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

[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 fight 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.
Hexen: The same problem in all 3 regions of the game

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.

Street Racer: The sound effects play in stereo, but the CDDA music plays in mono. The same problem in the Japanese and European versions. This game have a MAGNIFIC stereo sound 🙂

WipEout: The sound effects play in stereo, but the CDDA music plays in mono. The MONO/STEREO option in the menu doesn't seem to be working. The PS1 version does not have this issue.

Quake: Reported by another forum user.

Keriotosse!: The sound effects play in stereo, but the CDDA music plays in mono.

Rampage - World Tour: Another game with the same problem. The PS1 version plays the CDDA tracks in stereo.

Contra - Legacy of War: Once again, the game's sound is in mono. The PS1 version doesn't have this problem.

Iron Man & X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal: CDDA sound in mono. Affects all 3 game regions. The first video plays in stereo (as always, the problem only affects the CDDA tracks).

Johnny Bazookatone: CDDA tracks are heard in mono during gameplay. The PS1 version doesn't have this problem.

Mr. Bones: Another game with the same problem. The videos play with stereo sound.

Tryrush Deppy: The same problem applies to this cute game.

Swagman: CDDA tracks are played in mono by default and no sound settings options in the game's menu.

Steamgear Mash: Another curious game with the sound of the CDDA tracks in mono

Break Point Tennis: CDDA tracks play in mono by default. As always, the MONO/STEREO option in the menu it's for decoration...

Tennis Arena: Exactly like the previous game. It affects all regions of the game.

Time Bokan Series - Bokan to Ippatsu! Doronboo Kanpekiban: Another shoot'em up with CDDA sound issues. This problem does not exist in the PS1 version.

Hyper 3-D Pinball: Game play CDDA tracks in mono. Sound settings doesn't work.

Digital Pinball - Last Gladiators Ver.9.7: The sounds effects and videos play in stereo, but the CDDA music plays in mono.

Digital Pinball - Necronomicon: Exactly the same as the previous game.

Pinball Graffiti: CDDA tracks play in mono.

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.

 

[XeTe]

I add another game: Chou Aniki - Kyuukyoku... Otoko no Gyakushuu

 

[XeTe]

Another game incluided in the first post: KOF 96

 

[privateye]

Here are Action Replay codes to force stereo playback of CDDA tracks :

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

Feb 28, 2024

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...

• fafling
• Replies: 9
• Forum: Saturn

• 
• 

 

[Taitorama]

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.

Real Bou Fatal Fury need´s help too

 

[Taitorama]

Another game incluided in the first post: KOF 96

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.

 

[XeTe]

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.

 

[privateye]

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!!!

Great! The genius is @fafling as he's the one that made the codes, I just pointed you in the right direction :)

 

[XeTe]

Ahh, sorry... In that case, many thanks to fafling. I tested a bunch of games from the first post with the code and it works perfectly. I'm really happy 😀
I hope the next official Saroo firmware will support cheats.

I have a strong suspicion that the problem lies in the fact that if the game doesn't send any instructions to the Sega Saturn for CDDA music, the Sega Saturn plays the tracks in mono by default. It's possible that many programmers didn't include any instructions for CDDA tracks in their games because they assumed the console would play them in stereo by default.

In fact, they just ported Cho Ren Cha to the Saturn and it has the same issue. Since this game it doesn't have an audio configuration menu, I assume the game doesn't contain any instructions for it and it plays in mono by default.
Perhaps kitchen34 can confirm if that is the real cause of the problem...

In any case, the list of affected games is enormous! I never imagined there would be so many (and there's still more than half the catalog left to review).
I'm assuming the developers were testing their games on a mono TV/monitor (or maybe they were deaf in one ear ^^U).

 

[Kirrap]

Wow a lot of games have this problem! Without the Action Replay codes is impossible to fix it? I principally use the Saroo cartridge so I can’t use it…

 

[XeTe]

Yes, you can. In fact, I just tested it on my Saroo cartridge and it works perfectly.

I simply replaced the official firmware with martinx72's, since it supports Action Replay codes.

So after installing this firmware, I went to web martinx72 cheats tool because since the codes cannot be entered in Action Replay format and that website converts the codes to the necessary format.

Then I chose one of the games that had problems with the CDDA sound ("Spot Goes To Hollywood" USA region to be exact) and entered the Action Replay code of fafling that forces the CDDA tracks to play in stereo.

Finally I saved the .scht file (generated by the online tool) in the CHEATS/ID folder of saroo's SD card.
Each file must be renamed with the ID of the game you want to add cheats to, so in this case my file is called T-7001H.scht (for "Spot Goes To Hollywood" USA region). Once the game is launched in Saroo the cheat menu appears, and from there you can activate the cheat of
force CDDA stereo. It works perfectly in several games I've tested, and you can also add more cheats, and everything works fine.

I believe this is the best solution available today 😀

And I'm thinking of uploading the .scht files for all the games from the first post already configured with the Action Replay code of fafling for forcing CDDA stereo for those who are too lazy to do it themselves, but I suppose it will take me a few days...