Wave volume fix?

[agentorangeguy]

I recall there was a fix to the super loud wave sounds but the older thread links to the files no longer work. I wish it was default with Exult because it's pretty annoying having to turn down the volume when you get near waves. Other sounds that should be fixed that I can think of is the force field sounds, they are too loud also.

Is there a fix floating around somewhere for these or does it have to be done from scratch? Would be a good default setting for exult hah.

[agentorangeguy]

Oh, add SFX 64 (In BG) to the list of ear piercing loudness that needs to be fixed haha.

[Gotcha!]

This has always bothered me as well, but it occurred to me just now that this is something that I can actually fix.

So far these always gave me a headache:

TBG:
49 - wave
51 - no idea, but it's head hurting
52 - field (poison field, sleep etc.)
64 - that awful cure
66 - the worst of them all - unlock magic - brain piercing
82 - that piercing sound in the meditation center
108 - field
113 - bees
114 - unsure

SI:
5 - sawblade
29 - gremlin attack
64 - cure sound/jester attack
67 - unlock magic
91 - forgot
96 - don't know
109 - wave
128 - weird wave, dunno
129 - field
130 - spell

I forgot what some of the sounds are used for, but my brain does have a bad relationship with them.
If there are more, please let me know.

[Knight Captain]

I don't remember the Energy Field making endless sound in the original either.

Isn't the sound volume separately configurable from the music?

[Gotcha!]

@KC: Nope, there are no volume settings.

[Dominus]

This is a task that someone should do and implement volume sliders for music, sfx and speech.
No one wanted to do that yet...
Colourless???

[Gotcha!]

Is a general sound volume slider the solution though?
I get the feeling some of these sounds (the ones listed) stick out like a sore thumb.
If reducing sound in general, it might make lots of sounds too quiet.



Oh well, one way to find out, I guess. To be continued.

[Knight Captain]

How did we get the volume levels for these sounds?

[agentorangeguy]

I was thinking someone could extract the wav files somehow, turn down the volumes on the specific ones in a program like Audacity or something, then re-import?

[Gotcha!]

That's exactly what I'm doing. Hahaha.

[Dominus]

Hmm, might be worth investigating whether some effects can be tuned down with some code (volume curve or so)

[Gotcha!]

@Dominus: Might definitely be worth it, because in all honesty, I think everyone has different preferences on what sounds right. So the thing I'm doing might not suit everyone.

I also wish I had access to the original sound files. Seeing the differences in volume in Audacity, I wonder if it is all intended or if the creator of Exult's .wav files was a bit sloppy. No offense meant, just wondering why a bunch of sounds are so head-ache inducing. It isn't the case in the original game.


Anyway, a new jmsfx.flx For TBG:
https://avatar.home.xs4all.nl/jmsfx.flx
Lessed the volume on many sounds, depending on how head-hurting it is to hear in-game and how far the sound went above a certain threshold when compared to other sounds.


I'll do the SI one later, I think I'm coming down with something. Need some rest. "The sands of time are dwindling, Avatar!" Yeah yeah... I'm sure there's another day tomorrow, Dupré.

[Dominus]

Could very well be that the creator was sloppy or maybe he felt the effects were too low. It's been a while that Joseph did those
We would all like access to the original sound files (or the sourcecode ).

Joseph recorded them from in game back then.

[Gotcha!]

Oh wow, that must have been a hell of a job. Kudos to him.

[Knight Captain]

We don't access the original sound effects via Exult?

[Dominus]

Correct, that's why we need to use the sfx packs. The SB one is recordings of the SOundBlaster effects done by Joseph Morris, the MT32 pack was recorded by Simon Quinn

[agentorangeguy]

Gotcha, where do we install this file, what folder? I wasn't able to get anything to work with it.

[Gotcha!]

You should already have one in your Exult\Data folder. Just replace it with this one.

[Gotcha!]

And here is the Serpent Isle one:

https://avatar.home.xs4all.nl/jmsisfx.flx

[Gotcha!]

I did some quick testing in both games, and find it much better now, but if anyone using these still finds a certain sound annoying/too loud, please let me know.

[agentorangeguy]

Excellent work!

At first I wasn't sure if it was working, then I realized my volume was up way too loud

[Gotcha!]

Thanks! Please let me know if you do run into a sound that still bothers you.

[Dominus]

how is the Mt32 sfx pack? Also too loud or is that one ok in those instances?

[Gotcha!]

The Roland MT-32 ones are perfect. No high-pitched sounds or weird volume differences going on there.

[Dominus]

if you feel adventurous, here is my ages old (16!!!!! years) sfx packs
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0qmzb26w2wi7b ... x.flx?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g22thrdb2z2dy ... x.flx?dl=0
Either rename them or change exult.cfg via the tag.
It has sfx from varios sources, some are from Ultima IX, UO, some few I made myself or I don't know anymore
That's the reason it never became official

[Gotcha!]

Cool, I'll certainly check them out.

I had the same idea while I was doing that sound stuff. Nothing is stopping us to insert fresh new sounds into the games. It'd take away the nostalgia, but it could be fun to experiment.

[Dominus]

Definitely! Just don't make the same mistake I did and use others stuff

[Gotcha!]

Well, I don't have the resources and know-how to create decent sounds myself, so I pretty much have to.
There are sites for free sound effects though. And even if there were not, no worries, I won't be sharing anyone else's property.

[Dominus]

Yes, free sound effects is the way to go... back then... I was stupid to invest much time in others properties