Hardware ROM Hack Nintendo DS sound drivers

[IgoreshaZhu]

Good evening! I'm looking for some kind of specialist here who is better versed in DS sound drivers. This is needs for unfinished list in VGMPF.

This list was started by Duc Nguyen because of his own obsession. In early version of his list he wrote all sorts of lies there, which I had to eliminate.

I'm know only Nitro Composer by Nintendo, DSX Sound Engine by Shin'en Multimedia, which mostly used by Manfred Linzner and Martin Schioeler, and sound driver by Engine Software which mostly used in games by 1st Playable Productions and games which composed by Bart Roijmans. Later i found sound driver by Logik State, which mostly used by Allister Brimble and Anthony Putson (sound driver was mentioned in credits of "Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed") and sound driver, that used in games by Ubisoft Casablanca (King Kong, Prince of Persia, Star Wars: Lethal Alliance and Rabbids series).

I'm also believe that some games used Krawall-based sound driver, especially games by Amaze Entertainment and Monster Tale, due music was composed in Impulse Tracker. Also, MusyX-based sound driver, which used in games developed by Independent Arts, Denaris and Helixe.

I will be glad if someone helps me with this.

 

[IgoreshaZhu]

Finally I'm talked with developer of Krawall GBA Driver (Sebastian Kienzl), he said, that they started developing similar sound driver for the DS but realized that Nintendo won't allow Custom-Software on the Co-Processor.

 

[CrispyYoshi]

Unsure how relevant this is, but I think I should spread awareness of it: There is a PC-based music tracker called Furnace that not only supports NDS, but it also supports GBA. It is emulated very accurately; however, it does not currently have an actual driver to export to. This could either change in the future, or be hooked to a driver, if a new one were to ever be developed.

Furnace is a very popular choice among chiptune composers nowadays, because it has a very good GUI, is cross-platform, and supports many chips (HUGE list, definitely check out the list on the Github readme) including some that have never had proper trackers before, like SNES, GBA, and Virtual Boy.

 

[IgoreshaZhu]

Here's unfinished list of sound drivers. Some sound drivers and unknown and some lies are there.

Sometimes i update this list.

 

[IgoreshaZhu]

Yesterday, Ian Stocker is answered me that he had written tools to convert IT to S3M format for use in Krawall, and modified these tools to convert IT format into the native DS format directly.

 

[IgoreshaZhu]

Now i checking some Nitro Composer games used CyberBotX's NDStoNCSF tool and NDS Header Tool. Later i found that last Shin'en games used sdat files, not dsxe. I mean, in Barbie and the Three Musketeers and Aliens: Infestation.

Also, vgmid must have support of DS roms and new config file to find signatures of Engine Software and Logic State sound drivers.

 

[IgoreshaZhu]

Also I'm used EPFExplorer for checking games, which uses Engine Software. Also I found, that games, which uses Logik State sound driver, uses .ls files.

 

[IgoreshaZhu]

I'm need help with DSX, Engine Software and Logik State sound drivers. I'm found that DSX by Shin'en used only in 32 games (or 33 including demo version of Anaka, but it unconfirmed). Maybe there's missed some games.

Also I'm looking for other games that uses music.bin files (Engine Software) and .ls files (Logik State).

 

[IgoreshaZhu]

Here's updated list

 

[IgoreshaZhu]

Here's new updated list from VGMPF:

Post automatically merged: Oct 18, 2024

As you see, I'm still needs help. As i said, i checked Nitro Composer using CyberBotX's NDStoNCSF tool. I checked Shin'en and Logic State using NDSHeaderTool. I ripped some Engine Software games using EPFExplorer. But this is not enough for full confirmation.

I'm hope that birdmanager6 (or someone) create config file of Nintendo DS games for vgmid program. I need it for checking some games, which i missed.

 

[IgoreshaZhu]

Now i think that nobody cares about DS sound drivers. I'm outta here!

 

[IgoreshaZhu]

Finally i finished research of DS drivers, but i ignored some games for kids and with unknown file formats. Sound drivers, that used in games by A2M, Amaze Entertainment (early games), Barking Lizards, Magic Pockets and Vicarious Visions are still doesn't identified. Most of games with streamed music is moved to Nitro Composer section, as well as DSX by Shin'en, LS_Play by Logik State and sound driver by Ubisoft Casablanca, since these drivers are branches of Nitro Composer.

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

Here's better link to list: https://vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Nintendo_DS_sound_drivers

Post automatically merged: Feb 17, 2025

I'm also interested, did loose STRM and SWAV files are extracted version of Nitro Composer sound driver?

Same goes with one Golgo 13 game and Journey to the Centre of the Earth, which uses loose SSEQ files.

Afaik, most of Nitro games uses SDAT files, but some games uses extracted Nitro Composer file formats, which i mentioned.