msxplus (format)
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While the MSX had many sound expansion cartridges, being a computer built to be able to interact with pretty much anything you plug to it, not every expansion made for it is allowed.
The reasoning for restricting to these soundchips comes from them both being commercially available during the MSX's lifetime, being closely associated with the computer because of their use in its games, and not overlapping with other formats on BotB, as to keep the format as unique as possible.
So the expansions such as Yamaha Sound Module (YM2151), DCSG cartridges (SN76489), Moonsound (OPL4), Makoto (YM2608) or Neotron (YM2610) are not allowed.
The allowed expansions are:
Y8950 (aka MSX-AUDIO)
The MSX-AUDIO was the first commercially available expansion for the MSX. They included a built-in sampler to allow the user to use their own samples on the ADPCM, but they were not only bulky but also expensive, so it had a restricted public, but is supported by many softwares.
The Y8950 soundchip is a modification of the OPL1 that outside of the MSX-AUDIO was also used in a few arcade games. Its limitations are:
- 9 FM Channels (optional 6FM+Drums mode), 2-op Sine wave only.
- 1 ADPCM Channel (4-bit, same as the OPNA).
YM2413/OPLL (aka MSX-MUSIC)
Originally available through the FM-PAC cartridge, being significantly cheaper than the MSX-AUDIO and easier to use allowed it to become the standard FM sound expansion for the system, getting set in stone once the MSX2+ and Turbo-R models came around with the chip built into the system.
The OPLL was a very popular chip that saw use in many other devices, including the Sega Mark III. Its limitations are:
- 9 FM Channels (optional 6FM+Drums mode)
- 2-op, Sine and Half-Sine waves;
- 15 pre-built instrument patches;
- 1 instrument slot for custom patches;
Konami SCC and SCC+
Standing for Sound Creative Chip, the SCC was developed by Konami for the MSX, and was built into the cartridge of some of their games, such as Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake and Space Manbow. Since any software could interface with the cartridge when it was plugged in, the SCC was used in many games and drivers beyond Konami's.
Eventually Konami would release alongside Snatcher and SD Snatcher a dedicated sound cartridge that contained the improved SCC+.
Their limitations are:
- 5 Wavetable channels (8-bit, 32-step)
- SCC: Channels 4 and 5 share the same wavetable.
- SCC+: Channels 4 and 5 have independent wavetables.
Turbo-R PCM
This refer to the DAC available to the Turbo-R models, supported by many drivers.
There were DIY DACs such as SIMPL and Covox to allow sample playback with the same limitations on older models, but the Z80 speed restricts their usage with more complex software/drivers.
- 1 PCM channel (8-bit 16khz)
.kss
KSS is like the NSF file format for MSX. It contains driver and song data so players emulate the driver routine in real time. It was used to dump most of the the MSX's library of games, so it's supported by many general chiptune players.
Some driver toolkits have a .kss compilation option, there are also converters for MSX driver formats to .kss .
As for the allowed expansion chips, it supports Y8950, OPLL and SCC/+.
.mgs
.MGS is the format for songs made using MGSDRV, the most popular sound driver for the platform.
It supports OPLL and SCC/+.
.vgm
The goold old .vgm. VGMPLAY MSX is a very robust player so many new expansion cartridges get made just to use the MSX as a chiptune player.
However, being a logged format means it's not very optimized for old computers, so you're restricted to the amount of RAM you have available. The biggest single RAM upgrades on the platform is 4MB so it's the restriction on BotB, but if you care about hardware accessibility it would be better to try not to go past 1MB.
It supports Y8950, OPLL and SCC/+.
.dsk
.DSK is the FDD format for the MSX; people can put the song data and driver on it so one can play it on hardware/emulator.
The easiest way to make a .DSK file with what you need is to use webMSX, create a boot disk on the floppy icon and import all the files you need. If you're already using it for producing your songs (i.e. in TriloTracker or something) you can just save the disk image.
Instructions for how to load the song, particularly if it's not just loading the file and playing, are appreciated.
It's a disk file so what it supports depends on the driver.
On PC:
- mgsdrv - an MML driver that can be edited and played back in your browser. It's the main tool used in the Japanese scene. It supports OPLL and SCC/+.
- MML2VGM - a compiler for various .vgm soundchips. It supports a wide variety of soundchips including OPLL, Y8950 and SCC/+.
- 0CC-LLtracker - for OPLL only
- Deflemask - for OPLL only
- Furnace - The popular modern Swiss army knife chiptune tracker. By exporting to .vgm, it supports AY-3-8910/YM2149, Y8950, OPLL, and SCC/+, but not Turbo-R PCM (the SIMPL option on the chip selector cannot export to VGM).
On MSX hardware or in emulator:
- TriloTracker - supports SCC and OPLL but not multichip.
- Realfun 3 Tracker - supports SCC.
- FAC Soundtracker - an old tool that supports OPLL and Y8950 (no PCM) but not multichip.
- ADXP and XEDT - a sound driver and MML editor for OPLL, Y8950, SCC+ and Turbo-R PCM.
- The MSX Basic's internal MML syntax, which can be expanded for OPLL and Y8950.
Submission should be playable on hardware or in an emulator.
Regardless of the method, at least one expansion chip (Y8950, OPLL, SCC, SCC+, Turbo-R PCM) must be used; this differentiates the format from the AYM format.
Use of the AY-3-8910/YM2149 (the stock 3-channel MSX soundchip) is not strictly required, much like the NES's 2A03 chip in NSFplus.
If you've used native trackers/drivers for your song, you can either submit a .DSK file with the player and module or log the song using OpenMSX and a script (read here).
There are a number of different MSX chiptune players. Including, but not restricted to:
Name Platform Filetypes
AudioOverload Crossplatform .kss, .vgm
ZXTune Crossplatform .kss, .vgm
M³disp Browser .mgs
MSXPlay Browser .mgs, .kss Also supports other MSX drivers
MDPlayer Windows .mgs, .vgm Also supports other MSX drivers
MSXPlug Windows .kss, .mgs Winamp Plugin
Game Emu Player Windows .kss, .vgm foobar2000 Plugin
KSSPLAY Native .kss
MGSDRV Native .mgs
VGMPlay MSX Native .vgm
MSX Emulators (for .DSK and Native players)
blueMSX (Windows): No support for Turbo-R PCM.
openMSX (Multi): very complicated to set up, but supports pretty much everything and has script support for vgm logging.
fMSX (Multi): No support for Y8950(?).
WebMSX (Browser): doesn't support Y8950 or Turbo-R PCM.
- aym (format)
- MML
- mml (format)
Battle Formats
::|CONTENTS
The MSXplus format is for the MSX home computer's primary soundchip (the AY-3-8910/YM2149 found in BotB's AYM format) plus one or more expansion chips used on the MSX. This is similar to the NSFplus format in that it allows for a lot of different configurations, with the only mandatory part being the use of an expansion chip.About the Expansions
While the MSX had many sound expansion cartridges, being a computer built to be able to interact with pretty much anything you plug to it, not every expansion made for it is allowed.
The reasoning for restricting to these soundchips comes from them both being commercially available during the MSX's lifetime, being closely associated with the computer because of their use in its games, and not overlapping with other formats on BotB, as to keep the format as unique as possible.
So the expansions such as Yamaha Sound Module (YM2151), DCSG cartridges (SN76489), Moonsound (OPL4), Makoto (YM2608) or Neotron (YM2610) are not allowed.
The allowed expansions are:
Y8950 (aka MSX-AUDIO)
The MSX-AUDIO was the first commercially available expansion for the MSX. They included a built-in sampler to allow the user to use their own samples on the ADPCM, but they were not only bulky but also expensive, so it had a restricted public, but is supported by many softwares.
The Y8950 soundchip is a modification of the OPL1 that outside of the MSX-AUDIO was also used in a few arcade games. Its limitations are:
- 9 FM Channels (optional 6FM+Drums mode), 2-op Sine wave only.
- 1 ADPCM Channel (4-bit, same as the OPNA).
YM2413/OPLL (aka MSX-MUSIC)
Originally available through the FM-PAC cartridge, being significantly cheaper than the MSX-AUDIO and easier to use allowed it to become the standard FM sound expansion for the system, getting set in stone once the MSX2+ and Turbo-R models came around with the chip built into the system.
The OPLL was a very popular chip that saw use in many other devices, including the Sega Mark III. Its limitations are:
- 9 FM Channels (optional 6FM+Drums mode)
- 2-op, Sine and Half-Sine waves;
- 15 pre-built instrument patches;
- 1 instrument slot for custom patches;
Konami SCC and SCC+
Standing for Sound Creative Chip, the SCC was developed by Konami for the MSX, and was built into the cartridge of some of their games, such as Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake and Space Manbow. Since any software could interface with the cartridge when it was plugged in, the SCC was used in many games and drivers beyond Konami's.
Eventually Konami would release alongside Snatcher and SD Snatcher a dedicated sound cartridge that contained the improved SCC+.
Their limitations are:
- 5 Wavetable channels (8-bit, 32-step)
- SCC: Channels 4 and 5 share the same wavetable.
- SCC+: Channels 4 and 5 have independent wavetables.
Turbo-R PCM
This refer to the DAC available to the Turbo-R models, supported by many drivers.
There were DIY DACs such as SIMPL and Covox to allow sample playback with the same limitations on older models, but the Z80 speed restricts their usage with more complex software/drivers.
- 1 PCM channel (8-bit 16khz)
About the Filetypes
.kss
KSS is like the NSF file format for MSX. It contains driver and song data so players emulate the driver routine in real time. It was used to dump most of the the MSX's library of games, so it's supported by many general chiptune players.
Some driver toolkits have a .kss compilation option, there are also converters for MSX driver formats to .kss .
As for the allowed expansion chips, it supports Y8950, OPLL and SCC/+.
.mgs
.MGS is the format for songs made using MGSDRV, the most popular sound driver for the platform.
It supports OPLL and SCC/+.
.vgm
The goold old .vgm. VGMPLAY MSX is a very robust player so many new expansion cartridges get made just to use the MSX as a chiptune player.
However, being a logged format means it's not very optimized for old computers, so you're restricted to the amount of RAM you have available. The biggest single RAM upgrades on the platform is 4MB so it's the restriction on BotB, but if you care about hardware accessibility it would be better to try not to go past 1MB.
It supports Y8950, OPLL and SCC/+.
.dsk
.DSK is the FDD format for the MSX; people can put the song data and driver on it so one can play it on hardware/emulator.
The easiest way to make a .DSK file with what you need is to use webMSX, create a boot disk on the floppy icon and import all the files you need. If you're already using it for producing your songs (i.e. in TriloTracker or something) you can just save the disk image.
Instructions for how to load the song, particularly if it's not just loading the file and playing, are appreciated.
It's a disk file so what it supports depends on the driver.
Tools
On PC:
- mgsdrv - an MML driver that can be edited and played back in your browser. It's the main tool used in the Japanese scene. It supports OPLL and SCC/+.
- MML2VGM - a compiler for various .vgm soundchips. It supports a wide variety of soundchips including OPLL, Y8950 and SCC/+.
- 0CC-LLtracker - for OPLL only
- Deflemask - for OPLL only
- Furnace - The popular modern Swiss army knife chiptune tracker. By exporting to .vgm, it supports AY-3-8910/YM2149, Y8950, OPLL, and SCC/+, but not Turbo-R PCM (the SIMPL option on the chip selector cannot export to VGM).
On MSX hardware or in emulator:
- TriloTracker - supports SCC and OPLL but not multichip.
- Realfun 3 Tracker - supports SCC.
- FAC Soundtracker - an old tool that supports OPLL and Y8950 (no PCM) but not multichip.
- ADXP and XEDT - a sound driver and MML editor for OPLL, Y8950, SCC+ and Turbo-R PCM.
- The MSX Basic's internal MML syntax, which can be expanded for OPLL and Y8950.
Restrictions on submit
Submission should be playable on hardware or in an emulator.
Regardless of the method, at least one expansion chip (Y8950, OPLL, SCC, SCC+, Turbo-R PCM) must be used; this differentiates the format from the AYM format.
Use of the AY-3-8910/YM2149 (the stock 3-channel MSX soundchip) is not strictly required, much like the NES's 2A03 chip in NSFplus.
If you've used native trackers/drivers for your song, you can either submit a .DSK file with the player and module or log the song using OpenMSX and a script (read here).
Playback (for voting)
There are a number of different MSX chiptune players. Including, but not restricted to:
Name Platform Filetypes
AudioOverload Crossplatform .kss, .vgm
ZXTune Crossplatform .kss, .vgm
M³disp Browser .mgs
MSXPlay Browser .mgs, .kss Also supports other MSX drivers
MDPlayer Windows .mgs, .vgm Also supports other MSX drivers
MSXPlug Windows .kss, .mgs Winamp Plugin
Game Emu Player Windows .kss, .vgm foobar2000 Plugin
KSSPLAY Native .kss
MGSDRV Native .mgs
VGMPlay MSX Native .vgm
MSX Emulators (for .DSK and Native players)
blueMSX (Windows): No support for Turbo-R PCM.
openMSX (Multi): very complicated to set up, but supports pretty much everything and has script support for vgm logging.
fMSX (Multi): No support for Y8950(?).
WebMSX (Browser): doesn't support Y8950 or Turbo-R PCM.
See also
- aym (format)
- MML
- mml (format)
C A T E G O R I E S
0cc · adlib · ahx · allgear · amigamod · ansi · ascii · aym · 【日本語】0c · 【日本語】allgear （フォーマット） · 【日本語】deflemask （フォーマット） · 【日本語】mariopantse （フォーマット） · baby-k · Battle Format · bespoke · boom · buzz · bytebeat · bytebeat1k · channelf · chipbattle_art · clipnote · deflemask · doom · draw · fakebit · famiplus · famistudio · famitracker · Format · fsound · furnace · gamebattle_art · gba · hes · html · html5 · jummbox · klangfreude · klystrack · lgpt · lsdj · mariopaint · mariopantse · midi · mixbattle_art · mml · moai · mod04k · mod04k · mod08k · mod08k · mod12k · mod12k · mod16k · mod16k · mod24k · mod32k · mod48k · mod64k · mptm · msxplus · mt32 · musescore · nexxt · nsf · nsfplus · nsf_classic · nsf_classic · ntrq · opl2 · opl3 · orcapilot · orgmaker · panda · pc-x801 · pd · pdf · pet · photo · photomash · pixel · plaintext · plaintext · pxtone · remix · renoise · s3xmodit · sample · sap · sapx2 · sc55 · sgen · sid · sms · smw · snibbetracker · spc · sunvox · svg · ted · teletext · tia · tic80 · vcv_rack · vgm · vic20 · visualbattle_art · visuall · vocal · wavetracker · wildchip · x68k · xg · ym2151 · zquest · zxbeep
