Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
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Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
Some games on the Super Nintendo have an option to choose between stereo and mono sound, but not all.
For example, I've heard that "A Link to the Past" shifts Link's sound effects to the left and right speaker according to his position on the screen. Yet, the game has no option to also switch to mono sound completely.
So, what was the intended way to play Super Nintendo games back in the day when many CRT TVs had no stereo sound, but when the game didn't provide a mono option?
(Apart from using the crappy RF input instead of the AV input, that is.)
For example, I've heard that "A Link to the Past" shifts Link's sound effects to the left and right speaker according to his position on the screen. Yet, the game has no option to also switch to mono sound completely.
So, what was the intended way to play Super Nintendo games back in the day when many CRT TVs had no stereo sound, but when the game didn't provide a mono option?
(Apart from using the crappy RF input instead of the AV input, that is.)
My game "City Trouble":
Gameplay video: https://youtu.be/Eee0yurkIW4
Download (ROM, manual, artworks): http://www.denny-r-walter.de/city.html
Gameplay video: https://youtu.be/Eee0yurkIW4
Download (ROM, manual, artworks): http://www.denny-r-walter.de/city.html
Re: Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
The SNES's set-up manual showed a combiner cable for the Left and Right channels.
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Re: Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
Thanks. I had a look into a PDF file of the manual and yes, it's there:
http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/ ... manual.pdf
(page 6)
Is this the one that needs to be used?
www.ebay.com/itm/132145648654
I'm asking because it's called "splitter", even though the cable on the Super Nintendo is supposed to merge something, so I'm not sure.
http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/ ... manual.pdf
(page 6)
Is this the one that needs to be used?
www.ebay.com/itm/132145648654
I'm asking because it's called "splitter", even though the cable on the Super Nintendo is supposed to merge something, so I'm not sure.
My game "City Trouble":
Gameplay video: https://youtu.be/Eee0yurkIW4
Download (ROM, manual, artworks): http://www.denny-r-walter.de/city.html
Gameplay video: https://youtu.be/Eee0yurkIW4
Download (ROM, manual, artworks): http://www.denny-r-walter.de/city.html
Re: Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
Those kind of splitters can go backwards too.
Here come the fortune cookies! Here come the fortune cookies! They're wearing paper hats!
Re: Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
A Y splitter would short the L/R signals together, but a Y combiner should connect each channel through a resistor. So I don't know if that one would be suitable or not.
Re: Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
So, in case this splitter wouldn't work backwards, where do I find a proper combiner that's called like that right from the beginning?Memblers wrote:A Y splitter would short the L/R signals together, but a Y combiner should connect each channel through a resistor. So I don't know if that one would be suitable or not.
My game "City Trouble":
Gameplay video: https://youtu.be/Eee0yurkIW4
Download (ROM, manual, artworks): http://www.denny-r-walter.de/city.html
Gameplay video: https://youtu.be/Eee0yurkIW4
Download (ROM, manual, artworks): http://www.denny-r-walter.de/city.html
Re: Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
I don't know about the accuracy of the information, but pinouts.ru specifies pin 11 and pin 12 as stereo sum (mono) and stereo difference. Can anyone confirm/deny?
http://pinouts.ru/Game/n64video_pinout.shtml
http://pinouts.ru/Game/n64video_pinout.shtml
Re: Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
I imagine that there's enough resistance in the output drivers to make a splitter act as a mixer.
- rainwarrior
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Re: Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
It will work.DRW wrote:So, in case this splitter wouldn't work backwards, where do I find a proper combiner that's called like that right from the beginning?
A passive mixer like a simple splitter cable can fail in cases where the two inputs are mismatched for this purpose, but that's not the case with the SNES' two audio outputs.
For the generic problem of combining two signals from two different devices, you would use an active (i.e. powered) mixer, which will feed each input into a separate amplifier/buffer. The buffers in a mixer device separate their output from the input, so that an imbalance in impedance won't cause the two inputs to interfere with each other. Their amplified output can then be mixed by a passive mixer component (e.g. a couple of variable resistors attached to knobs to let you adjust individual volume). Generic audio mixers are available in a variety of sizes, though they tend to made to do a lot more than just simply mix two channels. Simpler products might exist.
Anyhow, you don't need to worry about this. The SNES is already built to work with a splitter.
Last edited by rainwarrior on Sun May 21, 2017 11:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
- mikejmoffitt
- Posts: 1353
- Joined: Sun May 27, 2012 8:43 pm
Re: Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
I've read this, and it seems false. Every SNES/SFC I've used sure treats the two outputs like independent channels.nitro2k01 wrote:I don't know about the accuracy of the information, but pinouts.ru specifies pin 11 and pin 12 as stereo sum (mono) and stereo difference. Can anyone confirm/deny?
http://pinouts.ru/Game/n64video_pinout.shtml
Re: Setting the Super Nintendo to mono
The official schematics (and jwdonal's redrawn version of same) show that they're L/R, not M/S. Also that they're current-limited by a 1k resistor, making a mono downmix as easy as just shorting them together.