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mntoes

Custom query sound - tutorial request

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This is a request for a tutorial.


I wish to update my St george's church lot by adding a custom query sound.
I have the wav file and some limited idea of how to use ilive.

I just can't get to grips with what TGI no's to use for the new sound, or how to link it to the wav file?. Any help by way of a tutorial would be appreciated. I have tried studying other lots but got lost! If someone could offer to do it for me so that I could study the amended exemplar/lot file that would be great. I have done a search but found little on this subject8.gif. (hope I am in the right forum)

thanks in advance for any help1.gif

Mntoes

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Posted:
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This is not my area of expertise, but I do know that PEG of Pegasus productions knows how to do this, so maybe a PM to him would help.

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  • Original Poster
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    Thanks I'll give him a try.2.gif'


    EDIT. looked at one of Pegs lots and managed to figure it out. Thanks again for the pointer GrampaAl.

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    Posted:
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    [bEGINQUOTE]

    Quote
    4/17/2004 7:40:06 PM[/quoteDATE]
    Quote
    GrampaAl[/quoteAUTHOR]
    Quote
    This is not my area of expertise, but I do know that PEG of Pegasus productions knows how to do this, so maybe a PM to him would help.[/quoteMESSAGE][/bEGINQUOTE]



    Thanks for the plug, GA... your usual 15% will be coming as soon as the check clears! 22.gif

    For anyone interested, there are only 3 basic factors/elements/thingies involved in adding custom sounds to queries and/or the lot itself... and the process is fairly simple. It goes a litle something like this:
     




    1. The WAV file should be in PCM format and have a 22.050 kHz sampling rate. To reduce size (some sound files can be huge), it should also be a 8-bit mono.

    a. You can use the Sound Recorder program that comes with Windows to convert almost any WAV file to the proper format.

    HOW: Load the WAV file into the Sound Recorder program. From the File menu, select Properties. From the Properties dialog box, click on Convert Now. In the Sound Selection dialog box, set the format to PCM and the sampling rate (aka Attributes) to 22.050 kHz 8bit Mono. Click Ok, close the dialogs and save the file.

    b. Insert the WAV file into your lot file using the Reader program's Insert & Compress option. Select WAV file as the format.
    (can be done with DatGen as well)

    c. Give the WAV file a Type Address of 2026960B and a Group Address of AA4D1933. Make the Instance Address a unique 8-digit HEX number.

    d. You can test the WAV file using the Reader. Make sure it sounds right. If not, you can try different settings for the file using the Sound Recorder until the sound and volume are correct. If you have access to a good sound editing program, you can also modify it there, adding extra qualities and effects & filtering out distortion, etc...


    2. Sound files are accessed in the game via TRK files. Each WAV file you use will need to have a unique TRK file. As these are complicated files containing EVIL NASTY mojo we don't fully understand, we will copy and reuse one that we know works.

    Although TRK files can do many things, we are only concerned with their ability to control the WAV file's volume and whether the sound should repeat or not. Attached to this message is a DAT file containing two TRK files that you can copoy into your lot files. One is set up for use as Query SFX (073D41AB)that plays at full volume and does not repeat. The other (073D41A9)is suitable for background SFX and plays at a lower volume and repeats.

    a. Each of these TRK files should be given a unique Instance address. DO NOT USE THE INSTANCE ADDRESSES THEY CURRENT HAVE. You will also copy that unique Instance address in the appropriate SFX property of the exemplar.

    b. The TRK file must also point to the unique Instance address of the appropriate WAV file. When you click on the TRK file in the Reader, its values will display in the right pane. Copy the WAV file's Instance address to the third value, XA Instance. Be sure to click on the Apply button when done.

    And that should do it. Be sure to Reindex & Rebuild the directory before saving. Test it in the game and see if it works. If it doesn't... well, you screwed up. Try again! 22.gif

      Edited by nos.17  

    fix broken formatting

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    Posted:
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     Excellent I was Looking for something like this too thanks.


    Check out My files by typing: Biwdc in the stex search.

    Check out My sc4 Site here:Biwdc Lot's Inc.(Sim City 4 Stuff)

    & New forums Here:http://biwdcforums.com

    Check out My Web Server Here:Biwdc Lot's Inc. Web Server,Biwdc Forums PHPBB

    Useful links:Get Your Maxis Files Here! -Mac-P.C,SC4 Devotion Maxis files! -P.C -Sim City.ea.com no longer exist so get the maxis files from the links to the left ^_^

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    Posted:
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    I love to hear police sounds in my city.

    Can anybody make this?

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