Sonic 2 sound

[Former user]

Original [issue 60](https://code.google.com/p/genplus-gx/issues/detail?id=60) created by westonlast on 2010-01-04T21:06:30.000Z:

What steps will reproduce the problem? 1. Load Sonic the Hedgehog 2 2. Play Sound Test 1D 3. Always sounds kind of scratchy...

What version of the emulator are you using? Before audio changes.

Another potential YM2612 core bug has to do with the Sonic "Ring" sound (and similar sounds.) The release of the sound seems too harsh and results in a clicking noise, especially when collecting many Rings.

Another potential YM2612 core bug has to do with the Sonic "Spring" sound. It seems to waver.

[Former user]

Comment # 1 originally posted by westonlast on 2010-01-04T21:11:17.000Z:

Ah, scratch the "Spring" one. I think it's just me listening too hard.

[Former user]

Comment # 2 originally posted by kingofchaos6669 on 2010-01-05T15:28:40.000Z:

This is a issue I used to notice in Regen with Sonic 1/2/3/Knuckles when grabbing rings and hitting the bumpers. I guess the only way to check this one is to make a recording from the real hardware and a recording from Genesis Plus GX.

[Former user]

Comment # 3 originally posted by westonlast on 2010-01-06T01:59:28.000Z:

A recording would bring the filtering of low-quality components into play, but I guess that's all we have, anyway. :)

[Former user]

Comment # 4 originally posted by kingofchaos6669 on 2010-01-06T05:27:12.000Z:

Well, if you have a model 1, you can take a 3.5mm male-to-male stereo cable and connect it from the headphone jack of the Genesis to the line-in jack of the computer and record it.

[Former user]

Comment # 5 originally posted by westonlast on 2010-01-06T06:55:45.000Z:

I was referring to the Genesis itself producing muffled sound. But yes, I have a Model 1 "High Definition Graphics" Genesis. A recording would require substantial effort (transplanting a desktop computer down a floor, etc.) because only it has a stereo microphone input (is line-in always stereo?)

[Former user]

Comment # 6 originally posted by ekeeke31 on 2010-01-06T09:22:25.000Z:

Low Pass filtering is part of the Genesis audio system and is therefore emulated (more or less accurately) in Genesis Plus. Be sure it's enabled (60% low pass filtering seems to be ok, compared with a Megadrive Model 2) because it sometime "hides" harsh sounds and sounds more "natural".

I didn't have the occasion to test the sound you mention, will investigate on this later but if the same sound plays fine during game, it's very likely it also happens on real hardware (when you test a sound and press the button to start the note, it's not synchronized with the sound chip execution)

[Former user]

Comment # 7 originally posted by westonlast on 2010-01-06T17:07:17.000Z:

I don't like any filtering (more CPU time, right?) because I like to hear the crystal-clear edge of the FM sound, but I'll try it out. Most games really sound great. Some tests I like to use that tend to fail in other emulators but sound awesome in yours:

Zombies Ate My Neighbors (Konami screen) Castlevania Bloodlines (BGM 26) Phantasy Star II (SSG-EG in general sounds solid)

I'll see if I can get some recordings...

[Former user]

Comment # 8 originally posted by westonlast on 2010-01-06T17:17:49.000Z:

For what it's worth, Fusion sounds just like Genesis Plus GX for the Sonic 2 stuff, so maybe this isn't an issue.

[Former user]

Comment # 9 originally posted by kingofchaos6669 on 2010-01-06T18:36:29.000Z:

Yeah, after playing Sonic 2 on the real hardware, it sounds exactly like Kega and Genesis Plus GX so I'm guessing it's correct in both. I need to find a copy of Zombies Ate My Neighbors and do some recordings from the real hardware.

P.S. You can get a really long 3.5mm male-to-male stereo cord that can allow easy recording of samples from the real hardware to a PC without moving it. There's really cheap and long cables available at Radio Shack or Amazon.com and they work great. Yes, the headphone jack from the model 1 is stereo where as the default output via the RF or composite is mono. On a model 1, I use a video composite cable, and I bought a 3.5mm to composite audio cable which allows me to have stereo sound through my TV.

[Former user]

Comment # 10 originally posted by ekeeke31 on 2010-01-06T19:02:47.000Z:

I tried Sonic 2 sound test and did not notice any issue with comment 1\.D, not scratchy at all in my version (even with filtering disabled), this might be related to your TV setup, I dunno. I will close this issue for the moment.

I'm glad you like the sound emulation anyway, I've indeed put a lot of efforts into that, more than most users could imagine :-)