List of Saturn games with mono sound to fix (Updated)

XeTe

XeTe

Hello everyone.

There are a number of Saturn games that have a problem with stereo sound.

In some games, the music play in mono in the gameplay, even if you select "stereo" in the menu game options. Obviously, CDDA tracks are heard in stereo when listened to with an external player.

All games tested on two Japanese Saturn consoles (MODEL1 VA0 and MODEL2 VA6)


This is an incomplete list of games. More will be added as testing progresses.

Gekirindan: The sound is always reproduced in monaural. The "mono"-"stereo" option in the menu doesn't seem to work.

Gunbird: Sound effects play in stereo but the CDDA music tracks play in mono. The PS1 version (which uses the same CD tracks) doesn't have this problem, and sounds effects+CD play in stereo.

Layer Section: Same problem for this Japanese game. However, the US release, called "Galactic Attack," doesn't have this problem, and the stereo sound works perfectly.

Chou Aniki - Kyuukyoku... Otoko no Gyakushuu: All the game's music plays in mono, regardless of whether you choose "mono" or "stereo" in the options menu. Oddly enough, the cutscenes do play in stereo. The PS1 version (which uses the same CDDA tracks) doesn't have this problem, and sounds effects+CDDA play in stereo.

The King of Fighters 96: This game includes CDDA tracks with stereo sound. There are no sound settings options in the game's menu.

Shinouken: All CDDA tracks and sounds play in mono. The game doesn't even have a mono/stereo setting option in its menu (CD tracks play in stereo if played with a CD player)

Spot Goes to Hollywood: The same problem applies to all three available regions. The PS1 version does not have this issue.

Suiko Enbu: Japanese version and USA version (known as Dark legend) has the same problem

World Heroes Perfect: The game plays CDDA tracks in mono. There are no MONO/STEREO options in the game menu.

Advanced V.G.: Another game with the same problem. The MONO/STEREO option in the menu doesn't seem to be working.

Goiken Muyou - Anarchy in the Nippon: Another fighting game that by default plays CDDA tracks in mono

Real Bout Garou Densetsu: Another fighting game that by default plays CDDA tracks in mono (no sound settings options in the game's menu).

Mortal Kombat Trilogy: Same problem in USA and European versions.

Alien Trilogy: Only the videos play in stereo. The music in the game plays in mono. This occurs in all regional versions.

Amok: The sound effects play in stereo, but the CDDA music plays in mono. The same problem occurs in all three regional versions.

Bug Too: Only the videos play in stereo. The CDDA music in the game plays in mono. All regional versions are affected

Duke Nuken 3D: The sound effects play in stereo, but the CDDA music plays in mono. Both regional versions were affected.

Powerslave: The sound effects play in stereo, but the CDDA music plays in mono. The european version (called Exhumed) have the same problem.

Tunnel B1: The sound effects play in stereo, but the CDDA music plays in mono.

Andretti Racing: The initial video and menu music (played by the SCSP sound chip) are in stereo, but once again the CDDA music tracks are heard in mono during the race.


I've seen some very competent people on these forums releasing patches that fix or improve things in Saturn games. I'd like someone with the necessary knowledge to fix the sound problem in these games. Thanks.

NOTE: If you're playing Saturn with an emulator, one solution is to use an emulator called "SSF" and enable the "CDDA force stereo" option in the sound settings tab.

PS: Sorry for my terrible English. I had to use a translator.
 
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Here are Action Replay codes to force stereo playback of CDDA tracks :

fafling

Thread 'Generic Action Replay codes to force stereo and volume on CDDA tracks'

Here's a quick and dirty workaround to force stereo playback of CDDA tracks in some games that only output them in mono, despite said tracks having stereo effects.
Games that fell short in that regard include all 3 Lobotomy games, and a bunch of SNK ports.

Those Action Replay codes are generic because they directly force the value of the SCSP registers that set the volume and pan of the left and right channels of the CD audio :
  • The right channel is panned hard right to be output only by the right speaker.
  • The left channel is panned hard left to be output only by the left...
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XeTe said:
Hello everyone.

There are a number of Saturn games that have a problem with stereo sound.

In some games, the music play in mono in the gameplay, even if you select "stereo" in the menu game options. Obviously, CDDA tracks are heard in stereo when listened to with an external player.


The games I've identified are:

Gekirindan: The sound is always reproduced in monaural. The "mono"-"stereo" option in the menu doesn't seem to work.

Gunbird: In the Saturn version, sound effects play in stereo but the CDDA music tracks play in mono. The PS1 version (which uses the same CDDA tracks) doesn't have this problem, and sounds effects+CDDA play in stereo.

Layer Section: Same problem for this Japanese game. However, the US release, called "Galactic Attack," doesn't have this problem, and the stereo sound works perfectly. They possibly fixed the bug for the US launch.

Chou Aniki - Kyuukyoku... Otoko no Gyakushuu: All the game's music plays in mono, regardless of whether you choose "mono" or "stereo" in the options menu.
Oddly enough, the cutscenes do play in stereo. The PS1 version (which uses the same CDDA tracks) doesn't have this problem, and sounds effects+CDDA play in stereo.

The King of Fighters 96: This game includes CDDA tracks with stereo sound. However, when playing, the tracks are heard in mono. There are no sound settings options in the game's menu.

I've seen some very competent people on these forums releasing patches that fix or improve things in Saturn games. I'd like someone with the necessary knowledge to fix the sound problem in these games. Thanks.

PS: Sorry for my terrible English. I had to use a translator.
Click to expand...

Real Bou Fatal Fury need´s help too
 
XeTe said:
Another game incluided in the first post: KOF 96
Click to expand...
The same music plays in all rounds on the Saturn, except for some teams; however, on the Neo Geo CD and PlayStation One, the second part of the music plays in later fights. If you select languages other than Japanese, the game freezes at the end. The music during the credits is wrong; instead, one of the songs from the Japanese team's closing theme plays.
 
Thanks, I'll try the Action Replay codes right now !! 🙂

EDIT: It works perfectly with the games I've tested (using the all-in-one cartridge). You're a genius, privateye!!!

PS. I'm adding more games to first post.
 
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