User:Freem/Sound Drivers

Mainspace pages of interest: Sound driver, Sound drivers list, YM2610, YM2610 registers, Z80/YM2610 interface, 68k/Z80 communication

Driver Overview

The primary source of sound drivers was SNK. Most third parties stuck to using the MAKOTO series (and the Mr.NORIC driver on CD). ADK created their own in-house sound driver as well.

SNK

SNK had multiple sound drivers, starting with one labeled "Mr.Pac", and ending with "Sound Driver(ROM)Ver 1.9".

Mr.Pac

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/Mr.Pac

The original sound driver.

• "Ver 1.5b by Mr.Pac h Ber.02/01/08" – Used in the BIOS M1 driver, as well as the first four released games (NAM-1975, Baseball Stars Professional, Top Player's Golf, and Mahjong Kyoretsuden).
  • Date: Heisei 2 (1990) January 8th
• "Ver 2.0 by Mr.Pac h Ber.02/02/14" – Used in games from 1990 (starting with Riding Hero) to 1998 (Blazing Star).
  • Date: Heisei 2 (1990) February 14th

MAKOTO

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/MAKOTO

MAKOTO appears to be an evolution of the Mr.Pac driver, as its first appearance is marked "Ver 2.0a".

• "Ver 2.0a by MAKOTO.03/04/05 to SK" – Used in games from 1992 (starting with Mutation Nation) to 1995 (Goal! Goal! Goal!).
  • Date: Heisei 3 (1991) April 5th
• "Ver 3.0 by MAKOTO.04/03/10 to SK" - Used in games from 1992 (starting with King of the Monsters 2) to 2001 (Jockey Grandprix, encrypted). Also found in the Neo-Geo CDZ BIOS.
  • Date: Heisei 4 (1992) March 10th
• "Ver 3.2 by MAKOTO.97/06/01 to SK" – Found in the Samurai Spirits RPG Neo-Geo CD game.
• "Ver 8.3 by MAKOTO.98/05/07 to SK" – Found in later games, from 1998 (Neo Geo Cup '98) to 1999 (Prehistoric Isle 2).

Mr.Noric

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/Mr.Noric

• "Ver 3.0 by Mr.Noric.1993/11/10 14:00" – Sound driver found in most CD games. Also found in the Neo-Geo CD (front and top loader) BIOS.

Sound Driver (1995-2000)

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/To SNK

• "Sound Driver Ver 0.0 95/08/11 To SNK" – Found in Kizuna Encounter/Fu'un Super Tag Battle (1996).
• "Sound Driver Ver 0.1 96/07/03 To SNK" – Found in King of Fighters '96 (cart versions).
• "Sound Driver Ver 1.0 96/08/09 To SNK" – First appearance on cart: Super Sidekicks 4 (1996); First appearance on CD: King of Fighters '96 (1996)
• "Sound Driver Ver 1.1 96/10/01 To SNK" – First appearance on cart: Real Bout Fatal Fury Special (1996)
• "Sound Driver(CD) Ver 1.2 97/08/08 To SNK " – First version of the driver to make a distinction between cart and CD.
• "Sound Driver(ROM)Ver 1.3 97/08/08 To SNK" and "Sound Driver(CD) Ver 1.3 97/08/08 To SNK"
• "Sound Driver(ROM)Ver 1.6 97/12/08 To SNK" and "Sound Driver(CD) Ver 1.6 97/12/08 To SNK" – Real Bout Fatal Fury 2
• "Sound Driver(ROM)Ver 1.7 98/06/16 To SNK" and "Sound Driver(CD) Ver 1.7 98/06/16 To SNK"
• "Sound Driver(ROM)Ver 1.8 98/10/28 To SNK" and "Sound Driver(CD) Ver 1.8 99/01/07 To SNK" – The Last Blade 2
• "Sound Driver(ROM)Ver 1.8 99/08/04 To SNK" – First appearance on cart: Garou: Mark of the Wolves
• "Sound Driver(ROM)Ver 1.9 00/03/22 To SNK" – First sound driver to be encrypted (2000, before SNK's demise)

ADK

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/ADK

ADK's sound driver was the work of M.Chiba (credited as "M.C" in later versions) between 1990 and 1996. There are a number of drivers missing from this list, especially CD games.

• "Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 1.2 (c) Copyright ALPHA DENSHI Co., Ltd. 1990 / February / 18 by M.Chiba" – Magician Lord (cart)
• "Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 2.2 (c) Copyright ALPHA DENSHI Co., Ltd. 1990 / June / 18 by M.Chiba" – Ninja Combat (cart)
• "Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 3.5 (c) Copyright ALPHA DENSHI Co., Ltd. 1990 / Novenber / 1 RG by M.Chiba" – Blue's Journey/Raguy (cart)
• "Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 6.4 (c) Copyright ALPHA DENSHI Co., Ltd. 1991 / March / 14 by M.C" – Crossed Swords (cart)
• "Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 6.5 (c) Copyright ALPHA DENSHI Co., Ltd. 1991 / July / 5 by M.C" – Thrash Rally (cart)
• "Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 7.3 (c) Copyright ALPHA DENSHI Co., Ltd. December 3 ,1991 by M.C" – Ninja Commando (cart)
• "Window & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.4 (c) Copyright ALPHA DENSHI Co., Ltd. July 18 ,1992 by M.C" – World Heroes (cart)
• "Window & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.5 (c) Copyright ALPHA DENSHI Co., Ltd. November 17 ,1992 by M.C" – World Heroes 2 (cart)
• "Window & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.8A (c) Copyright ADK Corporation February 4, 1994 by M.C" – World Heroes 2 Jet (cart)
• "Window & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.7.8 (c) Copyright ADK Corporation July 2, 1994 by M.C" – Aggressors of Dark Kombat (cart)
• "CD-DA & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.8.3A (c) Copyright ADK Corporation August 2, 1994 by M.C" – Magician Lord (CD)
• "CD-DA & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.8.3SR (c) Copyright ADK Corporation August 25, 1994 by M.C (^_^)" – Rally Chase (CD)
• "CD-DA & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.8.4 (c) Copyright ADK Corporation August 25, 1994 by M.C" – Ninja Combat, Blue's Journey/Raguy, Crossed Swords, World Heroes (CD)
• "CD-DA & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.8.7 (c) Copyright ADK Corporation March 18 , 1995 by M.C" – Shogi no Tatsujin/Master of Shogi (cart)
• "CD-DA & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.8.7 (c) Copyright ADK Corporation May 11 ,1995 by M.C" – World Heroes Perfect (cart), Shogi no Tatsujin/Master of Shogi (CD)
• "CD-DA & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.8.7A (c) Copyright ADK Corporation April 13 , 1995 by M.C" – Crossed Swords II (CD)
• "CD-DA & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.8.7A (c) Copyright ADK Corporation September 26, 1995 by M.C (^_^)" – ADK World (CD)
• "CD-DA & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.8.9 (c) Copyright ADK Corporation December 4, 1995 by M.C (^_^)" – Zintrick (CD), Over Top, Ninja Master's (cart)
• "CD-DA & Operation System Program for Music & Effective Sound Ver. 8.8.11 (c) Copyright ADK Corporation June 11, 1996 by M.C" – Twinkle Star Sprites (cart)

Third Party

Various third party developers came up with their own sound drivers.

Data East

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/Data East

Data East used their custom driver in most of their games:

• Windjammers/Flying Power Disc
• Fighters History Dynamite/Karnov's Revenge
• Street Hoop/Dunk Dream
• Magical Drop 2
• Ghostlop

Face

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/Face

Face's custom driver was only used in Gururin. However, it was stolen for Diggerman.

Video System

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/Video System

Video System's custom driver, apparently coded by Masami Yamana.

• Power Spikes 2
• Sonic Wings 2, Sonic Wings 3
• Mahjong Final Romance 2
• Pop 'N Bounce/Gapporin

Between the SYSTEM and PROGRAM strings is a Shift-JIS encoded string (replicated here in UTF-8): ﾋｭｰﾏﾝ･ｸﾘｴｲﾃｨﾌﾞ･ｽｸｰﾙ 2ｷｾｲ ﾔﾏﾅﾏｻﾐ

(A rough, incomplete translation: "Human Creative School 2[kisei] Yamana Masami")

Nazca

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/Nazca

Nazca's custom driver. ABANDON HOPE, ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE :D

• Neo Turf Masters
• Metal Slug 1/2/X (unmarked)
• Metal Slug 3 ("A33-2316&OhButch2000-03-17 10:21Master Version")

Technos

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/Technos

Robert C. Ashworth's custom sound driver for Technos Japan's games. YOROSHIKU NE!!

• "SDC SYSTEM NGS-CD DRIVER V1.0 BY BOB" – Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer (CD)
• "SDC_NGSS 0x0100 RCA" – Double Dragon (Cart)
• "SDC SYSTEM NGS-CD DRIVER V1.0 BY BOB" – Double Dragon (CD)
• "SDC_NGSS 0x0101 RCA" – Super Dodge Ball (Cart)

Tecmo

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/Tecmo

"TECMO" – Tecmo World Soccer '96 driver, one of my least favorites to deal with (aside from Nazca's driver).

Psikyo

More Information: User:Freem/Sound Drivers/Psikyo

Psikyo custom driver, only used in Strikers 1945 Plus.

Homebrew

These are just a few of the known homebrew sound drivers.

• "Le Cortex PCM sound driver v1.02 / L+F (^v^)" – Crouching Pony Hidden Dragon (demo)
• "NGCD Z80 DRIVER (C) BY TIMM HELLWIG V0.19 22/07/03" – Last Hope (CD beta)
• "FURRTEK'S NG SOUND DRIVER V0.12" – Used in Nyan Cat demo, Astrosmash
• "Neobitz M1" – Used in Knight's Chance, Santaball, Time's Up!, and others; output typically emitted by Neo Sound Builder
• "NEO-GEO ADPCM Sound Driver" – Used in various cartoon intros
• "STSOUND" – Used in Leonard's Neo-Geo 3D demo
• MVSTracker driver (does not work on hardware without modification)
• (various) – my own sound drivers, which are really incomplete.