BD File

What are BD files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a BD 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 BD files.

What is a BD file?

BD files have multiple uses, and Ben Daglish Game Music is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Ben Daglish Game Music

Ben Daglish Game Music files store module-style soundtrack data written for the Amiga by composer Ben Daglish. They contain sequenced musical tracks, pattern lists, and sampled instruments or sound data used in games. These files are used to encapsulate his original music format, allowing songs from Amiga game titles to be reproduced by players that understand the format.

These files are created by Ben Daglish (or his collaborators) during game development. The format plays back via a custom replayer routine built into the game or in external module-player software that supports the Ben Daglish format. Typically the music is stored as sequences of numeric commands or note data, joined with sample data to generate tones, drum hits or other sound effects, arranged in tracks or channels and assembled into patterns which are ordered via a pattern list.

Files in this format start with a byte signature 0x6000 at offset 0, the same value 0x6000 again at offset 4, a 3-byte sequence 0x006000 (ASCII ".``") at offset 9, and a null byte at offset 33. These markers help tools and player software recognize the format.

How to open BD files

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

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

Last updated: August 23, 2026

All known file formats using extension .BD

While Ben Daglish Game Music is a popular type of BD-file, we know of 3 different uses of the .BD file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Brief Deluxe II Project

We know that one BD format is Brief Deluxe II Project. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

PlayStation 2 BD/HD Audio

PlayStation 2 BD/HD Audio is a proprietary sequenced audio format used in the PS2's CSL (Component Sound Library) system for in-game background music and sound effects. It combines sample data (VAG/SPU-ADPCM) together with instrument, looping, and program/sequencing information in one file so that the game can synthesize and play its audio dynamically rather than using pre-mixed tracks.

The format is created by game developers building or exporting CSL content. It is read by the PS2 game engine during runtime to interpret which samples to use (VAG-format SPU ADPCM), how they loop, what programs assign them, and how they are triggered. It integrates sample sets, sample chunks, sequencing instructions ("program" chunks), and metadata such as sample rates and loop flags in order to generate full music or sound effects on the fly.

Files produced in this format include multiple "chunks" with identifiers that specify version (e.g. "IECS" + "sreV"), header information ("daeH"), sample set ("tesS"), sample data ("lpmS"), program definitions ("gorP"), and VAG info ("igaV"). One identifying signature appears at offset 0 ("IECSsreV") and another at offset 16 ("IECSdaeH").

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of BD files. Remember, different programs may use BD 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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