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Custom PCE CD soundtracks?

 
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Specineff
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:17 am    Post subject: Custom PCE CD soundtracks? Reply with quote

Hi guys. Long time no talk. I'll be brief.

I have downloaded several Sega CD games in ISO + Wav format, and put a bootable CD together using Sega Cue Maker. I have noticed this program simply creates a cue file for Nero or other programs to build the CD from. So In theory, I could place whatever music file I wanted, and order CueMaker to build a Sega CD game with my custom music.

I wonder, after reading Squaresoft74's tutorials on how to rip your games to Iso + Wav, if something similar is possible with PCE CDs. Wouldn't it be just a matter of creating the right cue file? Does the length of the tracks matter, as long as they don't exceed the total space in the CD? I'd love to create my custom mix of music for Might and Magic 3, since some of the music is just plain lame in that game. Something like Dungeon Explorer 2 would be more fitting.

Comments?
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Squaresoft74
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It can more or less easy be done, just depends if you're lucky or not. Smile

If the game loads the audio tracks using track number only and don't expect and certain length for each track, then you're lucky and you can simply put your desired tracks.
You might only pay attention that the total disc length doesn't exceed 74minutes.
You could even try 80 minutes but i honestly never gave a try to see what it would give on the real hardware, though that '"should" work.

Now if the game loads the audio tracks using harcoded offsets (ex: Dracula X) then it will be a bit harder but not impossible.
You can either bother using tracks that have the same length as the ones you're replacing but it might not give proper results as the tracks might not end/fade out the way you'd like them to.

Or you can try to find and hack the LBA references with your own values so you make the game loads the tracks from your own LBAs (matching your new game's TOC).
I did it once for fun with Dracula X and used the PSX version tracks. Cool

Below are the adresses to look at for Dracula X data track.
In this game's case it uses the time index values (not the lba ones) and they're in plain decimal (3 bytes long), so it was easy to find.
Check it against the TOC listed on Necstasy and you'll see what i mean. Very Happy

Code:

Dracula X - Hardcoded CDDA Offsets

Track01:
Start 0x00024A50 000200
End   0x00024A53 005065

Track08:
Start 0x00024A56 100535
End   0x00024A59 130360

Track09:
Start 0x00024A5C 130360
End   0x00024A5F 144728

Track17:
Start 0x00024A62 332856
End   0x00024A65 345829

Track10:
Start 0x00024A68 144728
End   0x00024A6B 172805

Track11:
Start 0x00024A6E 172805
End   0x00024A71 190958

Track12:
Start 0x00024A74 190958
End   0x00024A77 214018

Track07:
Start 0x00024A7A 090061
End   0x00024A7D 100535

Track13:
Start 0x00024A80 214018
End   0x00024A83 240769

Track03:
Start 0x00024A86 031114
End   0x00024A89 045741

Track04:
Start 0x00024A8C 045748
End   0x00024A8F 060067

Track15:
Start 0x00024A92 274751
End   0x00024A95 301310

Track16:
Start 0x00024A98 301310
End   0x00024A9B 332856

Track19:
Start 0x00024A9E 364049
End   0x00024AA1 384050

Track05:
Start 0x00024AA4 060067
End   0x00024AA7 073709

Track14:
Start 0x00024AAA 240769
End   0x00024AAD 274751

Track18:
Start 0x00024AB0 345829
End   0x00024AB3 364049

Track06:
Start 0x00024AB6 073709
End   0x00024AB9 090061

Track20:
Start 0x00024ABC 384050
End   0x00024ABF 424212

Track21:
Start 0x00024AC2 424212
End   0x00024AC5 465562


It's certainly not as easy with all games to find the references but this shows the idea for dealing with games using hardcoded offsets to load their music tracks. Wink
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Tomaitheous
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
If the game loads the audio tracks using track number only and don't expect and certain length for each track, then you're lucky and you can simply put your desired tracks.


Squaresoft74's right, some games use specific sector addressing and some games use track #'s. Lords of Thunder uses track #'s and I think Y IV does as well.

It might be easier to replace the cd_audio code to play from the begining of track # ( $20f8=decimal track # start, $20fc=decimal start track #+1, $20fb=$80, and call $E012 ), then to recalculate the sector address.

Another easy way is to replace the original tracks/waves and then run TocFixer again to turnicate the waves to the correct size. If the wave is shorter/clipped afterwards, then open it with an audio program and fade the tail end of it. If the replacement audio track is smaller then the orignial, then you can loop the song/track until it's slightly longer than the original and have TocFixer returnicate it, then fade the tail end. This is what I did for my Gates of Thunder Hack.
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nodtveidt
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Slightly off-topic: I once burned a special burn of Lords Of Thunder for the Sega CD using the Duo-version soundtracks, which I believe are far better. I called it "Lords Of Thunder Perfect". Still got it kicking around in my collection somewhere. Very Happy
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Tomaitheous
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's awesome!

I'm doing something similar. I replaced all the Sega CD tracks with the equivalent DUO tracks, hacked the track list in the DUO ISO to match the new tracks #'s, and combined the Sega CD ISO with the DUO ISO for a dual boot Lords of Thunder CD - works in the Sega CD and the Duo.
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Specineff
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the replies, guys. Tomaitheous, that's a great idea. That way I can play Might and Magic 3 using Y's 1 and 2 music, and the awesome tracks from Dungeon Explorer 2. Very Happy
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Dalvin
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What about Double Dragon II. I want to put some different music on it as well. Do you think I would have a problem in doing that?
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey, it worked out!!! I was able to put different music on the DD2 CD. The only obstacle was, matching the new tracks to fit the same time frame as the originals. I just cut the new tracks down, faded out the tracks and renamed them. Worked great!!! Now I play Double Dragon II, without being irritated by that chick screaming on the first stage.
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Paranoia Dragon
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 3:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I made a special version of Ys 3, where I used Oath in Felghana's(the recent remake of Ys 3, which actually has better music if you can believe that!) music. It's pretty incredible. Although, one thing I want to do, is add in the same basic dialogue that you hear at the begining of Ys 3, but with me doing the voice acting, rather then some old janitor like in the original version. I've already replaced the file with a new track, but gotta add in the voice. If anyone wants what I've done so far, just let me know Very Happy
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Tomaitheous
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 3:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Same here. I 've grown so accustomed to the Oath in Felghana sound track, that I perfer to listen to it instead of the original. P' Dragon, I definitely want to hear that voice over when its ready Laughing

Davlin: That great. See, it's pretty easy Wink
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Paranoia Dragon
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 4:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool, I'll have to take a lil' time soon, & do the voice then. I'm pretty much gonna say the same stuff the original guy did, but, with more feeling, & instead of saying " a demon named Demanicus", I'm gonna say "a Galbalan named Demanicus". Since he's still called Demanicus in the game, & really, he is "a" Galbalan. Even though that's actually his name in the original japanese games.
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Areios74
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 2:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello all! After lurking around on the forum for so long, I finally decided to make a reply here.

I was curious to know how this all works in regards to customizing a soundtrack for the PC-Engine games. I am interested in customizing a soundtrack for the Legend of Xanadu 1 and 2. My question is, can the PSG music be replaced as well, or just the CD tracks, and does anyone know of a tutorial I can find to help show me how to do this? I appreciate all of your help and time!

Cheers!
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Specineff
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 2:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is just about the CD tracks. Hacking the PSG music requires messing with the game's code.
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