Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
SSEQ_0005 from Mario Kart DS, restored to its highest possible quality using the original instrument sources (where applicable/possible)
This track goes unused.
To Be Continued...
You can find these restorations available for listening and downloading (.WAV and .FLAC) here:
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pz1BknPpJrULU6KKxCb9iCSa3Nx35PA6?usp=drive_link
Full Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2BKaM3wSlVbiCD4W99b9Gazd4BdpH9Sz&si=L5Ke3MbjPf9sidY8
Q&A:
Q: I'm confused, what's a restoration?
A: Think of it as kind of a remaster. These songs are usually in pretty low quality, typically because of the hardware constraints that the console it was from had. So, the original sources of the instruments were found, usually from a synth or sample CD, and then they're replaced with those higher quality versions to create a higher quality sounding version.
Q: How do you make these?
A: Simple, for Mario Kart DS specifically, I just open the ROM in a program called VGMTrans, which then extracts all of the music from the game, which I can then save as a MIDI (+ DLS since i use FL Studio). After that, it's just finding the original samples, and replacing them.
Sometimes, when there are pitch bends, they are played incorrectly when you just open a MIDI in FL Studio, so using the Level Scaling tool, I can make them as accurate as possible.
Q: How do you find the samples for these?
A: All of these samples are documented on the NEWER VGM Sound Sources spreadsheet. If you're curious, you can check that out here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JJBlHHDc65fhZmKUGLrDTLCm6rfUU83-kbuD8Y0zU0o
Q: What specifically do you use for the samples?
A: Mario Kart DS uses many samples from the KORG TRITON, Roland JV-1080, Roland XV-5080, and an assortment of different sound library CDs. Many of those CDs can be found on websites like Internet Archive, or can also be found uploaded on the VGM & Other Instrument Sources Discord server, which you can join here: discord.com/invite/m4qzYNGHuS
Those synthesizers can be either bought physically (expensive), or also have a VST which is also paid but not as much as buying a physical version. If you want those for free, you figure that part out yourself.
Q: What DAW/equipment do you use?
A: I said this before, but I use FL Studio for all of these restorations. I don't have any fancy equipment besides a DT 770 Pro. But I wish I did.
Q: Can you do (game song) restoration?
A: Depends. Is it from a game with documented sound sources? Is it a game that I would want to do a restoration for? Is it a game where it is possible/reasonable to create one for? If the answer for those is yes, then the answer is, yes I can, might, or I'm already doing it. If not, then No.
SSEQ_0005 from Mario Kart DS, restored to its highest possible quality using the original instrument sources (where applicable/possible)
This track goes unused.
To Be Continued...
You can find these restorations available for listening and downloading (.WAV and .FLAC) here:
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pz1BknPpJrULU6KKxCb9iCSa3Nx35PA6?usp=drive_link
Full Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2BKaM3wSlVbiCD4W99b9Gazd4BdpH9Sz&si=L5Ke3MbjPf9sidY8
Q&A:
Q: I'm confused, what's a restoration?
A: Think of it as kind of a remaster. These songs are usually in pretty low quality, typically because of the hardware constraints that the console it was from had. So, the original sources of the instruments were found, usually from a synth or sample CD, and then they're replaced with those higher quality versions to create a higher quality sounding version.
Q: How do you make these?
A: Simple, for Mario Kart DS specifically, I just open the ROM in a program called VGMTrans, which then extracts all of the music from the game, which I can then save as a MIDI (+ DLS since i use FL Studio). After that, it's just finding the original samples, and replacing them.
Sometimes, when there are pitch bends, they are played incorrectly when you just open a MIDI in FL Studio, so using the Level Scaling tool, I can make them as accurate as possible.
Q: How do you find the samples for these?
A: All of these samples are documented on the NEWER VGM Sound Sources spreadsheet. If you're curious, you can check that out here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JJBlHHDc65fhZmKUGLrDTLCm6rfUU83-kbuD8Y0zU0o
Q: What specifically do you use for the samples?
A: Mario Kart DS uses many samples from the KORG TRITON, Roland JV-1080, Roland XV-5080, and an assortment of different sound library CDs. Many of those CDs can be found on websites like Internet Archive, or can also be found uploaded on the VGM & Other Instrument Sources Discord server, which you can join here: discord.com/invite/m4qzYNGHuS
Those synthesizers can be either bought physically (expensive), or also have a VST which is also paid but not as much as buying a physical version. If you want those for free, you figure that part out yourself.
Q: What DAW/equipment do you use?
A: I said this before, but I use FL Studio for all of these restorations. I don't have any fancy equipment besides a DT 770 Pro. But I wish I did.
Q: Can you do (game song) restoration?
A: Depends. Is it from a game with documented sound sources? Is it a game that I would want to do a restoration for? Is it a game where it is possible/reasonable to create one for? If the answer for those is yes, then the answer is, yes I can, might, or I'm already doing it. If not, then No.
