The World of Layonara
The NWN Persistent World => Bugs => Fixed Bugs => Topic started by: lonnarin on November 25, 2004, 07:35:00 PM
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The jukebox seems to cut out on many of the custom songs. I verified that it wasn't my hakpak by reinstalling the music patch. I was mostly dismayed by the awesome celtic drinking tavern jig that lasts about 4 seconds then cuts out in abrupt silence for 3-4 minutes.
Also, as a musician I was wondering if any of the development staff could tell me how to convert custom songs into that BMU format NWN uses, and how to make a module use them in the DM toolset. I want to experiment with setting loops as triggered ambient sounds that pop up at just the right heartbeat, so that a character's actions and position would build the soundtrack. So a group is going deep into some tunnels and there's a light main theme in the primary music track, and as they progress further in, they trigger a drum beat that picks up, when in battle it cues a pre-recorded heavy mix of what was playing in the area, then reverts to the environmental theme. Essentially a music video module.
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http://nwvault.ign.com/Files/other/data/1032456985150.shtml there is a link for you. If I am not mistaken though a BMU file is really just an MP3 file renamed. I think you just need to change the extension.
As to the cutting out of songs... Yes, I have noticed that and I am not sure why :( I am thinking the song is too large to fit in to memory but I am not positive.
I will look at it later though, when I get some time.
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Does this still happen? I thought maybe with the removal of heartbeat code this might not happen as often (if at all)
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It still happens. Some songs just cut off and then theres dead air for a minute or more.
Sometimes you put in your coin and nothing plays at all. :(
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I think the custom layonara music is too long or something, not entirely sure but I see it happens even in the toolset. I don't think there is anything you can do with it Orth.
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When I exported the entire music playlist and ported them to mp3 format, I noticed the songs that cut out in game were incomplete in mp3 form as well. Therefore it's a problem with the actual songfile that was added rather than the heartbeat script. When I have some time this weekend, I'll flip through the playlist with the exact BMU filenames that are incomplete songs and update this thread with them. We can update the music download and either replace the songs or omit them from the selection playlist in game/onjukebox.
Right now mine's all customized with celtic music and speedmetal. I still have the folder with all the backup bmus intact though, with their original filenames. I can easily rip it open without having to reinstall for reference. I'll most likely have it done by Friday afternoon.
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here are the incomplete soundtrack files to be replaced.
File name/description of song
layo_cyrpt_ruins.bmu / atmospheric ambient cave dwelling
layo_danger.bmu / evil villain entering a scene
layo_humans.bmu / such a wicked celtic/hobbit song, cuts out at the flute solo
layo_main_theme.bmu / file cut at about 40 seconds prematurely
layo_mystery.bmu / reprise, downtoned version of the theme, cuts at exactly 1 min
layo_mystical.bmu / light guitar and synth, cuts at 59 sec
layo_party_inn.bmu / best drinking music ever, cuts at 22 seconds
layo_peaceful.bmu / cuts during the 2nd reprise of the theme with heavier horns, 49 sec
layo_forrest.bum / powerful celtic atmospheric, cuts out right when it gets REALLY good
layo_forrest_deep.bmu / identical to the song above, but even shorter
layo_playful.bmu / happy celtic "I just saw a leprechaun" music
layo_temple.bmu / organ and vocals, hastily cuts at 46 sec
pretty much all the files that start with layo, all the others were intact. just need to find the original tracks and reconvert them, as it definitely sounds in each cutoff instance that there was originally more to each track. Just a matter of updating the music patch.
The other custom files other than the layonara main set are intact. Also have a few song requests... The battle song from Amok time when Kirk Battled Spock, and the Kefka theme music to constantly loop whenever Ozy is in an area... heheheh
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L,
Any idea what to do about this?
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No, not at all. Those music tracks were not created specifically for NWN and I suspect the looping just does not match up properly. :(
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Do you have the raw files .wav or .mp3 that you originally got the music in?
The cut out might be something to do with the way the audio files were converted from the original source.
I used to do post-production for a regional orchestra and went to school for music production and engineering, so, if you need anyone to work with audio, I've got the skills and tools.
Edit: Edited for an incredibly stupid typo
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Talan, I do have the mp3 files and I am putting them on our ftp server. Once they are there I will send you a PM with the log in information and such. When you finish the process just send a PM to Orth and he will grab the files again.
Thanks!
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cool. *goes back to making the ring pricing list*
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I sent you the PM Talan. Thanks for the assistance.
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Allright, I'll check into this. How long do I have before the next update? heh
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It won't be in the next update anyway, would require a hak update that I'd rather do more with then just music.
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Actually, the music is an optional download. Once Talan has them fixed we just need to update the download and people can just download them again and it will all be fixed automatically.
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Peachy.
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oh yeah... *smacks forehead*
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Allright,
Fixing this should be fairly straightforward. The bmu/mp3s in the layo music download somehow ended up missing part of the original audio. Not sure if this happened in compression or when they were .rared or what. But, I should be able to just compress the source wavs and unless theres something really weird that will cause the same thing to happen again, we'll just be able to swap the old files out for the new ones, people can re-download and overwrite the old songs and everything will be peachy.
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Thanks Talan, let me know when you've uploaded em.
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The files are in a zip archive called LayoMusic.zip in my folder.
That should fix it, unless theres an underlying issue with the whole thing.
I'm going to put the new files in my music folder and see if I still get the music cutting out IG.
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I just had to rename all the files so that they matched the previous filenames when i put them in my nwn music folder.
Want me to re upload the renamed files so you dont have to rename em orth?
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Please.
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Done
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What was wrong with them Talan? And thank you. :)
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The songs were cutting out because the files ended.
I suspected that this was the case since Lonn posted that they still cut out when he listened to them in mp3 form in a jukebox program. If it was an NWN memory caching issue or something, the files would have played correctly in the jukebox program. (looking back on his post he acctually suggested exactly what I am saying.)
I have no idea how the files in the download got chopped off.
I just took the source wavs, listened to them, and found out that, yes, indeed a portion of each file was missing in the mp3/bmu versions. Then batch mp3 encoded them, renamed them to match the existing filenames as bmus, packaged them in a zip archive and uploaded them.
I've replaced the sound files in my directory with the new ones. So, I think I'm going to go into the inn and test it out before I'd suggest updating the music download, as theres a small chance that perhaps theres some NWN weirdness that will clip the sound files... as I cant think of any good reason they would have gotten clipped in the first place.
-TV
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If I could get a GM to help me test this at some point, it would be great.
I just need to cycle through the layo musics and make sure they're working.
i tried using the jukebox, but as its random... It takes forever to get to the ones I need to check.
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Hmm, not sure the jukebox has them in there or not.
What you can do is test it in the toolset. If it works in the toolset it will work in the world. Right now it cuts out in the toolset as well.
Just associate the 2da hak to the new module and you will be good to go.
But I can jump in the game if you would like.
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Hey Talan, where does this stand? Don't want all your efforts going to waste.
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Basically, the problem was that the bmu files in the music pack currently were acctually clipped. That is, they were missing a portion of the audio. NWN was playing them correctly, but the files ended, that is why they seemed to be cutting out.
I took the source audio, converted it to mp3, renamed it as bmu so that the whole of the audio is in the file.
However, now the files wont play at all (had L test this for me as I dont have the toolset on this comp.)
I tried encoding them at several different bitrates (including the bitrate that the bioware music is in and the bitrate that the custom music that doesnt have problems is in) and the problem persists.
Any ideas? Am I missing something about the bmu file type? Could there be some sort of tag that needs to be added to the mp3 in addition to renaming the extension?
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You can't just rename the mp3 to a bmu, you have to use the converter. I'd highly suggest you set the bitrate to 128 as well.
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=other.Detail&id=225
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doh!
Would have sworn I'd read that a BMU was just an MP3 renamed... its odd you need a converter, since you can go back to MP3 and play it in an MP3 player by just renaming it.
Anyway, I'll do this, hopefully it will work.
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I think the only part of the process I was missing was changing a bit in the header from "ID3" to "BMU V1.0ID3"
I'll throw one up on the FTP, let me know if it works.
Edit: The one I put up as a test is layo_forest_deep.bmu if it works I'll edit the tags on all of them and send them off.
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I think that one worked. Lets try one more please and then we will assume they are all working. Let me know when it is up there.
Yep, I am positive it worked! Lets try one more.
When you are done Talan I will need both the mp3's and the bmu please. I need to fix the broken mp3's on my side (the master music side). Don't forget the large main theme one please.
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Allright, done. The correct bmu's are in a zip archive in my folder called "LayoMusicNEW.zip"
The old improperly tagged bmu's are in a zip archive called "LayoMusic.zip"
For the master music archives, just rename all the bmu's in "LayoMusic.zip" as mp3's.
In fact, you could rename any of them as mp3's, even the corrected bmu's will play correctly as mp3s if renamed.
um... acctually, I'll just give you a zip of the mp3's... its probably easier that way than trying to explain... so, in a moment I'll put up an archive called "LayoMusicMP3.zip" That will be the one with the mp3s for you.
-TV
Edit: ok, all files are up in my folder. "LayoMusicNEW.zip" is the corrected bmu's "LayoMusicMP3.zip" is the mp3s. Hopefully everything will work perfectly. Glad to have finally gotten this figured out :)
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I have them both, thanks. I am testing the bmu's in the toolset and they are indeed working!
Good job and thanks. I will have Klaatu update the music file on the forums in just a few minutes.
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All files have been copied over to the ftp server, and a post was made to download them again.
Closed.