diff --git a/src/emu/bus/gba/rom.c b/src/emu/bus/gba/rom.c
index 19f08405259..556d55a63b1 100644
--- a/src/emu/bus/gba/rom.c
+++ b/src/emu/bus/gba/rom.c
@@ -253,12 +253,12 @@ gba_eeprom_device::gba_eeprom_device(running_machine &machine, UINT8 *eeprom, UI
 	m_data_size = size;
 	m_addr_bits = addr_bits;
 
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "GBA_EEPROM", NULL, 0, m_state);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "GBA_EEPROM", NULL, 0, m_command);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "GBA_EEPROM", NULL, 0, m_count);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "GBA_EEPROM", NULL, 0, m_addr);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "GBA_EEPROM", NULL, 0, m_bits);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "GBA_EEPROM", NULL, 0, m_eep_data);
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_state, "GBA_EEPROM/m_state");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_command, "GBA_EEPROM/m_command");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_count, "GBA_EEPROM/m_count");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_addr, "GBA_EEPROM/m_addr");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_bits, "GBA_EEPROM/m_bits");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_eep_data, "GBA_EEPROM/m_eep_data");
 }
 
 UINT32 gba_eeprom_device::read()
diff --git a/src/emu/bus/megadrive/stm95.c b/src/emu/bus/megadrive/stm95.c
index e403b22deb5..9fc24c1532b 100644
--- a/src/emu/bus/megadrive/stm95.c
+++ b/src/emu/bus/megadrive/stm95.c
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ stm95_eeprom_device::stm95_eeprom_device(running_machine &machine, UINT8 *eeprom
 			m_machine(machine)
 {
 	eeprom_data = eeprom;
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "STM95", NULL, 0, latch);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "STM95", NULL, 0, reset_line);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "STM95", NULL, 0, sck_line);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "STM95", NULL, 0, WEL);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "STM95", NULL, 0, stream_pos);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "STM95", NULL, 0, stream_data);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "STM95", NULL, 0, eeprom_addr);
+	m_machine.save().save_item(latch, "STM95/latch");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(reset_line, "STM95/reset_line");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(sck_line, "STM95/sck_line");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(WEL, "STM95/WEL");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(stream_pos, "STM95/stream_pos");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(stream_data, "STM95/stream_data");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(eeprom_addr, "STM95/eeprom_addr");
 }
 
 void stm95_eeprom_device::set_cs_line(int state)
diff --git a/src/emu/bus/snes/bsx.c b/src/emu/bus/snes/bsx.c
index 6562793514a..5b4b7532325 100644
--- a/src/emu/bus/snes/bsx.c
+++ b/src/emu/bus/snes/bsx.c
@@ -116,10 +116,10 @@ void sns_rom_bsmempak_device::device_reset()
 BSX_base::BSX_base(running_machine &machine)
 			: m_machine(machine)
 {
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_BSX", NULL, 0, regs);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_BSX", NULL, 0, r2192_counter);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_BSX", NULL, 0, r2192_hour);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_BSX", NULL, 0, r2192_second);
+	m_machine.save().save_item(regs, "SNES_BSX/regs");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(r2192_counter, "SNES_BSX/r2192_counter");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(r2192_hour, "SNES_BSX/r2192_hour");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(r2192_second, "SNES_BSX/r2192_second");
 }
 
 void BSX_base::init()
diff --git a/src/emu/bus/snes/spc7110.c b/src/emu/bus/snes/spc7110.c
index ed7dccc247a..e9f156a6f39 100644
--- a/src/emu/bus/snes/spc7110.c
+++ b/src/emu/bus/snes/spc7110.c
@@ -319,49 +319,49 @@ SPC7110_Decomp::SPC7110_Decomp(running_machine &machine)
 #undef map
 	}
 
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_decomp_mode);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_decomp_offset);
-	state_save_register_item_pointer(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_decomp_buffer, SPC7110_DECOMP_BUFFER_SIZE);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_decomp_buffer_rdoffset);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_decomp_buffer_wroffset);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_decomp_buffer_length);
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_decomp_mode, "SNES_SPC7110/m_decomp_mode");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_decomp_offset, "SNES_SPC7110/m_decomp_offset");
+	m_machine.save().save_pointer(m_decomp_buffer, "SNES_SPC7110/m_decomp_buffer", SPC7110_DECOMP_BUFFER_SIZE);
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_decomp_buffer_rdoffset, "SNES_SPC7110/m_decomp_buffer_rdoffset");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_decomp_buffer_wroffset, "SNES_SPC7110/m_decomp_buffer_wroffset");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_decomp_buffer_length, "SNES_SPC7110/m_decomp_buffer_length");
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < 32; i++)
 	{
-		state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, i, m_context[i].index);
-		state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, i, m_context[i].invert);
+		m_machine.save().save_item(m_context[i].index, "SNES_SPC7110/m_context[i].index", i);
+		m_machine.save().save_item(m_context[i].invert, "SNES_SPC7110/m_context[i].invert", i);
 	}
 
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m0_val);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m0_in);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m0_span);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m0_out);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m0_inverts);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m0_lps);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m0_in_count);
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m0_val, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m0_val");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m0_in, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m0_in");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m0_span, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m0_span");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m0_out, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m0_out");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m0_inverts, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m0_inverts");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m0_lps, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m0_lps");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m0_in_count, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m0_in_count");
 
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m1_pixelorder);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m1_realorder);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m1_val);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m1_in);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m1_span);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m1_out);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m1_inverts);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m1_lps);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m1_in_count);
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m1_pixelorder, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m1_pixelorder");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m1_realorder, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m1_realorder");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m1_val, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m1_val");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m1_in, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m1_in");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m1_span, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m1_span");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m1_out, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m1_out");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m1_inverts, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m1_inverts");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m1_lps, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m1_lps");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m1_in_count, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m1_in_count");
 
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_pixelorder);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_realorder);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_bitplanebuffer);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_buffer_index);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_val);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_in);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_span);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_out0);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_out1);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_inverts);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_lps);
-	state_save_register_item(machine, "SNES_SPC7110", NULL, 0, m_m2_in_count);
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_pixelorder, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_pixelorder");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_realorder, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_realorder");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_bitplanebuffer, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_bitplanebuffer");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_buffer_index, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_buffer_index");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_val, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_val");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_in, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_in");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_span, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_span");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_out0, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_out0");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_out1, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_out1");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_inverts, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_inverts");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_lps, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_lps");
+	m_machine.save().save_item(m_m2_in_count, "SNES_SPC7110/m_m2_in_count");
 }
 
 void SPC7110_Decomp::reset()
diff --git a/src/emu/machine/bcreader.c b/src/emu/machine/bcreader.c
index 954adfd5448..d8560ea600d 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine/bcreader.c
+++ b/src/emu/machine/bcreader.c
@@ -73,13 +73,13 @@ barcode_reader_device::barcode_reader_device(const machine_config &mconfig, cons
 
 void barcode_reader_device::device_start()
 {
-	state_save_register_item(machine(), "DATACH", this->tag(), 0, m_byte_data);
-	state_save_register_item(machine(), "DATACH", this->tag(), 0, m_pixel_data);
-	state_save_register_item(machine(), "DATACH", this->tag(), 0, m_byte_length);
-	state_save_register_item(machine(), "DATACH", this->tag(), 0, m_pixel_length);
-	state_save_register_item(machine(), "DATACH", this->tag(), 0, m_byte_count);
-	state_save_register_item(machine(), "DATACH", this->tag(), 0, m_pixel_count);
-	state_save_register_item(machine(), "DATACH", this->tag(), 0, m_new_code);
+	save_item(m_byte_data, "DATACH/m_byte_data");
+	save_item(m_pixel_data, "DATACH/m_pixel_data");
+	save_item(m_byte_length, "DATACH/m_byte_length");
+	save_item(m_pixel_length, "DATACH/m_pixel_length");
+	save_item(m_byte_count, "DATACH/m_byte_count");
+	save_item(m_pixel_count, "DATACH/m_pixel_count");
+	save_item(m_new_code, "DATACH/m_new_code");
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/emu/save.h b/src/emu/save.h
index e541514b2ee..c2d4e0bd6c1 100644
--- a/src/emu/save.h
+++ b/src/emu/save.h
@@ -54,17 +54,6 @@ typedef delegate<void ()> save_prepost_delegate;
 	template<> inline void save_manager::save_item(device_t *device, const char *module, const char *tag, int index, std::vector<TYPE> &value, const char *name) { save_memory(device, module, tag, index, name, &value[0], sizeof(TYPE), value.size()); }
 
 
-// register items with explicit tags
-#define state_save_register_item(_mach, _mod, _tag, _index, _val) \
-	(_mach).save().save_item(NULL, _mod, _tag, _index, _val, #_val)
-
-#define state_save_register_item_pointer(_mach, _mod, _tag, _index, _val, _count) \
-	(_mach).save().save_pointer(NULL, _mod, _tag, _index, _val, #_val, _count)
-
-#define state_save_register_item_array(_mach, _mod, _tag, _index, _val) \
-	(_mach).save().save_item(NULL, _mod, _tag, _index, _val, #_val)
-
-
 //**************************************************************************
 //  TYPE DEFINITIONS
 //**************************************************************************