08986: dkong and clones: Run and jump sounds too low-pitched and quiet, audio is too bassy

ID	Category [?]	Severity [?]	Reproducibility	Date Submitted	Last Update
08986	Sound	Minor	Always	Dec 5, 2024, 02:35	16 days ago

Tester	125scratch	View Status	Public	Platform	MAME (Official Binary)
Assigned To		Resolution	Open	OS	Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
Status [?]	Direction Needed			Driver	nintendo/dkong.cpp
Version	0.272	Fixed in Version		Build	64-bit
		Fixed in Git Commit		Github Pull Request #

Summary	08986: dkong and clones: Run and jump sounds too low-pitched and quiet, audio is too bassy
Description	I am fully aware this issue has been reported before and closed. I am also aware that there are subtle differences in analog audio between individual PCBs, and that cabinet acoustics affect game sound. However, I do not believe the acoustics to be the issue here, and I noticed that on all cabinet and PCB footage I found plus on all-original cabinets that I have played personally, while the pitch of the analog sound does vary slightly between the examples, they all fall within a relatively consistent range, which is always much higher than it sounds in MAME. Additionally they sound louder and crisper. In addition, it's possible that the current low-pass filter being used is a bit heavy on the bass compared to the PCB recordings, maybe one closer to that which is currently used for Donkey Kong Jr. would work better. Video examples: Cabinet: PCB: Update: Here's another great PCB reference:
Steps To Reproduce	Start a game with sound enabled.
Additional Information
Github Commit

Flags
Regression Version
Affected Sets / Systems	dkong and clones

Attached Files

No.22704 125scratch Tester Dec 27, 2024, 01:04	This isn't fully accurate, but it's at least a little closer. Seems to be a modified version of MAME.
No.23162 125scratch Tester Mar 26, 2025, 18:56 edited on: Mar 26, 2025, 18:56	Figured I'd send my own real hardware recording. The low-pass filter does sound closer to how it's currently emulated in Donkey Kong Jr. https://files.catbox.moe/sjk3fs.wav
No.24217 125scratch Tester 18 days ago	I figured I'd send some modified source files I received from Retro Nostalgia on YouTube. This seems like a step in the right direction to me, and the walking sound seems almost perfect. There are issues though. The jump sound still oscillates in pitch a little too quickly compared to original hardware. The filter is largely more accurate and less bassy, but as a side effect, fade-out notes are a bit crackly or poppy. I don't expect these exact changes to be implemented in base MAME, but maybe it could be helpful for achieving more accurate sound emulation. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_YpVXsSQbrCJKE4wCdW0DCJbbnEWPg_I/view?usp=sharing
No.24218 hap Developer 18 days ago	It looks like he mostly changed some res/cap values. If those were tweaked with trial&error listening and not because that's what they are on PCB, then good for him but not good for MAME.
No.24219 125scratch Tester 17 days ago	I still find it hard to believe that the same res/cap values from the PCB would produce a sound so different from any DK cabinet/board I've ever heard, but I won't push it.
No.24226 Robbbert Moderator 16 days ago	Is this ok to resolve now?
No.24229 hap Developer 16 days ago	Why? Nothing was improved in MAME dkong driver recently.