The Ultimate Guide to VGM MIDI Converters: Ripping Retro Classics

For music producers, retro enthusiasts, and game developers, the ability to extract melodies from vintage video games is a form of digital archaeology. A VGM MIDI Converter is the essential tool for this task, allowing you to turn raw sound-chip data into flexible MIDI sequences that can be edited, remixed, or used to trigger modern synthesizers. What is a VGM MIDI Converter?

VGM (Video Game Music) files are essentially "instruction manuals" for a console's sound chip. They tell chips like the Sega Genesis YM2612 or the SNES S-SMP exactly which notes to play and which parameters to tweak in real-time.

A VGM MIDI Converter translates these chip-specific commands into standard MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) data. While the original VGM contains the exact timber and "crunch" of the retro hardware, the converted MIDI file captures the musical notes, timing, and velocity, making it readable by any Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) like Ableton Live or FL Studio. Top Tools for Converting VGM to MIDI

Depending on your platform and the specific game system you're ripping from, different tools offer varying levels of accuracy. 1. VGMTrans (Recommended)

VGMTrans is arguably the most powerful tool for modern users. It is a cross-platform application that can scan game ROMs (especially for Nintendo DS and PlayStation) to find and convert sequenced music into MIDI and SoundFont2 (SF2) formats. Best for: Nintendo DS, PS1, and sequenced GBA music.

Key Feature: It allows you to export the MIDI and the corresponding SoundFont simultaneously, preserving the original instrument sounds. 2. vgm2mid (The Classic Choice)

Maintained by the VGMRips community, vgm2mid is a lightweight utility dedicated to converting .vgm files directly to .mid. It supports a wide range of sound chips including the Sega Genesis and various arcade boards. Best for: Sega Master System, Game Gear, and Genesis music.

Note: You often need to match the project BPM in your DAW to the one set in the tool for perfect timing. 3. Vgm2Midi by Ben Ryves

A specialized tool for converting PSG (Programmable Sound Generator) files, commonly found in 8-bit systems.

Limitation: It primarily supports PSG files and can produce "messy" MIDI files because it uses pitch-wheel data for fine-tuning retro frequencies. Why Convert VGM to MIDI?

VGMTrans - a tool to convert proprietary, sequenced ... - GitHub

A VGM (Video Game Music) to MIDI converter is a utility designed to translate sound data from retro game sound chips into standard MIDI sequence files. While VGM files contain the raw data used by a console's sound hardware to play music, MIDI files represent note events, making the music editable in modern digital audio workstations (DAWs). Common Conversion Tools

Several specialized tools exist for this process, each with varying levels of chip support:

vgm2mid: One of the most prominent tools, originally written by Paul Jensen and currently maintained by Valley Bell. It processes VGMs into MIDI sequences and supports a wide range of sound chips.

VGMTrans: This tool scans files for embedded music assets and can convert proprietary sequenced formats (like those from PS1, PS2, and SNES) into MIDI and SoundFont (SF2/DLS) files.

Ben Ryves' Vgm2Midi: A simpler program specifically developed for converting PSG (Programmable Sound Generator) VGM files to MIDI.

jvgmtrans: A Java-based converter that handles FM and PCM data, though it requires manual arrangement in a sequencer to fix tone and drum mapping after conversion. How the Conversion Works

Unlike simple format swapping, VGM to MIDI conversion is complex because the two formats represent music differently: dksrphm/jvgmtrans: VGM to MIDI converter in Java - GitHub

VGM (Video Game Music) conversion tools are essential bridges between the rigid world of retro hardware and modern music production. While several tools exist, they generally serve to translate instructions intended for old sound chips—like the Sega Genesis's Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or the Master System's Go to product viewer dialog for this item. —into universal MIDI sequences. The Core Tools

The landscape of VGM conversion is defined by a few key projects that have evolved over decades:

VGM2MID (VGM to MIDI): Originally developed by Paul Jensen in Visual Basic and currently maintained by Valley Bell, this is a staple for retro music enthusiasts. It is frequently used for chip-accurate logging, where exact commands sent to sound chips are translated into MIDI notes.

Vgm2Midi (by Ben Ryves): Created around 2006, this lightweight tool specifically targets PSG (Programmable Sound Generator) VGM files. It was often used to create mobile phone ringtones from classic game music.

VGMTrans: A more comprehensive, cross-platform tool used not just for VGM, but for "ripping" sequenced music from entire ROMs, such as those for the Nintendo DS or PlayStation. It allows users to export music as MIDI along with SoundFonts (.SF2) to recreate the original console sounds accurately in a DAW. How the Conversion Works

Converting VGM to MIDI is not a simple file-type swap because VGM files contain raw hardware instructions, while MIDI contains musical notation.

Parsing: The converter reads the VGM header to identify which sound chips the game used (e.g., Yamaha or Texas Instruments chips).

Command Processing: It interprets chip register writes—instructions telling a chip to change its frequency or volume—over time.

Translation: These frequencies are mapped to MIDI keys. For example, some tools use A440 (MIDI key 69) as a reference to keep the music in tune.

Channel Mapping: Each channel of a console's sound chip (typically 3–4 for older systems) is mapped to a separate MIDI channel. Challenges and Limitations

The "feel" of a classic game track is often lost in conversion because MIDI cannot perfectly replicate the quirks of vintage hardware.

Synthesizer Mismatch: MIDI synthesizers use instruments with attack, sustain, and decay, whereas old sound chips often output simple square waves at fixed amplitudes.

Extra Data: To simulate complex effects like vibrato or slow fades, converters often generate a massive number of pitch wheel or volume commands, making the resulting MIDI files unusually large.

Manual Rework: Most professionals use these converters only to create a "skeleton." They must later clean up the notes and manually re-assign instruments in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to make the song sound polished. vgm2midi - Yarn Classic

The Ultimate Guide to VGM MIDI Converters A VGM MIDI converter is a specialized tool used to translate Video Game Music (VGM) files—which contain raw data logs for console sound chips—into standard MIDI sequence files. This process allows musicians and retro enthusiasts to extract melodies, rhythms, and structures from classic games for use in modern Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) like Ableton Live or FL Studio. How VGM to MIDI Conversion Works

Unlike standard audio files (MP3 or WAV), a VGM file is essentially a list of instructions for a console's hardware, such as the Sega Genesis YM2612 chip or the NES's Ricoh 2A03. A converter must interpret these hardware-specific commands and map them to the universal language of MIDI.

Note Mapping: Tone register values from the sound chip are converted into MIDI keys.

Timing Accuracy: High-quality converters use precise sub-tick delta timing to ensure the MIDI file stays perfectly in sync with the original chiptune.

Pitch & Volume: Since retro chips often use fine-tuning and manual volume envelopes, converters translate these into MIDI pitch bends and Expression (CC#11) data. Top VGM MIDI Converter Software

Selecting the right tool often depends on the specific console or game you are trying to "rip" music from. 1. VGMTrans

VGMTrans is widely considered the gold standard for many chiptune enthusiasts. It is a cross-platform desktop application that detects and converts sequenced game music into MIDI, as well as associated SoundFont2 (SF2) or DLS files to preserve the original instrument sounds. 2. vgm2mid (Paul Jensen / Valley Bell)

This is a classic utility maintained by the community at VGMRips . It is highly effective for logging and converting music from Sega Genesis and Mega Drive games. 3. Modern vgm2midi CLI

A more recent, accurate command-line tool found on platforms like Yarn Classic , it offers advanced features like glitch suppression and intelligent percussion mapping for the SN76489 noise channel. 4. Ben Ryves' Vgm2Midi

A lightweight tool specifically designed for PSG (Programmable Sound Generator) files. While older, it is still frequently used for simple conversions of 8-bit master system or game gear tunes into MIDI. Challenges in Conversion

You should be aware that conversion is rarely "perfect". Because MIDI is event-based and hardware chips are frequency-based, you may encounter: vgm2midi - Yarn Classic

3. Typical Workflow Using VGM2MID (Command Line)

vgm2mid input.vgm output.mid

• Keeps tempo, basic note on/off.
• Drum channels mapped to MIDI channel 10.
• Pitch bends may be ignored; vibrato/LFO lost.

The Search for the Perfect Tool

For years, the community struggled. Forums like SMS Power and VGMrips became the laboratories. We tried everything. There was VGM2MID, a clunky DOS-era tool that felt like defusing a bomb. There was GYM2MID for the Genesis crowd.

We weren't doing this for piracy; we were doing it for preservation and creativity. We wanted to transcribe the soaring strings of Streets of Rage for a real orchestra. We wanted to import the bassline of Thunder Force IV into a synthesizer.

I remember spending a summer weekend in the early 2000s trying to convert the soundtrack of Phantasy Star IV. The Yamaha YM2612 chip was a beast. It used a technique called FM Synthesis. It was mathematics making music. The converter I was using—VGM2MID 0.3 beta—struggled mightily.

It couldn't distinguish between a "note" and a "register write." When the Genesis wanted to change the pitch of a note, it didn't just send a new pitch; it sent a command that looked like a glitch to MIDI. My output file was a mess. The tempo was wrong because the converter couldn't decide if the song was 120 BPM or 60,000 ticks per second. The sustain pedal channel was stuck "on" indefinitely.

It was a mess. But it was a start.

1. Purpose

VGM files store register writes to sound chips, not note/event data. Converting to MIDI requires:

• Parsing register writes into channel/note events.
• Mapping chip-specific parameters (e.g., PSG noise, FM operators) to MIDI CC or pitch bends.
• Timing preservation (VGM has 44.1/48kHz sample-accurate ticks → MIDI PPQ).

Part 7: Limitations and Troubleshooting

No converter is perfect. Here are common issues you will face with VGM MIDI converters:

How VGM Works

Imagine a player piano roll. A VGM file tells the emulated sound chip:

• Which note to play (frequency)
• When to play it (timestamp)
• Which instrument/patch to use (often a Program Change or PSG tone)
• Volume changes, panning, and pitch bends.

Common chips logged in VGM files include:

• SN76489 (Sega Master System, Game Gear, early IBM PC)
• YM2612 (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive – FM synthesis)
• AY-3-8910 (Amstrad CPC, MSX)
• YM2151 (Arcade games, Sharp X68000)

Because VGM files are instruction sets rather than audio, they are incredibly small—often 50KB for a 3-minute song. However, they are tied to specific hardware emulation.

Part 3: What Does a Vgm Midi Converter Actually Do?

At its core, a VGM to MIDI converter parses the VGM log and outputs a standard .mid file. The process involves several critical steps:

Step 3: Advanced Options

To separate channels better:

vgm2mid.exe example.vgm output.mid --psg-force-per-channel --fm-force-per-channel

This prevents merging of left/right audio into one MIDI track.