Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Grant's compositions for Donkey Kong 64, though splendid in their own right, sounded more like Banjo-Kazooie than Donkey Kong Country. The team originally set out to make a 2.5D adventure with Eveline Fischer composing, but switched to an open-world collect-a-thon with Grant leading the charge. Most of the songs were adapted from unused Banjo-Kazooie and Project Dream beta music, which you can find on YouTube. The compositions themselves were great, but minimal, and lacking the sound design and atmosphere which the DKC series was known for. I'll be creating covers reimagining the soundtrack much closer to Donkey Kong Country. Today we cover Crystal Caves
Grant's compositions for Donkey Kong 64, though splendid in their own right, sounded more like Banjo-Kazooie than Donkey Kong Country. The team originally set out to make a 2.5D adventure with Eveline Fischer composing, but switched to an open-world collect-a-thon with Grant leading the charge. Most of the songs were adapted from unused Banjo-Kazooie and Project Dream beta music, which you can find on YouTube. The compositions themselves were great, but minimal, and lacking the sound design and atmosphere which the DKC series was known for. I'll be creating covers reimagining the soundtrack much closer to Donkey Kong Country. Today we cover Crystal Caves
![Donkey Kong 64 - Jungle Japes: All Themes [Restored]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rUrjqrdeeGo/mqdefault.jpg "Donkey Kong 64 - Jungle Japes: All Themes [Restored]
If you like these restorations, consider donating at https://www.patreon.com/JamminSam or https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Z48HC6C37U8AY&source=url
Download: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QLJ9luJ8LTJGV-kxHKECUHjAF850zsAp?usp=sharing
Jungle Japes Lobby, Main Themes 1 & 2, Caves, Storm, Rambi Theme, Barrel Course, Mine Cart, and Boss variations. Composed by Grant Kirkhope. Recreated by me. This is not part of a project to restore the entire DK64 soundtrack. This was made possible MIDI data ripped from the ROM and rebuilding the soundtrack from the ground up using digital versions of the original sound hardware that was used to compose the game, applying some modern mixing techniques along the way to lift the veil of 16bit compression and create an updated listening experience.
00:00 Lobby
00:54 Main Theme
02:57 Caves
05:46 Main Theme 2
07:48 Storm
08:48 Rambi
09:29 Underground
11:06 Mine Cart
12:47 Barrel Course
13:47 Boss
Footage recorded in Project 64
Thumbnail source: https://mx.pinterest.com/pin/dk64-render 712765078532919906/
Sound sources: E-Mu Proteus FX (Jungle Drum), Roland L-CDP Guitar & Bass (FInger Bass), E-Mu Classic Series (Tumba, Maracas, Cabasa, Taiko, Temple Blocks, Guitar Mutes, French Horn, Tenor Sax), Roland L-CDP Solo Brass (Trombone, Harmon Mute Trumpet, Trumpet, Tuba), Roland L-CDP Orchestral Winds (Flute vibrato, Bassoon), Hollywood Edge Animal Trax (Avocet), Hollywood Edge Premiere Edition 1 (Wren, Peacock, Parrot), Hanna-Barbera Sound Effects Library (Kookaburra, Crane, Lion), Sound Ideas Series 6000 (Blue Jay, Eerie Wind), Sound Ideas Series 1000 (Crow), Warner Bros SFX Library (Elephant), Roland L-CDP-01 Drums & Cymbals (Real Hats, B-Ball Kick), Roland L-CDP Orchestral Perc (Crash, Concert Bass Drum, Timpani, Triangle, Orchestral Snare, Snare Roll), Roland L-CDC Jazz Composer (BBB Brush Snare), Roland L-CDP Africa (Bass Marimba, Marimba, Pan Pipes), Hollywood Edge Premiere Edition 4 (Water Drops), Roland L-CDP String Sections (Violins, Violas, Cellos, Basses), Dexed VST with original DX7 Factory Presets (Clav 1), Sytrus (Synth Bass),
More info: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Sv7EcyF530VtNz5xw3HeiNuKswCln5uXqqE2AFha4ik/edit?pli=1&gid=1982211050#gid=1982211050")
![Donkey Kong 64 - Angry Aztec: Temple [Restored]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s4ej2G59rUA/mqdefault.jpg "Donkey Kong 64 - Angry Aztec: Temple [Restored]
If you like these restorations, consider donating at https://www.patreon.com/JamminSam or https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Z48HC6C37U8AY&source=url
Download: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QLJ9luJ8LTJGV-kxHKECUHjAF850zsAp?usp=sharing
Composed by Grant Kirkhope. Recreated by me. This is not part of a project to restore the entire DK64 soundtrack. This was made possible MIDI data ripped from the ROM and rebuilding the soundtrack from the ground up using digital versions of the original sound hardware that was used to compose the game, applying some modern mixing techniques along the way to lift the veil of 16bit compression and create an updated listening experience. Follow me on Twitter for more updates: https://twitter.com/PrinceSamlet
Footage recorded in Project 64, edited in Da Vinci Resolve (free version)
Thumbnail source: Donkey Kong Country Returns, Golden Temple
Sound sources: E-Mu Classic Series (Taiko, Choir Aah, Celeste), Roland L-CDP-14 Africa (Marimba), Roland L-CDP-03 Orchestral Percussion (Wood Block, Clave, Vibraslap), Roland JV-80-02 Orchestral (Harp), Sytrus (Theremin)
For more info, check out the sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Sv7EcyF530VtNz5xw3HeiNuKswCln5uXqqE2AFha4ik/")
![Donkey Kong Country 3 GBA - Rockface Rumble [Restored]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tCnYCEf5vdw/mqdefault.jpg "Donkey Kong Country 3 GBA - Rockface Rumble [Restored]
If you like these restorations, consider donating at https://www.patreon.com/JamminSam or https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Z48HC6C37U8AY&source=url
Download:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-lapUXs2TJTCD6E1TsDXsdsIa42MpPKZ&usp=drive_fs
Composed by David Wise. Recreated by me, transcribing the song by ear and rebuilding the soundtrack from the ground up using the same patches that the game sources its sounds from, as well as recreations of the synth patches, applying some modern mixing techniques along the way to lift the veil of 16bit compression and create an updated listening experience. Special thanks to Miles dumperghost for new sample findings in this song. This restoration was created entirely while traveling in Copenhagen, and uploaded at the airport on the way out.
Thumbnail source: https://donkeykongluvr64.tumblr.com/image/716392766824972288
Game footage recorded from Visual Boy Advance
Edited in Da Vinci Resolve (Free Version) with prism blur, glow, and fast noise FX
Sound sources:
Zero-G Harmonica (Chuckaticka, Pushy, Go More, Going Up), Stylus RMX (Drumloop [100:Slugworth a]), Hans Zimmer Guitars (Lap Slide), Roland Jupiter 8 VST (Synth Strings), E-Mu Classic Series (Piano [Kawaii X], Violin [Solo Violin 2]), Native Instruments FM8 (Synth Bass [DynaBass], Synth Pluck [Exciting]), Sound Ideas Wind Sound Effects (WND01-089), Hollywood Edge Animal Trax (Coyote Single Howl, Bald Eagle Chirps), Sound Ideas Series 6000 Original (Bald Eagle Call)
Effect sources:
Softube Saturation Knob, Parametric EQ 2, Le Petite Excite, Fruity Chorus, TSAR-Reverb, Fruity Delay 3, Fruity Limiter, Maximus
A more detailed list of sources can be found here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Sv7EcyF530VtNz5xw3HeiNuKswCln5uXqqE2AFha4ik/")
![Donkey Kong Country - Ice Cave Chant [Restored] 2025 Mix](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uGuaeLmYklg/mqdefault.jpg "Donkey Kong Country - Ice Cave Chant [Restored] 2025 Mix
If you like these restorations, consider donating at https://www.patreon.com/JamminSam or https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Z48HC6C37U8AY&source=url
Download:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1essT85L8Q-89hprHlnzNbfUEjVs7Gn &usp=drive_fs
Composed by Eveline Novakovic. Recreated by me. This was made possible by using VGMTrans to rip the games data into MIDI format and rebuilding the soundtrack from the ground up using the same patches that the game sources its sounds from, as well as recreations of the synth patches, applying some modern mixing techniques along the way to lift the veil of 16bit compression and create an updated listening experience
Thumbnail source: http://www.dkc-atlas.com/maps/dkc/4-2
Game footage recorded from SNES9x using the TV Mode filter
Other footage from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjiD_LptbM0 and TikTok
Edited in Da Vinci Resolve (Free Version)
Sound sources:
Korg Wavestation (Harp, Airvox, Mini 01-2a), Roland L-CDP Guitar & Bass CD (R-8 Acoustic Bass), E-Mu Classic Series 1-3 (Marimba), Roland Sound Canvas VA (Shakuhachi), Roland D-70 (Fanta Bell)
A more detailed list of sources can be found here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Sv7EcyF530VtNz5xw3HeiNuKswCln5uXqqE2AFha4ik/")
