AA2 Week 2 - Game Audio Analysis

Donkey Kong Country (1994)



[1]



SNES - Audio quick reference
Processors Sony SPC700, Sony DSP

Clock Input: 24.576 MHz

Rates SPC700: 1.024 MHz

Format 16-bit ADPCM, 8 channels

Output 32 kHz 16-bit stereo

Effects
* ADSR envelope control
* Frequency scaling and modulation using Gaussian interpolation
* Echo: 8-tap FIR filter, with up to 0.24s delay
* Noise generation


The SFX are of decent quality on the SNES. The audio quality is 16-bit with 8 channels. There is the typical noise generator for basic effects and a frequency generator with an envelope to shape the sounds.

The music varies according to different worlds. Each world has some levels that use the same music. E.g. all water levels use the same music and there is a water level in each world.

There is a new soundtrack for the first level in each world and it acts as a signature sound for that world.

The seven worlds are:
Kongo Jungle
Monkey Mines
Vine Valley
Gorilla Glacier
Kremkroc Industries Inc.
Chimp Caverns
Gangplank Galleon[1][2]



[3]



[4]



[4]



The music for this game was so popular that it was released on a CD. This was probably a first for that time. Even when compared to games in the last few years, the soundtrack is of superior quality.[5]



[5]
Quite possibly the best CD ever released. . .



The graphics were also revolutionary because it was the first home console to use pre-rendered 3D graphics. I remember when the game first came out there was talk of the first “3D Game”. I was quite young at the time so I didn’t really know whether the hype was justified. Still, I can say with confidence now that this game is a classic and will be for some time.[1][7]



[6]
The first level. . .



[1] wikipedia. 'Donkey Kong Country', http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong_Country (Accessed 6/8/7)

[2] wikipedia. 'Super Nintendo Entertainment System', http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System (Accessed 6/8/7)

[3] vgmuseum. 'Donkey Kong Country', http://www.vgmuseum.com/reviews/snes/dkc/ (Accessed 6/8/7)

[4] consolepassion. 'Donkey Country Country', http://www.consolepassion.co.uk/review-donkey-kong-country.htm (Accessed 6/8/7)

[5] wikipedia. 'DK Jamz', http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DK_Jamz (Accessed 6/8/7)

[6] youtube. 'Donkey Kong Country Level 1', http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuN9k1qCnRA (Accessed 6/8/7)

[7] Christian Haines "Audio Arts: Semester 2, Week 2: Game Audio Analysis" Lecture presented at the Electronic Music Unit, University of Adelaide, 31st July 2007.