diff --git a/src/engine/dispatch.h b/src/engine/dispatch.h
index 8a78748e..0cc37f58 100644
--- a/src/engine/dispatch.h
+++ b/src/engine/dispatch.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define _DISPATCH_H
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <vector>
 
 #define ONE_SEMITONE 2200
 
@@ -98,15 +99,27 @@ struct DivDelayedCommand {
   DivCommand cmd;
 };
 
+struct DivRegWrite {
+  /**
+   * an address of 0xffffff00 indicates a Furnace specific command.
+   * the following addresses are available:
+   * - 0xffffff00: start sample playback
+   *   - data is the sample number
+   */
+  unsigned int addr;
+  unsigned char val;
+};
+
 class DivEngine;
 
 class DivDispatch {
   protected:
     DivEngine* parent;
+    std::vector<DivRegWrite> regWrites;
     /**
-     * please honor this variable if needed.
+     * please honor these variables if needed.
      */
-    bool skipRegisterWrites;
+    bool skipRegisterWrites, dumpWrites;
   public:
     /**
      * the rate the samples are provided.
@@ -208,6 +221,16 @@ class DivDispatch {
      */
     virtual void forceIns();
 
+    /**
+     * enable register dumping.
+     */
+    void toggleRegisterDump(bool enable);
+
+    /**
+     * get register writes.
+     */
+    std::vector<DivRegWrite>& getRegisterWrites();
+
     /**
      * initialize this DivDispatch.
      * @param parent the parent DivEngine.
diff --git a/src/engine/engine.h b/src/engine/engine.h
index 0acbab4c..322026a8 100644
--- a/src/engine/engine.h
+++ b/src/engine/engine.h
@@ -189,6 +189,11 @@ class DivEngine {
     SafeWriter* saveDMF();
     // save as .fur.
     SafeWriter* saveFur();
+    // build a ROM file (TODO).
+    // specify system to build ROM for.
+    SafeWriter* buildROM(int sys);
+    // dump to VGM (TODO).
+    SafeWriter* saveVGM();
 
     // save config
     bool saveConf();
diff --git a/src/engine/pattern.cpp b/src/engine/pattern.cpp
index 29a8a439..9ef90756 100644
--- a/src/engine/pattern.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/pattern.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,81 @@ void DivChannelData::wipePatterns() {
   }
 }
 
+SafeReader* DivPattern::compile(int len, int fxRows) {
+  SafeWriter w;
+  w.init();
+  short lastNote, lastOctave, lastInstr, lastVolume, lastEffect[8], lastEffectVal[8];
+  unsigned char rows=0;
+
+  lastNote=0;
+  lastOctave=0;
+  lastInstr=-1;
+  lastVolume=-1;
+  memset(lastEffect,-1,8*sizeof(short));
+  memset(lastEffectVal,-1,8*sizeof(short));
+
+  for (int i=0; i<len; i++) {
+    unsigned char mask=0;
+    if (data[i][0]!=-1) {
+      lastNote=data[i][0];
+      lastOctave=data[i][1];
+      mask|=128;
+    }
+    if (data[i][2]!=-1 && data[i][2]!=lastInstr) {
+      lastInstr=data[i][2];
+      mask|=32;
+    }
+    if (data[i][3]!=-1 && data[i][3]!=lastVolume) {
+      lastVolume=data[i][3];
+      mask|=64;
+    }
+    for (int j=0; j<fxRows; j++) {
+      if (data[i][4+(j<<1)]!=-1) {
+        lastEffect[j]=data[i][4+(j<<1)];
+        lastEffectVal[j]=data[i][5+(j<<1)];
+        mask=(mask&0xf8)|j;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (!mask) {
+      rows++;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (rows!=0) {
+      w.writeC(rows);
+    }
+    rows=1;
+
+    w.writeC(mask);
+    if (mask&128) {
+      if (lastNote==100) {
+        w.writeC(-128);
+      } else {
+        w.writeC(lastNote+(lastOctave*12));
+      }
+    }
+    if (mask&64) {
+      w.writeC(lastVolume);
+    }
+    if (mask&32) {
+      w.writeC(lastInstr);
+    }
+    for (int j=0; j<(mask&7); j++) {
+      w.writeC(lastEffect[j]);
+      if (lastEffectVal[j]==-1) {
+        w.writeC(0);
+      } else {
+        w.writeC(lastEffectVal[j]);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  w.writeC(rows);
+  w.writeC(0);
+
+  return w.toReader();
+}
+
 DivChannelData::DivChannelData():
   effectRows(1) {
   memset(data,0,128*sizeof(void*));
diff --git a/src/engine/pattern.h b/src/engine/pattern.h
index 14c8a26e..b80c55d9 100644
--- a/src/engine/pattern.h
+++ b/src/engine/pattern.h
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+#include "safeReader.h"
+
 struct DivPattern {
   short data[256][16];
+  SafeReader* compile(int len=256, int fxRows=1);
   DivPattern();
 };
 
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/abstract.cpp b/src/engine/platform/abstract.cpp
index a313b2d0..529e14f7 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/abstract.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/abstract.cpp
@@ -54,6 +54,14 @@ void DivDispatch::forceIns() {
   
 }
 
+void DivDispatch::toggleRegisterDump(bool enable) {
+  dumpWrites=enable;
+}
+
+std::vector<DivRegWrite>& DivDispatch::getRegisterWrites() {
+  return regWrites;
+}
+
 int DivDispatch::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/amiga.cpp b/src/engine/platform/amiga.cpp
index 539bb6ac..7900e682 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/amiga.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/amiga.cpp
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ void DivPlatformAmiga::setPAL(bool pal) {
 
 int DivPlatformAmiga::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<4; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/arcade.cpp b/src/engine/platform/arcade.cpp
index 4cd663d1..245775bc 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/arcade.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/arcade.cpp
@@ -473,6 +473,7 @@ void DivPlatformArcade::setYMFM(bool use) {
 
 int DivPlatformArcade::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<13; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/ay.cpp b/src/engine/platform/ay.cpp
index 9b2b557d..d42ed6e8 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/ay.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/ay.cpp
@@ -318,6 +318,7 @@ void DivPlatformAY8910::setPAL(bool pal) {
 
 int DivPlatformAY8910::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<3; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/ay8930.cpp b/src/engine/platform/ay8930.cpp
index a4c81b56..abbcdb74 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/ay8930.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/ay8930.cpp
@@ -356,6 +356,7 @@ void DivPlatformAY8930::setPAL(bool pal) {
 
 int DivPlatformAY8930::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<3; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/c64.cpp b/src/engine/platform/c64.cpp
index 6265cacb..b930100d 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/c64.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/c64.cpp
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ void DivPlatformC64::setPAL(bool pal) {
 
 int DivPlatformC64::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<3; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/dummy.cpp b/src/engine/platform/dummy.cpp
index 47a855a1..bd008215 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/dummy.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/dummy.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ void DivPlatformDummy::reset() {
 
 int DivPlatformDummy::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<DIV_MAX_CHANS; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/gb.cpp b/src/engine/platform/gb.cpp
index a1affa87..5207daa6 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/gb.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/gb.cpp
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ int DivPlatformGB::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
   }
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   rate=262144;
   gb=new GB_gameboy_t;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/genesis.cpp b/src/engine/platform/genesis.cpp
index 1cb1732f..1e1a58c6 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/genesis.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/genesis.cpp
@@ -437,6 +437,7 @@ void DivPlatformGenesis::setPAL(bool pal) {
 
 int DivPlatformGenesis::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<10; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/nes.cpp b/src/engine/platform/nes.cpp
index 0b70a6c8..85c7fcf8 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/nes.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/nes.cpp
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ void DivPlatformNES::notifyInsDeletion(void* ins) {
 
 int DivPlatformNES::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<5; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/pce.cpp b/src/engine/platform/pce.cpp
index 73150ec0..3287f306 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/pce.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/pce.cpp
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ void DivPlatformPCE::setPAL(bool pal) {
 
 int DivPlatformPCE::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<6; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/saa.cpp b/src/engine/platform/saa.cpp
index 698aeb34..6d861c11 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/saa.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/saa.cpp
@@ -308,6 +308,7 @@ void DivPlatformSAA1099::setPAL(bool pal) {
 
 int DivPlatformSAA1099::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<6; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/sms.cpp b/src/engine/platform/sms.cpp
index befd8add..507514bc 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/sms.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/sms.cpp
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ void DivPlatformSMS::setPAL(bool pal) {
 
 int DivPlatformSMS::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<4; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/tia.cpp b/src/engine/platform/tia.cpp
index d7d7aa4d..57484218 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/tia.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/tia.cpp
@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@ void DivPlatformTIA::setPAL(bool pal) {
 
 int DivPlatformTIA::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<2; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/ym2610.cpp b/src/engine/platform/ym2610.cpp
index ac15dec7..ab311e72 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/ym2610.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/ym2610.cpp
@@ -597,6 +597,7 @@ void DivPlatformYM2610::notifyInsDeletion(void* ins) {
 
 int DivPlatformYM2610::init(DivEngine* p, int channels, int sugRate, bool pal) {
   parent=p;
+  dumpWrites=false;
   skipRegisterWrites=false;
   for (int i=0; i<13; i++) {
     isMuted[i]=false;
diff --git a/src/engine/safeWriter.cpp b/src/engine/safeWriter.cpp
index f5beccc5..400b568b 100644
--- a/src/engine/safeWriter.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/safeWriter.cpp
@@ -92,9 +92,13 @@ void SafeWriter::init() {
   operative=true;
 }
 
+SafeReader* SafeWriter::toReader() {
+  return new SafeReader(buf,len);
+}
+
 void SafeWriter::finish() {
   if (!operative) return;
   delete[] buf;
   buf=NULL;
   operative=false;
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/engine/safeWriter.h b/src/engine/safeWriter.h
index 1056d500..8f62ce36 100644
--- a/src/engine/safeWriter.h
+++ b/src/engine/safeWriter.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include "safeReader.h"
 #include "../ta-utils.h"
 
 class SafeWriter {
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ class SafeWriter {
     int writeString(String val, bool pascal);
 
     void init();
+    SafeReader* toReader();
     void finish();
 
     SafeWriter():