Improved RnD music!

Martijn · Post by **Martijn** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:53 pm

hi,

Here is my Rocks 'n' Diamonds music folder, with the (almost) complete high(er) quality songs instead of those and poor quality short WAV files! Now you can enjoy the full Alchemy, Network etc. music! I've made them suitable for a loop, so little parts have been removed of course.

I had to make WAV files of them (instead of MP3), because RnD doesn't completely support MP3 files. For that reason, the ZIP file is about 130 MB, but it's worth it!!! Now you can finally have those good old tunes back without being annoyed that the music is so short and monotonous (because of the same loops constantly)!

Because I'm not able to upload it anywhere, I've temporarily uploaded it to the server of my site. But it takes a lot of bandwith, so I won't give the URL publicly.

If you are interested in it, please send me a PM and I will give you the (temporary) download link!

Enjoy it!

Post by **Holger** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:56 pm

> I had to make WAV files of them (instead of MP3), because RnD doesn't
> completely support MP3 files.

Do you mean the X11 version (which indeed does not support MP3s, which the SDL version does), or are there problems with MP3s in the main SDL version, too?

Martijn · Post by **Martijn** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:26 pm

I mean the SDL version, but you knew already about this, didn't you? Some MP3s are supported, others aren't. Although I haven't tested this with the latest version, but you haven't changed anything here, have you?

Zomis · Post by **Zomis** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:40 pm

Could the reason of that be ID3-v2 tags? or bitrate size? (and maybe bitrate type aswell, variable and constant bitrate?)

Post by **Holger** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:26 pm

No, I haven't changed anything regarding MP3s (played by SDL_mixer).

Was there a test MP3 that did not work (as an example to show this problem)? Can't remember now...

RAP · Post by **RAP** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:18 am

No, but to myself one day; when I used MP3 music for my mini-games;
and play some other mini-games for a few times; finally it got interupted and
freezed the game for some reason...

Martijn · Post by **Martijn** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:20 am

well, MP3s do work, I even used it in my set 'Boulder Dash Dream'. But some sounds (instruments) seem to be not completely supported, which may cause that MP3s can sound a bit different in RnD.

Zomis · Post by **Zomis** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:06 am

Martijn wrote:well, MP3s do work, I even used it in my set 'Boulder Dash Dream'. But some sounds (instruments) seem to be not completely supported, which may cause that MP3s can sound a bit different in RnD.

As far as i know, MP3s don't use "instruments", only compressed Wave signals (for a wave signal picture, look here: http://www.aldostools.com/wavedit.gif)
MIDI files, however, use specific instruments

Post by **Holger** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 6:32 pm

Exactly -- MIDI files (as used in BD2K3) may sound differently on each system.

MP3s and MODs are wave/sample based formats and (should) sound exactly the same on every system. (Another issue is that mixing MP3s and WAVs (mainly sound effects) using the SDL_Mixer library sometimes does not sound as good as it should.)

So, an MP3 file should either completely work in R'n'D, or completely refuse to work (for example, if the MP3 file is broken).

So, if there are MP3s that do not work, I would like to have a look at them.

Martijn · Post by **Martijn** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:11 am

yes, I know that they are no real instruments, but one sound. But what I mean is that it seems that some MP3s are and others aren't supported very well. For example (I don't know if it's true) if you have an MP3 with a flute playing it does not sound very well, but if a guitar is playing, there are no problems.

Have a look at the MP3 file in 'Boulder Dash Dream' and you will hear some strange squeaky sound sometimes.

Daniel H. · Post by **Daniel H.** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:04 pm

Differences in instruments in MP3s can have to do with the way MP3s are compressed.

RAP · Post by **RAP** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:52 am

I downloaded it and woah, the music is like so remixed and great (expect
Czardasz and the loop at the info srceen, but I know you did'nt provide
that stuff); Hmmm... the file seems to be bigger then expected but I
managed to download it that day. One question, how did you get them?

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:45 pm

Very nice!
Pity about the large file size but it is very pleasant to listen to compared to the 10 second low quality loops.

Martijn · Post by **Martijn** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:27 am

Isn't there anyone else who wants this music? It also includes the mod file senergy.mod, a music file which I suggested a long time ago to add to the classic music set, because it perfectly fits there. Maybe something to think about again? Holger, what do you think about this?

Daniel H. · Post by **Daniel H.** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:11 pm

Unfortunately, if another piece of music were added to the game, it would ruin the current default 10-level music pattern.