Panzer Dragoon Saga - In-Game Music Replacement with Remastered Tracks

[Beorn]

What I Want to Do​

Replace the in-game background music in Panzer Dragoon Saga with the beautiful remastered tracks from the "Resurrection: Panzer Dragoon Saga 20th Anniversary Arrangement" album. I'm talking about battle themes, exploration music, town themes, etc. - NOT the cutscene music embedded in .cpk files (that seems way more complex and I'm not interested in tackling it).

My Research So Far​

I've done some homework and found that:

• People have successfully extracted .seq/.bin files from PDS ROMs (thanks fedex1 and others for the posts about this!)
• CyberWarriorX's seq2mid and toncnv tools can convert Saturn audio formats
• Extensive ROM modification appears to be possible based on community work
• Nobody seems to have attempted music replacement specifically (please correct me if I'm wrong!)

Intended Approach​

1. Extract PDS ISO using CDMage and locate .seq/.bin files for in-game music
2. Analyzeformat specifications using seq2mid (via DOSBox) and toncnv to understand:
   • MIDI sequence structure in .seq files
   • Soundbank/instrument data in .bin files
   • Sample rates, bit depths, and any compression used
3. Convertremastered tracks by:
   • Converting high-quality source audio to match Saturn specifications exactly
   • Rebuilding .seq files with proper MIDI timing and note data
   • Creating compatible .bin soundbank files or reusing originals where appropriate
4. Replace original files maintaining exact directory structure and naming
5. Rebuild ISO with proper ECC/EDC using CDMage or similar tools
6. Testextensively in Kronos/SSF emulators, checking for:
   • Audio sync issues during gameplay
   • Memory problems from file size changes
   • Game stability and loading behavior

Technical Assumptions​

• In-game music files are stored as separate .seq/.bin pairs in a BGM or SOUND directory
• File size constraints may be flexible as long as total disc space allows
• Saturn's SCSP audio processor specs should be preserved in replacement files
• Timing dependencies between music and gameplay events need to be maintained
• ISO rebuilding can be done safely without breaking Saturn-specific disc formatting

Resources I Have​

• All 4 PDS ISOs (plus legally owned originals)
• The "Resurrection: Panzer Dragoon Saga 20th Anniversary Arrangement" album in digital form
• Modern development environment and tools
• Patience and determination (I'm a diligent amateur with limited but growing technical skills)

Questions for the Community​

Has anyone attempted something similar with any Saturn game?

Are there any technical roadblocks I'm not seeing?

Any essential tools or resources I'm missing?

File Format: Are there any gotchas with the .seq/.bin format I should know about beyond what's in CyberWarriorX's documentation?

Audio Specifications: What exact sample rates, bit depths, and compression settings does PDS use? Any timing dependencies I need to preserve?

ISO Rebuilding: What's the best practice for rebuilding Saturn ISOs after file replacement? CDMage sufficient or are there better tools?

Testing: Any specific things to watch out for when testing modified PDS files? Game-breaking scenarios I should test for?

File Sizes: How strict is the Saturn about maintaining original file sizes? Can I go larger if needed or must I stay within original bounds?



This project is driven by my love of the game. PDS touched my heart when I bought it on release, and is still one of my all time favorite games. I do this because I want to contribute to the Saturn community, if I can. I intend to share everything I do and / or develop.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer. Looking forward to your thoughts!