The Phantom Bunburyist's Phantasmal Phonics Phthread - Which? (24 August 2011)

[ow_tiobe_sb]

If you make mods, would it not satisfy the conscience, nay, the soul to adhere to this imperative when it comes to your mod soundtrack, if only for once?

In my absence, I have busily composed and recorded a number of (loopable) songs that I would like to make available to the FR modding community.  (More to the point, if I fail to deliver the war drum tracks that Prev requested ages ago, I am certain he will hunt me down and force me to listen to his Barbara Mandrell LP collection until my spleen ruptures.)  What I would like to know is A) Is anyone modding (at all) who would care to make use of these audio resources, and B) What bitrates are ideal for packaging MP3 files with mods while also trying to maintain the tracks' sound quality (e.g., Does one go as low as 128 KBps?  Lower?)?

Cheers!

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and World Breaker

[Previsionary]

WB Tiobe!

Even though there are less modders around, I think we all can enjoy great and non-copyrighted infringing music. I know there was a demand for that awhile back that was never met. As for sound quality, 128 KBps and above. File size is more an issue though, me thinks. IG seemed to stick with 192 kbps for their music and 356 kbps for their non-looping sounds if it helps. 192 kbps is also the most common bit rate I used for mod music.

[John Jr.]

I agree with Prev. We (the few active modders) could really use new background music. It's very tiresome use only the same FF themes all time.

[cmdrkoenig67]

I might have a use for custom music too, OW...New tunes to use for the game and modding is always a good thing.

It's good to see you alive and posting again....I hope you're back to stay (don't forget to visit the FRP forums too, if you'd like to).

Best.

Dana

[cherokeesam]

Former FF modder/mapper here, just returning to the game after a 5-year absence (back then, I was CherokeeBlackjack)...

and I'd be *more* than happy to use any audio resources you can offer for modding, tiobe!   It actually surprises me that a lot of the FFV3R mods folks have made don't make use of voicepacks or new music or even new ambient sounds....to me, audio is just as important as video in the immersion factor of a mod.

[cmdrkoenig67]

Former FF modder/mapper here, just returning to the game after a 5-year absence (back then, I was CherokeeBlackjack)...

and I'd be *more* than happy to use any audio resources you can offer for modding, tiobe!   It actually surprises me that a lot of the FFV3R mods folks have made don't make use of voicepacks or new music or even new ambient sounds....to me, audio is just as important as video in the immersion factor of a mod.

Holy carp!  CBJ?!  Glad to have you back.  How have you been?...Where have you been?

I'm certainly making VPs, using new sound fx and trying to find new music for my mods.

Dana

[yell0w_lantern]

Sure. 

[ow_tiobe_sb]

I have posted this throwaway song (read your Ulysses) for your use (My initial post was eaten by either forum nuance or my own negligence--probably the latter, so please forgive the straightforward nature of my post.) for your use, without any copyright restrictions, save that you use it in a Freedom Force mod (Wait a mo, that's a fairly restrictive utterance, eh what?).  'Tis entitled "Drive Me to the Edge," and 'tis representative of the progressive power metal genre, if one can believe that such a fanciful genre exists.  The rest of the numbers I have promised will require that I (do something not so unusual for those who are unfortunate to know me, namely) beg your patience, as they require final mixing and mastering.  Thanks for listening.

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[cmdrkoenig67]

I like it, SB...Very nice.  Crank out more like this.

Dana 

[BentonGrey]

Wow, I've been looking for this type of thing!  So great to see you back in the community, man.

[ow_tiobe_sb]

Many thanks, fellows, for your kind words, and thanks, Prev, for the very useful technical information (which I have followed).  Dana has provided me with some very useful ideas for future production (and I am still polishing up Prev's war drums, of course); nevertheless, you should feel free to post ideas/requests here (I suppose I should change my thread title), as some of you may be looking for similar sounds.

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[ow_tiobe_sb]

I do not know if he still remembers this request from many moons ago; nevertheless, I offer Prev's requested war drums, entitled "At the Gates."  Enjoy!

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[cmdrkoenig67]

Oh.My.Dog!  

SB, great track!  That would totally also fit into that certain non-Micronauts mod I'm working on.

Dana

[ow_tiobe_sb]

My thoughts are with your dog, Dana.  I hope to have more to come, shortly.  Thanks for your aesthetic/moral support.

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[cmdrkoenig67]

No problem, Kind Sir.

Dana

[ow_tiobe_sb]

I have remastered "At the Gates," for, after further examination, I decided it would benefit from more compression.  Please find the remastered version here.  If you already downloaded the file, please use the remastered version, for its sound quality is far superior.  Thanks for listing.

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[ow_tiobe_sb]

Here is another in the War Drums for Previsionary series, "Sinister Siege."  Enjoy!

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[Previsionary]

These are awesome, sir Tiobe. Would have really come in handy a year ago. *hires someone to build a time machine*

[John Jr.]

I have remastered "At the Gates," for, after further examination, I decided it would benefit from more compression.  Please find the remastered version here.  If you already downloaded the file, please use the remastered version, for its sound quality is far superior.  Thanks for listing.

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

The theme is just great! Perfect for an action mission, but it's not looping. It plays just one time and stops. I have to change something to make it loops for an entire mission?
Thanks for making these songs, they're incredible!

[ow_tiobe_sb]

It's not looping. It plays just one time and stops. I have to change something to make it loops for an entire mission?

According to the FF Scripting documentation:

sound.load(name)
name: the name of the sound to load, see ffedit sound page for a list of names

This method loads a sound, creates a new sound object (handle), and returns it to you, use it like this: mysnd = sound.load(?name?). You must create a sound object with this method before you can use any of the sound object methods listed below.

[...]

loop()
This will loop the sound, you must call either endloop() or stop() (preferably endloop), to stop the sound looping at a later date, or it will continue to loop until the end of the level. However if you attach the sound object to a game object then the loop will stop when the object is destroyed?

endloop()
This method smoothly ends a looping sound, its nicer than stop because stop cuts off the sound playing, whereas endloop probably will not depending on the loop type. You definitely want to use endloop if its an ambient sound loop using STOCHASTIC looping mode (see ffedit2).

Many thanks to all for the kind compliments.

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[ow_tiobe_sb]

At Dana's prompting, I have begun work on some new stingers to replace the m99music4.mp3 and its ilk at the conclusion of missions or cutscenes.  Here is "Stinger 2" ("Stinger 1" is still under development), a 15-second orchestral finisher in D for timpani, percussion, french horn, and string ensemble.  It may be suitable for mission failure, a Pyrrhic victory, or a cutscene cliffhanger.  Enjoy!

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[cmdrkoenig67]

Me likey!

[ow_tiobe_sb]

This is a work in progress: a pseudo-psychedelic sprawl, tentatively entitled, "The Palm at the End of the Mind" (with apologies to Wallace Stevens).  Yes, the guitar solo needs to be fleshed out, and some of the entrances are not entirely kosher.  Any feedback or suggestions for further development would be appreciated.  Thanks for listening.

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[ow_tiobe_sb]

One may have his geekiness; one may have his rock.  I say, "Why not have your geek rock?"

With apologies to both John Williams and The Cure, I present "The Stranger Shooting a Rodian."  Enjoy!

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[ow_tiobe_sb]

Now available for release, Stinger 3 is another orchestral finisher, 9 seconds in length and in the key of C#m.  Enjoy!

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[cmdrkoenig67]

One may have his geekiness; one may have his rock.  I say, "Why not have your geek rock?"

With apologies to both John Williams and The Cure, I present "The Stranger Shooting a Rodian."  Enjoy!

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

LOL...That was fun! 

The new stinger tune is very good too, S.

Dana

[ow_tiobe_sb]

Three more stingers for your pleasure:
1. Stinger 4, for acoustic guitar and orchestral accompaniment.
2. Stinger 5, a haunting music box/carnivalesque finisher.
3. Stinger 6, a plaintive violin solo with cello accompaniment and tolling bell.

Enjoy!

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[ow_tiobe_sb]

Dana, the man who cracks the whip as often as a pianist cracks his knuckles (), requested Stinger 7, a flute ensemble piece done in the style of a medieval dirge.  Weep and/or enjoy!

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

[cmdrkoenig67]

Dana, the man who cracks the whip as often as a pianist cracks his knuckles (), requested Stinger 7, a flute ensemble piece done in the style of a medieval dirge.  Weep and/or enjoy!

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker

LOL...Ouch...Do I really crack the whip?  I don't mean to...I hope you won't think my object requests over at the FRP forums are too much whip-cracking...Eeek!

Dana 

[ow_tiobe_sb]

LOL...Ouch...Do I really crack the whip?  I don't mean to.

Dana

Darling, you know I love it when you discipline me...



ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Whirled Braker