Research: A document on Fire Red voice groups and the instruments they play.

A document on FRLG's voice groups and the instruments they play.

Hey this is Magnius here and in this document, I'm gonna list all the voicegroups in Fire Red as well as the instruments each voicegroup can play. But first, what are voicegroups? My definition would be a group of instruments stored in a particular value in a rom. Voicegroups are one of the biggest deciding factors in whether the midi you insert sounds good or not. For instance, if you insert a midi, but you notice one of the DirectSound tracks gets turned to GBSynth, this is probably because the instrument isn't in the particular voicegroup of the song you assembled. This could also be though, because of the GBA's music limits, which are explained in Part 2 of my Music Hacking document. Luckily for you you can change the voicegroup before assembling, but what instruments can each particular voicegroup play? That's what I'm mostly gonna cover in this document. After much research I've produced an accurate list of instruments that each voicegroup can play and if an instrument isn't in that particular voicegroup, it probably won't play correctly.

However, before we move onto that, a little information on how some tracks are used on the GBA. First off, know that every track after 80 is mostly going to transfer into GBSynth, when assembled into Sappy. Channel 81, the sawtooth, is commonly used as the bass instrument in most GBA tracks, although sometimes DirectSound basses can be used if the voicegroup supports it. GBSynth tracks can be used in any track, so if I forget to list them in one voicegroup, that doesn't mean you can't use them. Second of all, I won't be covering what particular drums each voicegroup supports. Also a note to add about track 62 "SynthBrass1" though it says SynthBrass, this track is generally used to make a heavy low guitar sound.

0x48ABB0

2 - Electric Grand
13 - Xylophone
46 - Harp
47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
60 - French Horn
73 - Flute
82 - Calliope
83 - Chiff
84 - Charang
85 - Voice
88 - Pad 1 (New Age)
100 - Brightness
101 - Goblin

0x48B078

47 - Timpani
60 - French Horn
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
82 - Calliope
83 - Chiff
84 - Charang

0x48B474

01 - Acoustic Grand
4, 5, 6 and 7 - Not Square instruments, but used as Square instruments in GBA Pokemon games.
47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
60 - French Horn
80 - Square
90 - Pad 3 (Polysynth)

0x48B8B8 (Used for the second RSE battle theme)

01 - Bright Acoustic
4, 5, 6 and 7 - Not Square instruments, but used as Square instruments in GBA Pokemon games.
17 - Percussive Organ
33 - Electric Bass (Fingered)
47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
60 - French Horn
81 - Sawtooth
82 - Calliope
83 - Chiff
90 - Pad 3 (Polysynth)

0x48F974

1 - Bright Acoustic
2 - Electric Grand
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x48FF74

14 - Tubular Bells
17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
47 - Timpani
56 - Trumpet
73 - Flute
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
87 - Bass + Lead
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x490574

17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
29 - Overdriven Guitar
30 - Distortion Guitar
38 - Synth Bass 1
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
78 - Whistle
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff
120 - Guitar Fret Noise
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x490B74

47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
60 - French Horn
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
84 - Charang
85 - Voice
87 - Bass + Lead
88 - Pad 1 (New Age)

0x490FAC

21 - Accordian
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth

0x491390

29 - Overdriven Guitar
30 - Distortion Guitar
38 - Synth Bass 1
62 - SynthBrass 1
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff
84 - Charang
85 - Voice
86 - Lead Fifths
87 - Bass + Lead
88 - Pad 1 (New Age)
89 - Pad 2 (Warm)
125 - Helicopter
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x491990

14 - Tubular Bells
47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
58 - Trombone
60 - French Horn
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
125 - Helicopter

0x491F90

17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x492590

10 - Music Box
17 - Percussive Organ
21 - Accordian
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
58 - Trombone
78 - Whistle
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth

0x492B90

02 - Not really a square instrument, but used as such in the game.

0x492BC0

01 - Bright Acoustic
13 - Xylophone
17 - Percussive Organ
21 - Accordian
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
56 - Trumpet
73 - Flute
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff(Used here as Wave)
84 - Charang
85 - Voice(Used here as Wave)

0x4931C0

17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
38 - Synth Bass 1
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff

0x4935B0

01 - Bright Acoustic
17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x493BB0

01 - Bright Acoustic
17 - Percussive Organ
38 - Synth Bass 1
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)

0x4941B0

17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x4947B0
01 - Bright Acoustic
13 - Xylophone
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
78 - Whistle
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x494DB0

01 - Bright Acoustic
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth

0x4951A0
13 - Xylophone
39 - Synth Bass 2
48 - Strings
58 - Trombone
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x4957A0

1 - Bright Acoustic
2 - Used as a Square in GBA Pokemon games
9 - Glockenspiel
13 - Xylophone
46 - Harp
47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
58 - Trombone
60 - French Horn
68 - Oboe
73 - Flute
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
82 - Calliope

0x495BFC

78 - Whistle
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)

0x4961FC

47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
84 - Charang

0x49661C

14 - Tubular Bells
17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
60 - French Horn
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
92 - Pad 5 (Bowed)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x496C1C

14 - Tubular Bells
46 - Harp
47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
60 - French Horn
73 - Flute
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x49721C

14 - Tubular Bells
47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
58 - Trombone
60 - French Horn
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth

0x497678

4 and 5 - Not Squares, but interpreted by the GBA Pokemon games as such.
14 - Tubular Bells
17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
29 - Overdriven Guitar
30 - Distortion Guitar
47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
60 - French Horn
62 - SynthBrass 1
83 - Chiff
89 - Pad 2 (Warm)
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x497C78

17 - Percussive Organ
21 - Accordian
29 - Overdriven Guitar
30 - Distortion Guitar
33 - Electric Bass (Fingered)
56 - Trumpet
62 - SynthBrass 1
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x498278

17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
33 - Electric Bass (Fingered)
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
87 - Bass + Lead
92 - Pad 5 (Bowed)
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x498878

4 - Used as synth by the game.
14 - Tubular Bells
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
29 - Overdriven Guitar
30 - Distortion Guitar
31 - Guitar Harmonics
48 - Strings
53 - Voice Oohs
56 - Trumpet
60 - French Horn
62 - SynthBrass 1
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x498E78

4 - Used as synth.
5 - Used as synth by the game.
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff

0x499478

14 - Tubular Bells
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth

0x499898

01 - Bright Acoustic
21 - Accordian
48 - Strings
58 - Trombone
73 - Flute
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x499E98
4 - Used as synth
14 - Tubular Bells
17 - Percussive Organ
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth

0x49A2F4

01 - Bright Acoustic
05 - Used as synth.
46 - Harp
56 - Trumpet
58 - Trombone
73 - Flute
81 - Sawtooth
92 - Pad 5 (Bowed)
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x49A8F4

04 - Used as synth.
05 - Used as synth.
12 - Marimba(Used as synth here).
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
46 - Harp
48 - Strings
73 - Flute
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth

0x49AEF4

01 - Bright Acoustic
14 - Tubular Bells
17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
58 - Trombone
73 - Flute
75 - Pan Flute
78 - Whistle

0x49B4F4

17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
31 - Guitar Harmonics
48 - Strings
62 - SynthBrass 1
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x49BAF4

17 - Percussive Organ
21 - Accordian
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
56 - Trumpet
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x49C0F4

17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
45 - Pizzicato Strings
48 - Strings
60 - French Horn
73 - Flute
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth

0x49C6F4

17 - Percussive Organ
75 - Pan Flute
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x49CCF4

47 - Timpani
56 - Trumpet
58 - Trombone
73 - Flute
81 - Sawtooth
82 - Calliope
83 - Chiff

0x49D0E4

45 - Pizzicato Strings
47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
60 - French Horn
73 - Flute
81 - Sawtooth
82 - Calliope
83 - Chiff
85 - Voice
86 - Lead 7 fifths
89 - Pad 2 (Warm)

0x49D528

4 - Electric Piano 1
17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
73 - Flute
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
92 - Pad 5 (Bowed)
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x49DB28

1 - Bright Acoustic
4 - Electric Piano 1
17 - Percussive Organ
25 - Acoustic Guitar Steel
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x49E128

1 - Bright Acoustic
30 - Distortion Guitar
38 - Synth Bass 1
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
82 - Calliope
83 - Chiff
92 - Pad 5 (Bowed)

0x49E884

13 - Xylophone
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
87 - Bass + Lead

0x49F16C
13 - Xylophone
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth

0x49F58C

1 - Bright Acoustic
2 - Electric Grand
56 - Trumpet
60 - French Horn
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
83 - Chiff

0x4A01E0

47 - Timpani
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
58 - Trombone
60 - French Horn
81 - Sawtooth

0x4A0600

24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
35 - Fretless Bass
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x4A1008

14 - Tubular Bells
29 - Overdriven Guitar
30 - Distortion Guitar
33 - Electric Bass (Fingered)
48 - Strings
53 - Voice Oohs
60 - French Horn
62 - SynthBrass 1
78 - Whistle
81 - Sawtooth
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x4A1C08

01 - Bright Acoustic
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
56 - Trumpet
60 - French Horn
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x4A2208

17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x4A2808

17 - Percussive Organ
24 - Acoustic Guitar Nylon
48 - Strings
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
82 - Calliope
126 - Applause(Used as Drum Noise)
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

0x4A0C00

14 - Tubular Bells
31 - Guitar Harmonics
38 - Synth Bass 1
80 - Square
81 - Sawtooth
85 - Voice(For once, it's actually not used as Synth)

0x4A1608
01 - Bright Acoustic
81 - Sawtooth
127 - Gunshot(Used as Drum Noise)

So yeah, that was the list. Next I'm gonna cover choosing the right voicegroup for your song.

Choosing the Right Voicegroup

When the choosing the voicegroup you want to use, you should generally pick a voicegroup that has a lot of the same instruments that are in your midi. For instance, if your midi uses strings, trumpets, but also guitars, you want to find a voicegroup that has all of those. If you find a voicegroup with most of the same instruments, you can either try your luck or change some of the instruments in that midi, so that they're all in that particular voicegroup. If a particular instrument isn't in any voicegroup, it will probably have to be substituted for some other instrument.

But I'm confused, my tracks have different numbers than the ones used on the GBA...

If you have standard midi software, the track numbers are probably going to be different than what's used on the GBA. I don't know if this'll work for your particular midi program but to get the GBA track number, I take the general midi track number and subtract it by one. So say my general midi program has 57 for the track number of the trumpet, it would be track number 56 in the Pokemon games. Your midi program might also have different names for instruments than mine, but it's generally gonna be in the same order. Hopes this helps you guys gain an understanding.

And yeah, that's the tutorial guys... Hoped it help you out.

Wow this info is great
this will help a lot of people

thanks a bunch! my new theme sounds terrible, but now it presumably won't!

For a hacker like me, who wants to learn music hacking ,that's really useful ;)
the only critism: Maybe you should make a spoiler or a code, so ppl don't have to scroll down everytime when they want to post ^^
I also have a question: Do you know how to change the instruments in a voicegroup per hex?

It's not necessary because you listed the voicegroup instruments, but sometimes adjusting the playing instruments to a voicegroup just sounds crappy -.-

The gba supports diffrent soun modes and things. These are just what FR uses, theres more than these though.

cooley said:

Magnius: I want to know, when you are decoding the sounds, how would you know, which instrument is which? There are a bunch of them, and you can't really tell each by the sound, or Do you use a program, like anvil studio?

Click to expand...

Well yeah, that's the only way I know of of actually changing the instruments in a midi, to use a program. That way you can change the instruments and you'll be able to tell most instruments regardless of what kind of midi software your computer has.

I understand it all now. The only problem is vista not assembling the songs. If i could do that then this would be pretty simple. Good job Magnius for another tutorial!

Wrong.

Vista does assemble songs properly. Though, you need to restart Sappy after 3 assemblies. And if you already didn't do so, consider upgrading your copy of Vista to Service Pack 1, that may help.

Do all these instruments come with Sappy?
Cause I am using MAGIX.

[shitsurei shimasu]

Good job, Magnius.

BTW percussion (drums and every beat-making instruments except the noise) owns instrument 0, and some of the voicegroups, particularly those used in R/S/E music, have different set of percussion than in those used in FR/LG music.

[shitsurei shimasuta]

Another note is, 35 - Fretless Bass, atleast for me won't play in Sappy, however, it WILL still play in game, so even if you don't hear it in Sappy, it'll still work. Same is true for track 33 - Electric Bass too.

Thanks for this, should really help me out.
Sometimes in the game, I can hear static in with the custom music, although not in sappy. Is this
because I have used the wrong voice group?

Good, this is very helpful. Thanx Magnius! My sappy doesn't work anyway but i'm trying to fix it (crashes when click "play" and "assemble that ugly thing"). Some day I'll be able to make it work.

P.d: Maybe I'm missing some drivers, despite that I downloaded every .dll it was telling at each error.

i always get runtime error 13" type mismatch error for sappy 05 and and sappy 06 wont work at al on my pc i have vista and i couldnt get it to wooork on my friends XP computer

nice

i dont know wat is all this about but i think its a great thing thanks mungius (sorry for spelling ur name wrong) hope this helps zel and also the other hackers

Keeping this up, so it doesn't get locked.

Made a few updates to the list. Might also add each voicegroups specific wave instruments. I've discovered more instruments in some voicesets, so I've also added those.

:D This will very much help me