The raw audio samples used by the instruments. Step 4: Export to MIDI
| Tool | Primary Function | Key Features & "Verified" Credentials | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | A Swiss Army knife for converting Nintendo DS music data to various formats. | - One of the most time-tested methods for converting DS audio. - Can extract both the sequence (MIDI) and the instrument bank (as .dls or .sf2 ), preserving the authentic sound. - Its long history in the game audio community adds to its reputation as a reliable tool. | | Foobar2000 + vio2sf plugin | For playback and high-quality audio rendering. | - Provides the most authentic playback of .mini2sf files, which serves as a "reference" sound for verification. - You can verify a converted MIDI file's accuracy by comparing it to the audio rendered by Foobar2000. | | VGMToolbox | A comprehensive tool for various video game-related tasks, including DS audio extraction. | - A powerful alternative that can sometimes handle complex files that stump other tools. - Its broad feature set makes it a valuable tool in any game audio archivist's kit. | | SSEQ2MIDI | A command-line utility with a very specific purpose. | - Directly converts SSEQ sequence data (often the data inside .mini2sf files) to MIDI. - Useful for advanced users who want more control or to automate parts of the process. | | NDS Sound Extractor | A tool for extracting audio from Nintendo DS ROM images. | - A simple tool for pulling raw music data directly from a DS ROM for use in other programs. |
: Unlike WAV or MP3, mini2sf files contain instructions (notes) and sound fonts. Converting to MIDI only extracts the notes. To hear the "correct" sound, you must also convert the accompanying BANK or SDAT files into a usable soundfont format like DLS or SF2 . mini2sf to midi verified
Right-click the corresponding or the collection folder in VGMTrans. Select "Save as SF2" (SoundFont 2) or "Save as DLS" .
: Ensure the mini2sf file is in the same folder as its parent .2sflib file, as the sequence often relies on data stored there. Use VGMTrans : Open the sequence in VGMTrans. Export : Right-click the sequence and select "Save as MIDI". The raw audio samples used by the instruments
The "Verified" aspect usually refers to community efforts (often found on forums like SMW Central, VGMusic, or specialized Discord servers) where converted MIDIs are checked against the original OST to ensure no notes were dropped during the conversion.
Use a soundfont player (like Sforzando or FL Studio's Fruity LSD) to load the .sf2 file you extracted in Step 5. - Can extract both the sequence (MIDI) and
This workflow uses the tools above to ensure accuracy from start to finish. Let's assume you have your game files ready.
To understand the review, you have to understand the file types: