Topic: QUESTION FOR TALDREN ABOUT SFC3 SOUNDS (Read 12560 times)

Captain KoraH · « **Reply #60 on:** October 13, 2003, 01:12:45 pm »

Woo Hoo! We may be getting somewhere now!

I suspected the music files were hard coded since there is no mention of them in the Sounds.txt file. At least I was right about something

As for mpeg layer1, I'm not so sure about that. I think probly that getting the header right, as Chris Jones and Dave are talking about here, is the key. That header cannot contain the entire watermark though if it's only 4 bytes. So now we know that the watermark is probly not the key either.

It's about time we made some progress in this area. Thanks to everyone who is contributing. No suggestion is too obscure, you never know what it might dislodge in someone's memory and reveal the key to success!

Towelie · « **Reply #61 on:** October 14, 2003, 04:11:07 pm »

I've already done both sound and music months ago, I didn't know this was an issue. I remember having trouble, but got through it. David is right, I remember I had to convert the MP3 to the EXACT same format as the original. I think I used cool edit. Cannot remember if it was MP3 or wav. Think it was MP3. I am faiirly certain it was the bit rate that was screwing me up.

If you are still having trouble with it let me know. I will try and reproduce it and remember this time. I didn't realize my copy of SFC3 has the only customized music in it.

Towelie · « **Reply #62 on:** October 14, 2003, 04:13:54 pm »

Yes, I confirmed they are MP3s. My new music file is 27 megs compared to the original 15 and it all works fine.

Captain KoraH · « **Reply #63 on:** October 14, 2003, 08:08:07 pm »

If you could post some specifics on exactly what software you used and exactly how you did it we would all be extremely grateful Towelie. I'm looking for Cool Edit now but it appears the makers were assimilated by Adobe and you can't get Cool Edit anymore.

Chris Jones · « **Reply #64 on:** October 14, 2003, 10:39:01 pm »

Well this is good news - although I tried exactly what Towelie is describing - I used a big file in the exact same format and replaced the fed ambient - Crash!

I shortened the file size to near the equal of the original. the game worked, but my new music file did not play. silence. I used Cool Edit.

I am very interested in finding out his exact procedure. !

Towelie · « **Reply #65 on:** October 15, 2003, 12:56:16 am »

Okay, I will figure out what I did. It will have to wait untill I get home tommarow. I have the new music file, not sure if I can send a 27 meg file to anyone interseted, although I do have broadband.

I really don't remember how I did it except that I used Cool Edit and Winzip.

BTW, I do remember that not storing it right gave me alot of problems. You can't just zip it. You have to make sure it's stored without using compression. That was one of my mistakes. And WINRAR won't work, it has to be WinZip. I also remember that it has to be a bitrate of 128k. Also a private bit was set in the file, whatever that is. I will know tommarow. I will find an MP3 and add it into the music and redo the music zip file again.

ActiveX · « **Reply #66 on:** October 15, 2003, 01:33:26 am »

Quote:

And WINRAR won't work, it has to be WinZip

Or PowerArchiver...

Jester_OC · « **Reply #67 on:** October 15, 2003, 03:02:41 am »

SFC is very very picky about that it considers an MP3.

The first four bytes of the file contain frameheader info that SFC uses to determin if it will try to play it

FF FA 00 00 I think

Which should stand for FrameSync, MP3 Version 1, Layer 3

Anyone care to check that out to see if it is correct. I have to go to bed.

Captain KoraH · « **Reply #68 on:** October 15, 2003, 04:46:53 am »

When I open Fed_01_main.mp3 in a hex editor, the first 4 bytes pairs are: FF FB 90 40
Those are the same as other mp3 files I open in my hex editor. After that comes a string of other bytes that are identical in all the SFC3 music files, after whish it goes into the jibberish of hex code. My mp3 file I made with Goldwave actually had goldwave website info hex coded into the mp3 file! I tried replacing this stuff with a copy/paste of the identical string from SFC3 music files, and played it in winamp. It played fine. I then stuck it (Fed_01_Main.mp3) back into the SFCMusic.zip file, with no compression. started SFC3, and Fed_04_ambient.mp3 started playing as usual. Went into skirmish mode and when Fed_01_Main.mp3 was supposed to play at mission start, the game crashed. I think this is definitly the problem, but how to fix it is beyond me.

Chris Jones · « **Reply #69 on:** October 15, 2003, 09:40:07 am »

It figures - I used WinRar.

I shall try with Winzip later today.

Jester_OC · « **Reply #70 on:** October 15, 2003, 09:53:24 am »

OK that header is good (It ANDs thoses bytes), at least we know it is trying to play the files when it crashes.

Karnak · « **Reply #71 on:** October 15, 2003, 10:30:31 am »

I became tired of the constant looping of the scanning sound when you use deep scanners. So, I went into the sounds.txt file and found the Scanning sound entry. In the loop column you will see "y". Change that to "n" and the constant scanning sound will go away when you use deep scanners.

You can do similar operations in OP to control the looping ESG sounds by finding all the ESG sound entries in OP's sounds.txt file and changing the "y" to "n".

Towelie · « **Reply #72 on:** October 15, 2003, 10:37:18 am »

Just a note before I goto work, I never used a hex editor. I just used Winzip and Cool Edit. I'll give you the answers you need when I get back, in about 10 hours

Chris Jones · « **Reply #73 on:** October 15, 2003, 09:15:15 pm »

Ok - Used Cool Edit and Winzip - File size was close to the original - The game played ok, just no new audio. I tried to replace the Fed Ambient with the DS9 Theme. Silence.

I await Towelie's results.

Towelie · « **Reply #75 on:** October 15, 2003, 09:44:11 pm »

Okay, I have failed to duplicate it so far. I still have the altered ones working perfectly. I will remember what I did soon. If anybody wants the altered file, let me know and I will send it.

I will duplicate it again. I just forgot how I did it

Towelie · « **Reply #76 on:** October 15, 2003, 10:28:37 pm »

GOT IT!!!

I had to reconvert the MP3 using the Creative Playcenter. Cool Edit won't do it right. But I used Creative Playcenter to convert an MP3 to WAV, then back to an MP3. I then used WINZIP to store it in the SFC3MUSIC.ZIP (after renaming it to replacement MP3 file in SFC3MUSIC). And that's it. Creative Playcenter (or an MP3 encoder that will convert it to a compatible format).

Anyone having trouble still, PM or e-mail me and we'll work out a solution. Maybe I can encode it for you and send you an MP3 in the proper format.

NOW ALL OF YOU INFERIOR WEAKLINGS BOW TO MY SUPERIORITY!!! (J/K)

Chris Jones · « **Reply #77 on:** October 15, 2003, 10:43:24 pm »

BOW

BOW

BOW

I HAVE BOWED, LOL.

Turns out Creative Play Center 2 came with my Dell - Oh Boy.. Never thought to use that..

Trying a conversion now...

Chris Jones · « **Reply #78 on:** October 15, 2003, 11:12:24 pm »

Ok then the man is a genius..

turns out my Playcenter could not convert to wav.

I used music match jukebox to convert to wav -- then back to mp3

AND IT WORKED!

the conversion to wav must wipe out the offending bits that cause the crash..

I now have the DS9 Theme (Rock Version) as my ambient music. KInda - more like - WAY KOOL!

I predict several music mods for SFC3 in the making starting NOW!, lol.

Nice job Towelie and thanks for sharing.. I'm glad that Capt. Korah brought this up again.

News:

Topic: QUESTION FOR TALDREN ABOUT SFC3 SOUNDS (Read 12560 times) var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};

Captain KoraH

Towelie

Towelie

Captain KoraH

Chris Jones

Towelie

ActiveX

Jester_OC

Captain KoraH

Chris Jones

Jester_OC

Karnak

Towelie

Chris Jones

Towelie

Towelie

Towelie

Chris Jones

Chris Jones

Towelie

Topic: QUESTION FOR TALDREN ABOUT SFC3 SOUNDS (Read 12560 times)