megadrive game soundtracks in the VGM format.

YAYness !!

The "Game Over" Theme from "DeCap Attack" -- "DeCap Attack" Themes (http://project2612.bandwidthmonkey.net/pafiledb.php?action=file&id=2) -- is part of my favorite game music of all time!

But I just tried to listen to it & it didn't work.
How do I hear it?


Thanks In Advance!
:) :) :)

[Flack]

All 10,000 Commodore 64 tunes only take 200 kilobytes.

Are you sure about that? That would mean each file would only take up 20 bytes?

[suppafly]

Great work thanks!

Im enjoying the music from thunder force (lightening force) best genesis music ever....

[evildead2099]

Castlevania Bloodlines sounds great!

[kevin_psx]

All 10,000 Commodore 64 tunes only take 200 kilobytes.Are you sure about that? That would mean each file would only take up 20 bytes?

oops MEGAbytes - still a lot smaller than the MP3 versions would require for 10,000 tunes

[Melf]

Awesome stuff. I've added you to my site's links page. :)

[Elusive]

Any chance of a mega-torrent every now and then?

[CYRiX]

I want to play these in iTunes, how can I convert them to .wav or some other media.

[Nescollector]

Sony Sound Forge (just tried it, and it worked good)

One of many programs I'm sure.

[evildead2099]

In addition to Splatterhouse 2 + 3, I've another Genny request: Bram Stoker's Dracula (I consider this game's music even better than Castlevania: Bloodline's).

[rbudrick]

RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE!

Is this project still ongoing? The link is dead.

-Rob

[Gapporin]

The first link is dead, but http://www.project2612.org still works. The last update was December 28.

[rbudrick]

Thanks, Gapporin!

I see the game I requested way back when actually had its music dumped. Awesome!

-Rob

[djsquarewave]

Hey, I remember this thread! :D There's my old account, even!

Technically, it's still ongoing, but I've been busy with other things, both real life and internet. Besides, there isn't really much left worth ripping to speak of.

I've been doing some Game Gear rips for SMS Power recently, though...gotta send those to Maxim...

[Ed Oscuro]

Since this project started, I've gotten sold on the VGM plugin. It's not like some plugins from the unruly NSF world that have terrible interfaces and/or disable your HES (TG-16) plugin.

I've stopped by now and then to grab a few tunes at once, although the last time I checked Chelnov still isn't completely accurate. This makes me sad because the issue seems pretty minor. If I had any real technical expertise I'd tackle it, alas...