AKG File

What are AKG files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an AKG file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your AKG files.

What is an AKG file?

An .AKG file is an Arkos Generic Z80 Binary Song file.

Arkos Generic Z80 Binary Song format is a music data file produced by Arkos Tracker, an 8-bit tracker program for AY/YM sound chips. It holds a song arranged for Z80-based target platforms (such as Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, MSX) and is designed to be played back by the AKG player included with Arkos Tracker. It is suited for game or demo development where memory footprint and execution speed matter.

When a song is completed inside Arkos Tracker, the author may export it in this format using either the graphical interface (via File → Export → Quick export or Export) or command-line tools like SongToAkg. Once exported it generates song data + player binary source (typically Z80 assembly) which can be assembled and embedded into the target platform's code. The AKG player supports most of Arkos Tracker's features (instruments, effects, subsongs, event tracks) but does not itself play back embedded sample data - samples must be handled separately.

The AKG player is termed "generic" because it offers a trade-off between capability and resource use: it supports the full feature set of the AT3 song format except direct sample playback, it handles sound effects, and is optimized for speed and memory on Z80 machines. It is often used when one needs stable long tracks with effects, but its complexity prevents perfect timing stabilization on all hardware.

Internally, a file in this format begins with the ASCII signature AT20 at offset 0 (i.e. bytes 0x41 0x54 0x32 0x30 in hexadecimal).

How to open AKG files

Important: Different programs may use files with the AKG file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your AKG file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested two different AKG openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of AKG files. Remember, different programs may use AKG files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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