MUSIC COMMENTARY

Ever since I started using DefleMask, I've never understood how to use the EXT.CH3 of the SEGA Genesis. I asked on r/chiptunes and got a very helpful explanation! Thank you to u/Scotty_SR!

I wanted to get more bang for my buck when it comes to the Genesis's few sound channels. There are only six, which more often than not can be limiting. On top of that, the sixth channel is often used for samples. So realistically that's five available channels. I've been making a lot of songs recently that use a sine wave lead. A lead and a separate echo track means that two of the six channels are used up. I could have used two of the five channels for a sine wave (workable, but not ideal) or I could use the Genesis's EXT.CH3 mode and get an additional four extra channels of sine waves! Using the advice from above, I was able to cram a sawtooth bass, a sine wave lead, lead echo, and sub-bass into what would have been one channel! That opened up the remaining channels for fuller sound design and a lot more creative freedom.

There are other uses for EXT.CH3 besides an additional 4-voice polyphony, but I have yet to try them out.

I ran into a problem when trying to recreate the original's vox poly synth. From what I was able to do with FM, I could not make a decent patch. I did get close, but not close enough. So, I went into Reason and quickly slapped together a similar sounding synth and imported it into DefleMask. In the end, I think it works nicely! I love the way the chords smoothly blend together, especially in the transition back to the top of the song.

I tried exporting this song as a ROM and playing it on my Mega Sg for DAC simulation, but the results were REALLY noisy and some instruments were out of tune. I don't know why. I heard that DefleMask's audio emulation isn't really accurate, so these problems are to be expected, unfortunately. There is a new YM2612 tracker being developed in protest of DefleMask going from free to $20 and using non-open source code. It's called ZorroTracker and I look forward to using it when it comes out!

As usual, all patches are custom made, no PSG. Overall, this was a fun attempt at recreating the original and—given the limitations of the Genesis—it turned out surprisingly close!

Check out my other SEGA Genesis music! I've been on a Mega Man kick recently, so look forward to more covers! There's plenty more where that came from.

FUN FACT: The PlayStation and SEGA Saturn versions of Mega Man 8 have different music! Some are completely different songs (most notably Tengu Man), but some are different versions of the same song. The Stage Select Theme has some additional synths in the PlayStation and is mixed differently, I think. This cover is based on the Saturn version.

COMPOSER

Shusaku Uchiyama

ARRANGER

Alexander Emenheiser (@ade-syndicate)

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