How to make Super Nintendo Music TUTORIAL

The Super Nintendo was the first console I ever had growing up. It was how I fell in love with video games and chiptune. The methods for making music for the console are very specific so i decided to make this the second episode in my "How to Chiptune" series.
Table of Contents:
Part 1:
0:00 Introduction
1:01 The Musical Capabilities of the Super Nintendo
Method 1: Chipsynth SFC
4:33 Chipsynth SFC Overview
5:15 The Sample Tab
6:20 Making Super Nintendo Samples with Chipsynth SFC
6:39 The Player Tab (How to get SNES samples from Games)
8:14 The Channels Tab
8:54 Echo Controls for Chipsynth SFC
10:56 Pitch Modulation in Chipsynth SFC
12:05 Noise mode in Chipsynth SFC
12:16 Chipsynth SFC Conclusion
Method 2: C700 VST (writing a hardware playable song from start to finish)
12:54 C700 Overview
13:29 C700 Midi setup
14:36 Managing Samples in C700
15:36 Where to get Super Nintendo Samples
16:29 Adding Super Nintendo Samples to C700
16:54 Accessing samples and Changing Patches with C700
17:54 Making a Drum Kit in C700
20:09 Using Effects in C700 with Midi CCs
21:11 Using Echo in C700
22:00 Using Pitch Modulation in C700
23:00 Using Noise Mode in C700
24:00 Button Masher Writes 16 bars of music
24:58 Button Mashers SPC Demo Song
25:58 Exporting a song in a cartridge playable format with C700
27:57 SPC Player Test
28:26 Super Nintendo Cartridge Test
Method 3 Furnace Tracker
29:19 Furnace Tracker Intro
29:58 Starting a SNES tune in Furnace
30:13 How to upload samples to furnace
30:52 How to make your own SNES Samples in Furnace
31:38 How to make instruments with snes samples in furnace
32:11 How to edit instruments in furnace
32:19 Making a drumkit in Furnace
33:02 How to Use SNES Echo in Furnace
33:59 Pitch Modulation in Furnace
34:42 Noise Mode in Furnace
35:06 Furnace Conclusion
Method 4 Super Midi Pak
35:29 Super Midi Pak Overview
36:14 Things you will need to use super midi pak
36:47 Super Midi Pak Web App overview
37:36 Setting up Samples for super midi pak
38:42 Editing Samples for super midi pak
39:08 Making a drum kit for super midi pak
39:58 Super Midi Pak Echo Controls
40:55 Getting Echo Settings from SNES games
41:43 Uploading a Super Midi Pak Session to Super Midi Pak
42:10 Setting up your Music Sequencer for Super Midi Pak
42:44 Accessing and Changing Patches with Super midi pak
43:45 Using your Drum Kit
44:04 Using Midi CCs for Effects with Super Midi Pak
45:14 Pitch Modulation with Super Midi Pak
46:45 Noise Mode with Super Midi Pak
48:04 Super Midi Pak Conclusion
48:16 3 More ways to make Super Nintendo Music
48:39 Ending
A huge thank you goes out to @damifortune whos guide for making Super Nintendo Music was the inspiration for this video. Please Support them on band camp.
Dami Fortunes Guide: docs.google.com/document/d/1b...
Dami Fortunes Band Camp: h-v-b.bandcamp.com/
Thumbnail by ‪@longestsoloever‬
Links to the 4 Tools:
Chipsynth SFC: www.plogue.com/products/chips...
C700 VST: github.com/osoumen/C700/relea...
Furnace Tracker: github.com/tildearrow/furnace...
Super Midi Pak: www.supermidipak.com/
Playercode.bin for C700: picopicose.com/files/playercod...
SPC Player github.com/dgrfactory/spcplay
Where to Get Super nintendo Samples:
Dami fortunes Repository: docs.google.com/document/d/1b...
Super Mario World Central: www.smwcentral.net/?p=section...
Where to get SPC files: www.zophar.net/music/nintendo...
Relevant Videos:
How to Make SNES music in 1995 by ‪@GSTChannelVEVO‬ • How to Make SNES Music...
Sampling in video game music by ‪@ToffeeBun‬
• SAMPLING in Video Game...
SNES Audio System Overview - SPC700 Series pt. 1 by ‪@RGMechEx‬
• SNES Audio System Over...
My discord / discord
My Patreon: / _buttonmasher

[@ToffeeBun]

Amazing! I'm certain this video will remain one of the most useful and comprehensive videos regarding SNES music on this platform forever, I learned so much here... Thanks so much for referencing my video in your description! ❤

[@_buttonmasher]

Woah its ToffeBun!!!! I loved your video on sampling and found it was super relevant to the subject matter here! Thanks so much for watching!

[@colourbasscolourbassweapon2135]

ngl I'm going be using Ableton too no cap maybe my moog grandmother analog synth @@_buttonmasher

[@rwestvang]

All hail Ken Kutaragi for an awesome sound chip.

[@_buttonmasher]

❤❤❤

[@thecolorcomputer]

Oh good, you've set me down a new rabbit hole of exploration 😂 This is quite exciting, though! Thanks, for real 🙏

[@sbtbone]

Man, you are selling Chipsynth so well, I can't even imagine what the rest of this video will be like. You'll single-handedly get me to start making SNES music now

[@_buttonmasher]

This warms my heart. Thank you. Chipsynth sfc is an amazing tool but please watch the other chapters! The other tools offer some really compelling features as well!

[@AppaBoy]

15:47 thank you so much for showing this its so useful for me

[@InnerMotionMusic]

That explanation of Pitch Modulation using the Link and Kirby sprites was such a brilliant, and clear visual analogy for FM synthesis! Great, in-depth tutorial.

[@_buttonmasher]

Thank you!!!!

[@orjis]

This is the nerd stuff I enjoy greatly as a chiptuner. Very good!

[@Bulby]

Super helpful video, thank you so much for putting this together 🙏

[@_buttonmasher]

Hey man. Big fan of yours. Thanks for watching!

[@DEFENSEMECHANISM]

bro thank you for blessing us with this on our timelines 🔥👍🧡💙🙏🎮

[@greengem9132]

I finally got Trip World today and I heard your music 🎵

[@sevencastleforest]

This is awesome, thanks for the great tutorial! 👍

[@Th376Bones]

Incredible tutorial, i've learned so much about super nintendo music from this video.

[@_buttonmasher]

Slow your roll trobe

[@GabeKMusic]

I can tell you put a lot of work into this. Thank you for your amazing contribution!!

[@_buttonmasher]

Much appreciated!

[@ChipsNCellos]

Was a little late in watching this video, but better late than never! Great, informative tutorial, Mr. Masher. Thank you for making this!

[@husrev_vv]

great video brother. thanks a lot!

[@rockblade_e]

love what you're doing with this series so far!!!!!!!!! I would really like to see a video on stylistic choices while creating chiptunes [both arranging and composition wise]. I think it would be helpful for people coming into chiptune that already have experience composing and arranging, covering topics like instrumentation, artistically accommodating for polyphony limits, mimicking certain games' osts, and other things of the like thank you mr button masher

[@_buttonmasher]

Great idea!!

[@christophervarnon6694]

My thoughts exactly.

[@srb2er]

lets GO!!!!! ive used furnace for awhile now, but i barely knew about the echo, and i knew nothing about the noise and modulator feature (or even the fact it existed on) the SNES, so thanks! :) peak underrated channel

[@zxcvmjg]

damn this is super detailed!! cant wait dive into this

[@_buttonmasher]

❤

[@supermidipak]

Epic video. Very well done and a huge contribution to the community

[@_buttonmasher]

Grateful for super midi pak!!!!!! Thanks for watching!!!

[@plgDavid]

You can't believe how much I loved the big red X on "Sound Font". Made my day. Huge pet peeve haha. Otherwise great overview! And very fair towards each tool's strengths and weaknesses. I'm very happy such a video exists. Take care.

[@_buttonmasher]

Hahaha gotta letem know!

[@SoundFontGuy]

Hey, I loved your video! I'm a huge fan of soundfonts, as apparent in my name. Those wanting to make SNES music are uniquely fortunate in that the hardware has been modeled and emulated into all of these fantastic softwares. This isn't true of all platforms! For many platforms, we're still using Soundfonts as they're the most accessible option. The samples ripped from the era of N64, PSX, and Dreamcast just to name a few. Chipsynth SFC is one of my favorite plugins yet made for SNES style chiptunes and I'm really glad you've given it some much deserved screen time. I can't wait to see what's next from you!

[@OdinSpack]

I have always wanted to try my hand at composing video game music and had no idea where to start. This and your last tutorial have been so incredibly helpful! It's pretty overwhelming, but I feel like I could eventually "get it" if I try it enough. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, looking forward to more!

[@_buttonmasher]

Glad I could help!

[@ketsuppi400]

such an inspiring video!! i've had c700 downloaded for a while now but somehow never really got down to learning how to use it, this video was the long awaited push! thank you

[@_buttonmasher]

Love to see this! Cant wait to see what you make!

[@SandroMassarani]

What a wonderful video. Thank you so much.

[@_buttonmasher]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@infinitewarp]

Thank you very much for sharing these in-depth tutorials!

[@_buttonmasher]

My pleasure!

[@_buttonmasher]

Thanks so much for your contribution btw 🫶

[@infinitewarp]

You earned it, and then some! 🎉

[@gregssalamander.]

How have I not seen this channel before? It’s amazing! I use trackers most of the time so I won’t be using real hardware anytime soon but the tutorial is done nicely!

[@_buttonmasher]

Check out the chapter of this video on Furnace Tracker. It teaches you how to make snes music in furnace. Thanks for watching!/

[@AceM0]

much love , thank you, def gonna check chip synth

[@_buttonmasher]

Please do!

[@Nova_Afterglow]

omg thank you for this! i have been producing for about 3 years now and wanted to make techno track but on the snes. chipsynth sfc seems perfect for my needs!

[@_buttonmasher]

Awesome!!!!

[@DreamConsole]

Great vid. thanks

[@Elisio_]

I've been looking for a tutorial like this

[@_buttonmasher]

Awesome!

[@Hifitracker]

Very good tutorial ❤❤❤😮😮😮

[@HMister]

Very informative thank you! I'll be trying to make some SNES music in the future.

[@_buttonmasher]

Thanks for watching!

[@vic8845]

you GOTTA finish that song you came with. it’s a banger

[@_buttonmasher]

I will

[@thecolorcomputer]

Limitation breeds creativity 🙌

[@_buttonmasher]

Truth!

[@user-cm1et8ws6e]

thanks so much man

[@_buttonmasher]

Happy to help

[@Paul-gp5om]

Hello there. I just happened upon this video today and it's so helpful, as I was not sure which plugin would be best for me. Thanks

[@_buttonmasher]

Thanks for checking it out

[@OperculumAudio]

Pretty dang good video. I have C700 and it works great. There are also sound fonts created for games such as Final Fantasy II, and III on the SNES. The thing I wish was if there was a way to extract Midi from games. I am still searching for the entire Secret of Mana Midi. There are bits and pieces of it online, but I have yet to find the entire OST. Would be really nice to look at the entire Midi score and play certain elements of it back while muting others. Thanks for the video.

[@_buttonmasher]

I think you should take a swing at making the midis yourself! Its a lot of fun

[@sunless8092]

Hey Button Masher, been following you for over a year now. Awesome stuff! Can you please make a video for people who literally don’t know anything about chip tune? Like minimum required setup and gear with options (using hardware vs. computer only, etc.)

[@_buttonmasher]

I think the first video that i made in this series should help. You literally only need a computer and furnace tracker.

[@christonadams9046]

Hey man, loved your video. Gave me some great insight on how to do my music. Just wanna know, what were the samples you used in that banger you made? The melody one sounded really good and I want to use it in a song I'm working on

[@_buttonmasher]

All super mario world samples!!!!

[@christonadams9046]

@@_buttonmasher If you don't mind me asking, how did you achieve that sound with the melody's sample, which I'm assuming is the trumpet?

[@Music_Boi_JBoy]

This making me want to go make a snes song

[@_buttonmasher]

Do it!!!!!

[@stifled_]

Thank you very much for these videos, they are super didactic

[@_buttonmasher]

Hey thanks so much for watching! I dony believe you need to provide furnace a base sample

[@tr4ssh328]

please realese “thinking snes remix”, and thanks so much for the tutorial

[@_buttonmasher]

🫶

[@themobiustripper]

Playing through Secret of Mana now - what are the odds!?

[@_buttonmasher]

My fav

[@jordandeshongmusicproducti5973]

Buddy got churchy at 7 mins

[@GKsogue]

I learn a lot watching this video, thank you so much. Is there a way to use the spc files without the sfc player? I can't afford it right now

[@_buttonmasher]

Watch the chapter on C700!

[@Frednightfunky]

Are you ever gonna make a video on how to make genesis music and how to get the instruments from the games

[@_buttonmasher]

Yes

[@Frednightfunky]

@@_buttonmasher thanks, would you know when?

[@_buttonmasher]

@@Frednightfunky im actually insanely busy right now. Probably wont make it until 2025

[@Elisio_]

Will you be making a tutorial for mixing and mastering? I really want to start taking music more seriously and this seems like something I need to work on. ❤

[@Elisio_]

Would be fun to use effects correctly aswell :D

[@_buttonmasher]

@@Elisio_ probably not. There are already dozens of videos for that on youtube!

[@Elisio_]

@@_buttonmasher I'll go check it out! Thanks!!

[@stonethemason12]

*fetal positions* ok so all my um. 'Snes' music that was made with just soundfonts was only the tip of the iceberg ok. I mean granted a lot of it is washed in effects and real reverb and mixed with non snes instruments and whatnot so i wasnt trying to perfectly emulate snes sound. But im hoping i can take it a step further with this video.

[@_buttonmasher]

Theres nothing wrong with using soundfonts! My point in the video was to illustrate that the snes has a ton of potential as a synth!!!!

[@stonethemason12]

@@_buttonmasher oh okay good i thought my life was a lie n stuff

[@toastytoad8154]

Do you have any way of knowing what to set all the knobs and stuff to on C700? Apparently that's important to make the instruments sound authentic. Simply putting a MIDI through a soundfont doesn't get quite the same audio. -Yo'ster

[@_buttonmasher]

I dont really understand your question. Your best bet is to get your samples from the sources that ive cited and follow the exact steps ive laid out here. If you do this you shouldnt have a problem. You may need to adjust the adsr envelopes for individual samples in order to more closely get the sound your going for.

[@toastytoad8154]

@@_buttonmasher That's pretty much what I was wondering. I just had some SMW samples from somewhere else and a they didn't come with presets for loop points or adsr or anything for C700 so many of them were silent or off-key. -Yo'ster

[@toastytoad8154]

If the samples require a certain adsr setting then I was hoping there'd be a way to know exactly what they should be set to. -Yo'ster

[@anthonygomes8960]

when you're making music with furnace tracker. is there a way to hit the record button and play whatever you want and then it will save it. Or do you just have to individually plot each note?

[@_buttonmasher]

Watch my tutorial for how to learn chiptune trackers! In short though yes you have to individually type each note

[@sageofsong]

Are there any AAX compatible options for Pro Tools users?

[@sageofsong]

Chipsynth is at least

[@_buttonmasher]

I feel like chipsynth sfc and c700 should both work

[@HexZero]

Can you export an SPC in Furnace?

[@_buttonmasher]

Not yet.

[@HexZero]

@@_buttonmasher yeah ive been reading on it good thing i have both chipsynth sfc and a Super Midi Pak 😁i was just looking to broaden my options hope they add that soon!

[@BrianOliver89]

Hey so I just bought this plugin today. I tried to grab a unique sound from Super Mario All Stars. For some reason, it wouldn't let me do it. Any tips?

[@_buttonmasher]

Which plugin

[@JoshTrue-xt9bf]

At the end which is the best method to make music with real snes sounds?

[@_buttonmasher]

Every method ive provided uses “real snes sounds”. If you want to produce super nintendo music using a snes then obviously super midi pak is the best (and likely the only) choice.

[@JoshTrue-xt9bf]

@@_buttonmasher but which is the best for you?... Not with a snes...

[@_buttonmasher]

@@JoshTrue-xt9bf i like c700

[@toastytoad8154]

Can this be done on LMMS, too? -Yo'ster

[@_buttonmasher]

Not familiar with lmms

[@toastytoad8154]

@@_buttonmasher Upon closer inspection, I don't see why not, but it's done differently from the DAWs shown here. -Yo'ster

[@TheRealSparkster]

where can i find snes super puyo puyo 2 patches/samples

[@_buttonmasher]

Download the spc files from zophar and use the split700 tool as outlined in the tutorial.

[@_buttonmasher]

Or use chipsynth sfc

[@TheRealSparkster]

thx@@_buttonmasher

[@leandro88888]

It doesn't appear the 'Sample' Tab in my Furnace program sadly. 😥

[@_buttonmasher]

You can add it or remove it im pretty sure

[@leandro88888]

@@_buttonmasher Oh sorry, I just found it, thanks! 😅😊

[@leandro88888]

By the way, how can I export my songs into .spc format? I went to files but it seems that only appears wave format.

[@_buttonmasher]

@@leandro88888 spc format isnt available in furnace yet

[@leandro88888]

@@_buttonmasher I sorry for bother you again, I wanted to try C700 but that program is in .dll format, how do I open it?

[@aleister9682]

i want samples

[@_buttonmasher]

Links to samples in the description

[@vidjenko8349]

HAH. Nintendo is for BABIES. Sampling is for BABIES. REAL Men toil for hours trying to figure out how FM works just to make fart noises. SEGA rulz. But seriously, cool video. Still prefer the sound of FM though :)