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VGM Export (SMS / Game Gear)

BeatBax can export Sega Master System / Game Gear songs to VGM (Video Game Music) register streams via @beatbax/plugin-exporter-vgm.

Target: chip sms / chip gg (SN76489). VGM version 1.61 (supports Game Gear stereo 0x4F commands).

Quick start​

node bin/beatbax export vgm songs/sms/your_song.bax output.vgm
# or
beatbax export vgm song.bax --out song.vgm

Open the result in VGMPlay, Mesen, OpenMSX, RetroArch, or flash-cart VGM players.

What is exported​

  • Expanded per-tick PSG register writes (0x50) for tone period, volume, and noise control
  • Game Gear stereo updates (0x4F) when gg:pan / gg_pan is used
  • Frame waits (0x62 NTSC / 0x63 PAL) and end marker (0x66)
  • Optional GD3 metadata from song name / song artist / related fields

Software macros (vol_env, arp_env, pitch_env, noise_rate_env) are expanded before export so the VGM stream matches preview timing.

Region / clock​

chip sms ntsc vs chip sms pal selects the SN76489 clock written into the VGM header (and frame wait rate).

Tips​

  • Prefer songs that already verify cleanly: node bin/beatbax verify song.bax
  • Use gg:pan only when you want Game Gear stereo behaviour
  • WAV export remains available for rendered listening comparisons

See also​