Retro Song Bird: a new device turns your Game Boy cartridges into a chiptune jukebox

What if you could listen to a Game Boy game's soundtrack like a regular record, just by plugging the cartridge into a dedicated player? That's the idea behind Retro Song Bird, a newly announced device that turns any original Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridge into a jukebox, thanks to register-level sound emulation claimed to be fully accurate to the original hardware.

The concept is built around simplicity: plug in a cartridge, browse the game's track list using the device's buttons, and the audio comes out straight to a hi-fi system or speakers. Over 1,900 cartridges are reportedly already recognised by the system. The device goes well beyond a simple music player though, it can also export tracks to WAV format, back up save data, dump the ROM, flash writable carts, and even plug into a Game Boy Camera to be used as a USB webcam.

An open API for tinkerers

Retro Song Bird also includes a 'remix' feature that splits each of the Game Boy sound chip's four audio channels into its own USB audio stream, a treat for chiptune musicians looking for new production tools. The manufacturer also promises WiFi connectivity for remote firmware updates and an open API for third-party developers. Full technical details and the waiting list are available on the official Retro Song Bird website, with the device slated for release later this year.

Source: Time Extension