MagicEngine

[Specineff]

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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Proud owner of a Dreamcast, Saturn, Turbo Duo and a registered version of ME since 2002.

[Squaresoft74]

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

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.

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.

[Tomaitheous]

[nodtveidt]

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.
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Frozen Utopia
Retro gaming was never this cool.

[Tomaitheous]

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]

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.
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Proud owner of a Dreamcast, Saturn, Turbo Duo and a registered version of ME since 2002.

[Dalvin]

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?

[Dalvin]

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.

[Paranoia Dragon]

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
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Sentience is the right of all freedom beings?

[Tomaitheous]

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

Davlin: That great. See, it's pretty easy
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www.pcedev.net

[Paranoia Dragon]

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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Sentience is the right of all freedom beings?

[Areios74]

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!

[Specineff]

This is just about the CD tracks. Hacking the PSG music requires messing with the game's code.
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Proud owner of a Dreamcast, Saturn, Turbo Duo and a registered version of ME since 2002.