Problems with SPC2ROM

Strictly for discussing ZSNES development and for submitting code. You can also join us on IRC at irc.libera.chat in #zsnes.
Please, no requests here.

Moderator: ZSNES Mods

Post Reply
_zane

Problems with SPC2ROM

Post by _zane »

Hello all,

I thought I would see if anyone else has had any problems using Alpha-II's SPC2ROM utility.

I had been looking to convert a number of SPCs to a format playable on the SNES, and SPC2ROM appeared to be the only game in town. When I began to try out a number of converted files, though, both emulators and the real SNES played them back inaccurately.

"Axelay" is a good example of a set of SPCs which don't convert properly with SPC2ROM. The original SPCs play just fine, but when converted to SMCs, the same songs come out distorted, with the first few seconds of sound missing and some channels apparently disabled.

I've been through the SPC2ROM source, and the SPC looks to be initialized properly, which makes this even more baffling. Has anyone else had similar problems when using SPC2ROM?

For what it's woth, the "Axelay" SPC set and copy of SPC2ROM I was using are available at the links below:

"Axelay"
http://www.snesmusic.org/v2/profile.php ... lected=172

"SPC2ROM"
http://www.alpha-ii.com/Download/SPC2R110.rar

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be grateful to hear them.


--
_zane
OptiRoc
Rookie
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:31 am

Post by OptiRoc »

One of the problem is that an SPC file contain state information that is simply impossible to restore on real hardware, which explains why the beginning of the tracks sometimes come out all garbled. A solution that ought to work in most situations is to create absolutely "clean" SPC-rips, in the sense that you do the dump at the exact moment that the game is about to init the new tune and begin playback.

I have tinkered a bit with the same problem, although not with the goal to roll up runnable rom images with it. However there's a couple of things that can be done in better ways than SPC2ROM does it.
Post Reply