Sega Saturn music skipping in one spot

[toxovomit]

Hello all, I'm new here but have been lurking for a bit. 

So I just came into a Sega Saturn model 2 and Street Fighter 2 alpha. I've cleaned both before playing and have beat the game the first time in arcade mode with no problems. However, when I replayed and got to Gen's level the music starts skipping after a few seconds, then goes back to normal after I lose/win. I thought my Saturn was bad but then I restarted it and got back to the same level and the music did the same thing. 

So, the music skips seconds after being on Gen's stage then goes back to normal every single time I've tried playing it. Is it a Saturn hardware problem or a problem with the disc? Thanks!

[zyrobs]

The disc is unreadable at the location where that music track is skipping. This can be caused either by damage to the disc, or a weak laser (or, both).

edit: typo

[toxovomit]

Hmm just played Virtua Fighter 2 with no problems, as well as two player mode on SF. Granted, the Street Fighter disc has deep surface scratches/marks, so I'm hoping it's just the disc. Thank you very much.

[izod1337]

Sept 7, 2015 22:00:27 GMT toxovomit said:

Hmm just played Virtua Fighter 2 with no problems, as well as two player mode on SF. Granted, the Street Fighter disc has deep surface scratches/marks, so I'm hoping it's just the disc. Thank you very much.

Yeah it's probably the disc then. After you clean it, check if it is still messing up and if it is it may be the the laser. I clean my laser using a Q-tip with a little bit of alcohol on it. Lightly clean it though don't clean it roughly like you would when wiping a table down.

[toxovomit]

Sept 7, 2015 23:07:44 GMT izod1337 said:

Sept 7, 2015 22:00:27 GMT toxovomit said:

Hmm just played Virtua Fighter 2 with no problems, as well as two player mode on SF. Granted, the Street Fighter disc has deep surface scratches/marks, so I'm hoping it's just the disc. Thank you very much.

Yeah it's probably the disc then. After you clean it, check if it is still messing up and if it is it may be the the laser. I clean my laser using a Q-tip with a little bit of alcohol on it. Lightly clean it though don't clean it roughly like you would when wiping a table down.

Yeah, I cleaned the laser with alcohol and a q-tip, as well as cleaned the disc properly and it still just skips on that one spot. After cleaning the disc and holding it to the light it has severe deep scratches under the surface. Could still be the laser though. 

[zyrobs]

A stronger laser may skip less, but there's a point where the damage is so extensive that the data on the disc is simply beyond being readable (or even destroyed). I've had similar problems - discs being unreadable on certain tracks - even back in the 90s, let alone today. It's a common thing, and not all that surprising given the automatic disc scratching devices the games shipped in here in Europe.

It makes digital drive replacements (SD Loaders) all the more important and sought after.

[toxovomit]

Sept 7, 2015 23:20:34 GMT zyrobs said:

A stronger laser may skip less, but there's a point where the damage is so extensive that the data on the disc is simply beyond being readable (or even destroyed). I've had similar problems - discs being unreadable on certain tracks - even back in the 90s, let alone today. It's a common thing, and not all that surprising given the automatic disc scratching devices the games shipped in here in Europe.

It makes digital drive replacements (SD Loaders) all the more important and sought after.

I'm thinking about replacing the laser, but I'm not really tech savvy and would probably end up soldering the Saturn to my face.

[caseh]

Just listen to Zyrobs, he knows his stuff. I'd say that the majority of issues on this forum section have causes/solutions identified by this guy.

Why go to the extreme of replacing your lens over a single track on one game? I'd be concerned if it happened on several games, I have around 60 games and the sound does exactly the same thing as you described on one game; a battered copy of Sega Rally. Basic logic would suggest it's the disc.

[zyrobs]

You'd need to replace the damaged disc, not replace the laser (and you should try calibrating the laser first before completely replacing it).

But it is cheaper to get a modchip and burning a backup instead, then you won't have to worry about your originals being/getting damaged.

You can also use some applications to do an error check on your CD to see how damaged it really is. Nero Discspeed is a good choice. Just remember that PC CD drives are much more modern and powerful than the one in your Saturn.

[toxovomit]

Settle down, cowboy. I didn't say I wasn't taking zyrobs advice. I was thinking of replacing it in general to avoid more issues as the Saturn was kind of battered. I am taking his advice and appreciate it.

[caseh]

If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

[linkt101]

It's likely the result of a laser burn at a particular spot. Only solution is to buff the hell out of the disc till it's been resurfaced enough, but do it at your own risk.

[mick_aka]

Sept 13, 2015 22:06:37 GMT linkt101 said:

It's likely the result of a laser burn at a particular spot. Only solution is to buff the hell out of the disc till it's been resurfaced enough, but do it at your own risk.

If it is actual laser burn, which I doubt, then resurfacing the plastic outer surface isn't going to repair it.