Custom sound bank?

[justforfun 7,704]

Hello all,

Does anyone know how to make a custom sound bank for an automaton? By that I don't mean simply choosing one of the Maxis in-game sound banks, but actually creating a new one from scratch. 

To make a custom instant sound one simply needs to import a .wav file with the right settings. But how to turn that into a sound bank that plays during UDI, and varies its pitch or frequency accordingly to the automaton's speed?

Any insigths welcome, thanks.

[HayleyRenaNemeth 465]

The likely answer that stuff like that is hard coded into the game.

[Tropod 144]

On 04/11/2019 at 7:33 AM, HayleyRenaNemeth said:

The likely answer that stuff like that is hard coded into the game.

No. I'd say it is possible. If you use SC4Reader tool you can play & export UDI sounds. They're referenced in Exemplars & possibly also script file. They're classed as AB files & are similar to Need for Speed audio files.

 

For example;

TGI;

0x00000000,0x8A5971C5,0x0BBCEA12 is UDI sound file.

Referenced in

0x6534284A,0x096E6739,0x108C0000

0x6534284A,0x096E6739,0x10640000

 

And maybe elsewhere.

 

0x00000000,0x8A5971C5,0x6B955C37 is UDI related but it's not fully deciphered.

 

For reference

https://www.wiki.sc4devotion.com/index.php?title=AB

https://www.wiki.sc4devotion.com/index.php?title=AE

https://zenhax.com/viewtopic.php?t=1116

 

[justforfun 7,704]

@Tropod

Thank you, I'll have a read at the links you provided and come back if I have more questions -which is quite likely.

[xxdita 1,097]

I know that custom sounds are possible, but they are difficult (at best), and have only been used a couple of times that I know of. PEG's Xmas Dev Kit has a "Ho ho ho" custom sound on December 25th, and I have a lot that plays a clip of "Sweet Transvestite" every Halloween (pretty sure that's a BSC park, maybe Pride Park or something SimGoober?)

I've looked at PEG's Xmas Dev Kit in Reader and I'm not seeing anything I can pinpoint as sound, but that would be my suggestion on where to start poking. Both the file itself, and if possible a search of a development thread (if that was ever here?). 

In-game sounds can be cute, but remember that these will trigger every year on a specific date, which can get annoying quickly. I'm honestly glad that they aren't running rampant. 

[justforfun 7,704]

@xxdita Perhaps simple custom sounds aren't that hard to make, but sound banks for automata certainly look like something I wouldn't know where to start with. After reading the links @Tropod provided it seems to me that our knowledge on the matter is still scant, or at least not up to the task yet. Of course the experts can correct me if I'm wrong. 

[xxdita 1,097]

I suspect Tropod would likely know more than I about this, as I have no experience using UDI much less modding it. But the two names that stick out in my mind in this field are Swamper77 and mikeseth. I can only suggest combing through their various threads, posts, and files here and maybe at SC4D to see if they perhaps touched upon the subject or something close to it.