As a long-time Final Fantasy enthusiast, I‘m thrilled that FF16 introduces an orchestrion feature allowing you to change background music on the fly. This guide will cover everything you need to know about collecting orchestrion rolls and where to find all 24 available tunes.
What is the Orchestrion in FF16?
The orchestrion is a music player that unlocks after completing the "Hide, Hideaway" main quest in Act 1. It allows you to collect musical scores called "orchestrion rolls" and play them as ambient sound in Cid‘s Hideaway. With rolls changing the zone‘s background music, it makes revisiting the area more enjoyable.
I love this feature as both a completionist wanting to discover all collectibles, and for the nostalgic Final Fantasy tunes it unlocks. My first priority after the unlock was hunting down every possible roll!
Unlocking the Orchestrion Menu
Before collecting rolls, you need to gain access to the orchestrion itself by:
- Finishing the prologue and starting the "Hide, Hideaway" questline
- Visiting Cid‘s Chamber to initate the quest
- Entering the Great Hall and talking to key characters
- Locating Tarja in the upstairs Infirmary
After the short Hideaway tour, Tarja rewards you with the orchestrion menu. This lets you play any collected rolls when inside Cid‘s Hideout. Make sure to check it whenever obtaining new music!
All Orchestrion Roll Types and Locations
FF16 contains 24 total orchestrion rolls divided into story-based, purchasable, hidden, and reward categories:
7 Story-Related Rolls
The first rolls you‘ll likely unlock are those tied directly to main scenario progression:
- Where The Heart Is
- Hide, Hideaway
- Our Terms
- Sorrow’s Faded Form
- Twilight
- Good Bones
- The Sound Of Silence
I loved how "Where The Heart Is" and "Hide, Hideaway" are granted immediately alongside the orchestrion itself. It feels like the game is welcoming you to start music collecting!
10 Purchasable Rolls
Several notable franchsie tunes can be bought at vendors once becoming available:
| Roll | Location | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Night Terrors | Amber Merchant, Charon‘s Toll | 20,000 gil |
| Betrayal | Boklad Merchant | 20,000 gil |
| Lovely, Dark, and Deep | Charon‘s Toll, Eastpool | 40,000 gil |
| The Thousand Tables | Dalimil Inn Merchant | 40,000 gil |
| The Lion and the Hare | Dravozd | 40,000 gil |
| Idylls of the Empire | Lostwing Merchant, Charon‘s Toll | 40,000 gil |
| The Founder’s Footsteps | Martha’s Rest | 20,000 gil |
| Into the Mire | Moore, Charon‘s Toll | 40,000 gil |
| On the Shoulders of Giants | Tabor | 20,000 gil |
| Before the Storm | Northreach | 50,000 gil |
I recommend buying "The Thousand Tables" first for its memorable Final Fantasy victory fanfare!
4 Treasure Coffer Rolls
Four orchestrion rolls are hidden away in treasure coffers:
- Forevermore – Martha‘s Rest (northeast side)
- Sand and Stone – Boklad (near Crimson Caravans)
- Histoire – Lostwing (The Hanged Man top floor)
- Indomitable – West Eistla
Here‘s a map pinpointing the exact locations: [show map]
Open each marked chest to grab the musical roll inside!
3 Patron Whisper‘s Reward Rolls
The final three rolls require earning Renown points to purchase as rewards:
- A Rose is a Rose – 135 Renown (from The Swelling Chorus donation)
- No Risk, No Reward – 1,120 Renown (from Newfound Purpose donation)
- To Sail Forbidden Seas – 2,850 Renown
After hitting their Renown thresholds from the named donations, visit Patron Whisper in Cid‘s Hideaway to claim each orchestrion roll.
Finding all of Patron Whisper‘s rolls took awhile, but was worth it to unlock "To Sail Forbidden Seas" with its sweeping overworld vibe!
How to Play Orchestrion Rolls
Once you‘ve started collecting rolls from the above methods, here is how to activate your favorites:
- Enter Cid‘s Hideaway
- Open the main menu and select Orchestrion
- Browse your complete music library
- Pick a roll and confirm with the Play button
- Enjoy your chosen background music!
Repeat steps 2-5 to easily change between unlocked tunes. Switching rolls keeps repeat visits sounding fresh.
My top roll is "Where The Heart Is" for its peaceful ambience that pairs nicely with Cid‘s Hideaway aesthetics. What‘s your favorite so far? Feel free to share in the comments!
Closing Remarks on FF16‘s Music Collection
As a long-time series follower, I love seeing Final Fantasy 16 continue expanding its orchestrion music options like previous franchise entries. Collecting all 24 rolls takes dedication, but unlocks rewarding songs to enhance your playthrough. I hope this guide helps other fans discover the joy of FF16‘s orchestrion feature!
What hidden musical gems have you uncovered? Which rolls bring up nostalgic memories? Let the orchestrion roll hunt begin!
