Notes:Pokémon Red and Blue

This page contains notes for the game Pokémon Red and Blue.

The following tables were created with the help of the documentation provided by the Pokémon Red Disassembly Project.

Unused Song

This unused song is simply known as Koukan, which translates to “Trading”. In source/MUSHEAD.DMG, the song's headers are placed after the "follow-me" song (called musautowalk). Unusually, this song is split into two headers, each pointing at different channel data. They are both commented out, and would've had the labels muskoukan1 and muskoukan2.

The usual sound header format in the Pokémon games goes like this: take a four-channel track, for example: C0 xx xx 01 xx xx 02 xx xx 03 xx xx. From left to right, the sound engine will read these series of bytes as follows:

1. Read byte 0xC0 hexadecimal. This encodes the total number of channels as well as which channel should the following pointer be assigned to. The total number of channels are encoded in bits 6–7, which in this case is %11 binary. Throughout this header, a value of 0 is interpreted as 1. So, despite ordinarily meaning 3 in decimal, this actually means 4, therefore the sound has 4 channels. Bits 0–3 encode which channel the following pointer is assigned to, which follows the same convention. Here, it's %00, which means the first Game Boy channel.
2. Read 2 bytes xx xx. The preceding byte says this is to be assigned to channel 1, so this is the pointer that contains the data played on channel 1.
3. We still have 3 more channels to go, so read another byte 0x01. Using the same interpretation as in step 1, this means that we assign the following pointer of 1 channel to channel 2.
4. Read 2 bytes xx xx. The preceding byte says this is to be assigned to channel 2, so this is the pointer that contains the data played on channel 2.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 two more times to cover channels 3 and 4.

The channel assignment numbers start from 0 for music and 4 for sound effects—in which case, giving us four “virtual SFX channels” in channels 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Koukan’s headers both look like this: 02 xx xx. Using the same interpretation rules, this gives both of its parts a header meaning “data for 1 channel to be played through channel 3”.

While the headers were never compiled in the retail ROM, the data itself is, so we can use audio/music/unusedsong.asm from the Pokémon Red & Blue disassembly to help explain things:

• Both channel data has a tempo 144 command listed. Usually, the tempo command is required only in the first channel of a music track. However, because each “channel” actually belongs to two separate headers, the tempo must be defined separately in both channel data as well.
• Both channel data lists the command note_type 12, 1, 0. In the context of channels 1 and 2 (square wave channels), this command doesn't make much sense: it specifies a note type of length 12, volume 1 and 0 fade. A volume of 1 here is the lowest possible volume, and is likely the reason why the “damaged” version sounds quiet. On the other hand, in the context of channel 3 (the wave channel), this command specifies a note type of length 12, volume 1, and wave instrument 0. Here, a volume of 1 encodes the highest possible volume for the wave channel.
• There are no duty cycle commands or anything else that would make sense for a square wave channel.

Taking into consideration the arrangement of the song header as well as the song data above, it can be assumed that the song was likely meant to be played using two Game Boys. There may have been technical reasons why it was scrapped: if one were to speculate, synchronization problems might have been a factor.

It may be also worth noting the source version, KOUKAN.MUS, assigns the channel data to channels 2 and 3, while channels 1 and 4 are all rests. Given the information above, this is likely for ease of composition. In the G/S sources, a version of this file converted into the G/S/C sound commands is mons2/SOURCE/EFFDATA/M_TRADE.DAT, further confirming the song's original purpose.

Additionally, the notes may have been pitched one octave too high. The other unused R/G/B songs that were discovered in the G/S source but were unused seem to have also been pitched too high, if the restorations tell us anything. This could either be as a result of engine changes, or the macros/conversion tooling itself changing.

Base Types

Each Pokémon's cry is built off a "base" that is shared with other Pokémon, often those within the same evolutionary family.

Base Type	Hex	Dec.
Nidoran♂	00	0
Nidoran♀	01	1
Slowpoke	02	2
Kangaskhan	03	3
Charmander	04	4
Grimer	05	5
Voltorb	06	6
Muk	07	7
Oddish	08	8
Raichu	09	9
Nidoqueen	0A	10
Diglett	0B	11
Seel	0C	12
Drowzee	0D	13
Pidgey	0E	14
Bulbasaur	0F	15
Spearow	10	16
Rhydon	11	17
Golem	12	18
Blastoise	13	19
Pidgeotto	14	20
Weedle	15	21
Caterpie	16	22
Ekans	17	23
Fearow	18	24
Clefairy	19	25
Venonat	1A	26
Lapras	1B	27
Metapod	1C	28
Squirtle	1D	29
Paras	1E	30
Growlithe	1F	31
Krabby	20	32
Psyduck	21	33
Rattata	22	34
Vileplume	23	35
Vulpix	24	36
Weepinbell	25	37

Cry Values

This table lists each cry's base, pitch, and length values in both hexadecimal and decimal.

Internal ID		Pokémon	Base Type	Base	Pitch	Length	Base	Pitch	Length
Hex	Dec.			Hex			Dec.
0x01	001	Rhydon	Rhydon	11	00	80	17	0	128
0x02	002	Kangaskhan	Kangaskhan	03	00	80	3	0	128
0x03	003	Nidoran♂	Nidoran♂	00	00	80	0	0	128
0x04	004	Clefairy	Clefairy	19	CC	01	25	204	1
0x05	005	Spearow	Spearow	10	00	80	16	0	128
0x06	006	Voltorb	Voltorb	06	ED	80	6	237	128
0x07	007	Nidoking	Raichu	09	00	80	9	0	128
0x08	008	Slowbro	Growlithe	1F	00	80	31	0	128
0x09	009	Ivysaur	Bulbasaur	0F	20	80	15	32	128
0x0A	010	Exeggutor	Drowzee	0D	00	80	13	0	128
0x0B	011	Lickitung	Seel	0C	00	80	12	0	128
0x0C	012	Exeggcute	Diglett	0B	00	80	11	0	128
0x0D	013	Grimer	Grimer	05	00	80	5	0	128
0x0E	014	Gengar	Muk	07	00	FF	7	0	255
0x0F	015	Nidoran♀	Nidoran♀	01	00	80	1	0	128
0x10	016	Nidoqueen	Nidoqueen	0A	00	80	10	0	128
0x11	017	Cubone	Clefairy	19	00	80	25	0	128
0x12	018	Rhyhorn	Charmander	04	00	80	4	0	128
0x13	019	Lapras	Lapras	1B	00	80	27	0	128
0x14	020	Arcanine	Weedle	15	00	80	21	0	128
0x15	021	Mew	Paras	1E	EE	FF	30	238	255
0x16	022	Gyarados	Ekans	17	00	80	23	0	128
0x17	023	Shellder	Fearow	18	00	80	24	0	128
0x18	024	Tentacool	Venonat	1A	00	80	26	0	128
0x19	025	Gastly	Metapod	1C	00	80	28	0	128
0x1A	026	Scyther	Caterpie	16	00	80	22	0	128
0x1B	027	Staryu	Paras	1E	02	20	30	2	32
0x1C	028	Blastoise	Blastoise	13	00	80	19	0	128
0x1D	029	Pinsir	Pidgeotto	14	00	80	20	0	128
0x1E	030	Tangela	Golem	12	00	80	18	0	128
0x1F	031	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x20	032	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x21	033	Growlithe	Growlithe	1F	20	40	31	32	64
0x22	034	Onix	Ekans	17	FF	C0	23	255	192
0x23	035	Fearow	Fearow	18	40	A0	24	64	160
0x24	036	Pidgey	Pidgey	0E	DF	04	14	223	4
0x25	037	Slowpoke	Slowpoke	02	00	80	2	0	128
0x26	038	Kadabra	Metapod	1C	A8	C0	28	168	192
0x27	039	Graveler	Vulpix	24	00	80	36	0	128
0x28	040	Chansey	Pidgeotto	14	0A	C0	20	10	192
0x29	041	Machoke	Growlithe	1F	48	60	31	72	96
0x2A	042	Mr.Mime	Krabby	20	08	40	32	8	64
0x2B	043	Hitmonlee	Golem	12	80	C0	18	128	192
0x2C	044	Hitmonchan	Seel	0C	EE	C0	12	238	192
0x2D	045	Arbok	Ekans	17	E0	10	23	224	16
0x2E	046	Parasect	Paras	1E	42	FF	30	66	255
0x2F	047	Psyduck	Psyduck	21	20	60	33	32	96
0x30	048	Drowzee	Drowzee	0D	88	20	13	136	32
0x31	049	Golem	Golem	12	E0	40	18	224	64
0x32	050	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x33	051	Magmar	Charmander	04	FF	30	4	255	48
0x34	052	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x35	053	Electabuzz	Voltorb	06	8F	FF	6	143	255
0x36	054	Magneton	Metapod	1C	20	C0	28	32	192
0x37	055	Koffing	Golem	12	E6	DD	18	230	221
0x38	056	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x39	057	Mankey	Nidoqueen	0A	DD	60	10	221	96
0x3A	058	Seel	Seel	0C	88	C0	12	136	192
0x3B	059	Diglett	Diglett	0B	AA	01	11	170	1
0x3C	060	Tauros	Squirtle	1D	11	40	29	17	64
0x3D	061	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x3E	062	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x3F	063	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x40	064	Farfetch'd	Spearow	10	DD	01	16	221	1
0x41	065	Venonat	Venonat	1A	44	40	26	68	64
0x42	066	Dragonite	Bulbasaur	0F	3C	C0	15	60	192
0x43	067	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	80	10	0	128	16
0x44	068	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x45	069	MissingNo.	Squirtle	1D	E0	80	29	224	128
0x46	070	Doduo	Diglett	0B	BB	01	11	187	1
0x47	071	Poliwag	Pidgey	0E	FF	FF	14	255	255
0x48	072	Jynx	Drowzee	0D	FF	FF	13	255	255
0x49	073	Moltres	Raichu	09	F8	40	9	248	64
0x4A	074	Articuno	Raichu	09	80	40	9	128	64
0x4B	075	Zapdos	Fearow	18	FF	80	24	255	128
0x4C	076	Ditto	Pidgey	0E	FF	FF	14	255	255
0x4D	077	Meowth	Clefairy	19	77	10	25	119	16
0x4E	078	Krabby	Krabby	20	20	E0	32	32	224
0x4F	079	MissingNo.	Rattata	22	FF	40	34	255	64
0x50	080	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x51	081	MissingNo.	Pidgey	0E	E0	60	14	224	96
0x52	082	Vulpix	Vulpix	24	4F	10	36	79	16
0x53	083	Ninetales	Vulpix	24	88	60	36	136	96
0x54	084	Pikachu	Bulbasaur	0F	EE	01	15	238	1
0x55	085	Raichu	Raichu	09	EE	08	9	238	8
0x56	086	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x57	087	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x58	088	Dratini	Bulbasaur	0F	60	40	15	96	64
0x59	089	Dragonair	Bulbasaur	0F	40	80	15	64	128
0x5A	090	Kabuto	Caterpie	16	BB	40	22	187	64
0x5B	091	Kabutops	Fearow	18	EE	01	24	238	1
0x5C	092	Horsea	Clefairy	19	99	10	25	153	16
0x5D	093	Seadra	Clefairy	19	3C	01	25	60	1
0x5E	094	MissingNo.	Bulbasaur	0F	40	C0	15	64	192
0x5F	095	MissingNo.	Bulbasaur	0F	20	C0	15	32	192
0x60	096	Sandshrew	Nidoran♂	00	20	40	0	32	64
0x61	097	Sandslash	Nidoran♂	00	FF	FF	0	255	255
0x62	098	Omanyte	Growlithe	1F	F0	01	31	240	1
0x63	099	Omastar	Growlithe	1F	FF	40	31	255	64
0x64	100	Jigglypuff	Pidgey	0E	FF	35	14	255	53
0x65	101	Wigglytuff	Pidgey	0E	68	60	14	104	96
0x66	102	Eevee	Venonat	1A	88	60	26	136	96
0x67	103	Flareon	Venonat	1A	10	20	26	16	32
0x68	104	Jolteon	Venonat	1A	3D	80	26	61	128
0x69	105	Vaporeon	Venonat	1A	AA	FF	26	170	255
0x6A	106	Machop	Growlithe	1F	EE	01	31	238	1
0x6B	107	Zubat	Squirtle	1D	E0	80	29	224	128
0x6C	108	Ekans	Ekans	17	12	40	23	18	64
0x6D	109	Paras	Paras	1E	20	E0	30	32	224
0x6E	110	Poliwhirl	Pidgey	0E	77	60	14	119	96
0x6F	111	Poliwrath	Pidgey	0E	00	FF	14	0	255
0x70	112	Weedle	Weedle	15	EE	01	21	238	1
0x71	113	Kakuna	Blastoise	13	FF	01	19	255	1
0x72	114	Beedrill	Blastoise	13	60	80	19	96	128
0x73	115	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x74	116	Dodrio	Diglett	0B	99	20	11	153	32
0x75	117	Primeape	Nidoqueen	0A	AF	40	10	175	64
0x76	118	Dugtrio	Diglett	0B	2A	10	11	42	16
0x77	119	Venomoth	Venonat	1A	29	80	26	41	128
0x78	120	Dewgong	Seel	0C	23	FF	12	35	255
0x79	121	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x7A	122	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x7B	123	Caterpie	Caterpie	16	80	20	22	128	32
0x7C	124	Metapod	Metapod	1C	CC	01	28	204	1
0x7D	125	Butterfree	Caterpie	16	77	40	22	119	64
0x7E	126	Machamp	Growlithe	1F	08	C0	31	8	192
0x7F	127	MissingNo.	Rhydon	11	20	10	17	32	16
0x80	128	Golduck	Psyduck	21	FF	40	33	255	64
0x81	129	Hypno	Drowzee	0D	EE	40	13	238	64
0x82	130	Golbat	Squirtle	1D	FA	80	29	250	128
0x83	131	Mewtwo	Paras	1E	99	FF	30	153	255
0x84	132	Snorlax	Grimer	05	55	01	5	85	1
0x85	133	Magikarp	Ekans	17	80	00	23	128	0
0x86	134	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x87	135	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x88	136	Muk	Muk	07	EF	FF	7	239	255
0x89	137	MissingNo.	Bulbasaur	0F	40	80	15	64	128
0x8A	138	Kingler	Krabby	20	EE	E0	32	238	224
0x8B	139	Cloyster	Fearow	18	6F	E0	24	111	224
0x8C	140	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x8D	141	Electrode	Voltorb	06	A8	90	6	168	144
0x8E	142	Clefable	Clefairy	19	AA	20	25	170	32
0x8F	143	Weezing	Golem	12	FF	FF	18	255	255
0x90	144	Persian	Clefairy	19	99	FF	25	153	255
0x91	145	Marowak	Oddish	08	4F	60	8	79	96
0x92	146	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x93	147	Haunter	Metapod	1C	30	40	28	48	64
0x94	148	Abra	Metapod	1C	C0	01	28	192	1
0x95	149	Alakazam	Metapod	1C	98	FF	28	152	255
0x96	150	Pidgeotto	Pidgeotto	14	28	C0	20	40	192
0x97	151	Pidgeot	Pidgeotto	14	11	FF	20	17	255
0x98	152	Starmie	Paras	1E	00	80	30	0	128
0x99	153	Bulbasaur	Bulbasaur	0F	80	01	15	128	1
0x9A	154	Venusaur	Bulbasaur	0F	00	C0	15	0	192
0x9B	155	Tentacruel	Venonat	1A	EE	FF	26	238	255
0x9C	156	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0x9D	157	Goldeen	Caterpie	16	80	40	22	128	64
0x9E	158	Seaking	Caterpie	16	10	FF	22	16	255
0x9F	159	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0xA0	160	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0xA1	161	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0xA2	162	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0xA3	163	Ponyta	Weepinbell	25	00	80	37	0	128
0xA4	164	Rapidash	Weepinbell	25	20	C0	37	32	192
0xA5	165	Rattata	Rattata	22	00	80	34	0	128
0xA6	166	Raticate	Rattata	22	20	FF	34	32	255
0xA7	167	Nidorino	Nidoran♂	00	2C	C0	0	44	192
0xA8	168	Nidorina	Nidoran♀	01	2C	E0	1	44	224
0xA9	169	Geodude	Vulpix	24	F0	10	36	240	16
0xAA	170	Porygon	Weepinbell	25	AA	FF	37	170	255
0xAB	171	Aerodactyl	Vileplume	23	20	F0	35	32	240
0xAC	172	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0xAD	173	Magnemite	Metapod	1C	80	60	28	128	96
0xAE	174	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0xAF	175	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0xB0	176	Charmander	Charmander	04	60	40	4	96	64
0xB1	177	Squirtle	Squirtle	1D	60	40	29	96	64
0xB2	178	Charmeleon	Charmander	04	20	40	4	32	64
0xB3	179	Wartortle	Squirtle	1D	20	40	29	32	64
0xB4	180	Charizard	Charmander	04	00	80	4	0	128
0xB5	181	MissingNo.	Squirtle	1D	00	80	29	0	128
0xB6	182	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0xB7	183	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0xB8	184	MissingNo.	Nidoran♂	00	00	00	0	0	0
0xB9	185	Oddish	Oddish	08	DD	01	8	221	1
0xBA	186	Gloom	Oddish	08	AA	40	8	170	64
0xBB	187	Vileplume	Vileplume	23	22	FF	35	34	255
0xBC	188	Bellsprout	Psyduck	21	55	01	33	85	1
0xBD	189	Weepinbell	Weepinbell	25	44	20	37	68	32
0xBE	190	Victreebel	Weepinbell	25	66	CC	37	102	204

(Source: Pokémon Red Disassembly Project - Cry Values)