Sound Files Editing (VCE)

[Zapper]

My experience with editing VCE files was, back in 2002, very basic. I had to use Microsoft EDIT (DOS aplication) to change some bytes of these files.

Using this EDIT app (EDIT.COM) that still remains in Windows Xp (system32 folder) I was able to get some "patterns" on ASCII bytes and discover some samples used by engine, skids, crash, and other sound that were used in game.

But I had to use EDIT with "open in binary" switch option to see byte values.
Getting it straight, on windows command prompt you write this:

edit /93 pceng1.vce <- for pc sound editing.
edit /100 adeng1.vce <- for ad sound editing.

Then you will see this:   (for pc speaker)

Next I show what I had written in 2002 to explain what I had edit and its consequences:
(broken image link)

Note: above pictures show content files that were written by me. EDT file extension is not used on game.

For Adlib(SoundBlaster) its very similar to edit.

Now I will show what I had analysed in sound file content, taking Adlib file as example:

(this is a mod screenshot to show all content bytes on original and mod files in horizontal split screen)

Has you can see there is a STOPSTARENGIBLOWSKIDSCRABUMPCRAS text on first line, spacing these chars in logic words, it identifies 8 words that is the number of rows below the first text line of the file content.

Assuming this, Stop sound sample code corresponds to the first line, Star(t) the second, The third is for Engi(ne) sound and so on.

I don't know what all chars do in each line, I tried to change on by one, but the most relevant were those that I point at pictures above.

And that is some of what I remember of this. All suggestions are welcome to get this sound sampling code revealed.

Cheers

[llm]

nice work but... why on earth don't you use a real hex-editor like http://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/ or others?

[Zapper]

Because at that time, in 2002 I was no such expert on file editing, rarely had internet access to get more powerfull tools, so I work with the tools I had on my system.

To get this in this topic I had to go to my old Pentium 100 and backup my "note files".

Today it would be different of course, but has I stated earlier, I post what I remember that I did at that time, literally.

[Duplode]

Since this is a sound effects thread, it's of course very natural that the the böff must be louder, and modulated as well.

[Zapper]

What does it mean "Böff"?

[BonzaiJoe]

What does it mean "Böff"?

It means "I'm gay".

[Chulk]

What does it mean "Böff"?

It means "I'm gay".

So "Böff" means Bonzai Joe is gay? Or it means I (Chulk) am gay? I'm confused!!!

[BonzaiJoe]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quote_sign

[BonzaiJoe]

A gay from a bay.

[Zapper]

Ok, so you all are go thrashing this thread?
Please, there is an appropriate section to do that!

If you write some thing, do it "ontopic" only.

[dstien]

VCEs are Stunts resource archives. Working on the MIDI file conversion I identified some values in the MT-32 voices file that holds MIDI controller data:

Code Select Expand


char *vce = findResource(vceBuf, seq->voices[i].id);

if (vce == NULL) {
  seq->voices[i].enabled = false;
}
else {
  seq->voices[i].enabled   = true;
  seq->voices[i].channel   = vce[0x43];
  seq->voices[i].program   = vce[0x44];
  seq->voices[i].volume    = vce[0x45];
  seq->voices[i].pan       = vce[0x46];
  seq->voices[i].transpose = vce[0x10];
  seq->voices[i].hasHits   = vce[0x25];
}

[CTG]

I need a deep engine voice for the airplanes. Is it possible to solve?

[CTG]

It would be cool to have a main theme remix to replace the old one. But I guess music file editing has no priority.

[Duplode]

I need a deep engine voice for the airplanes. Is it possible to solve?

Probably not unless you don't mind all other vehicles being affected (cf. Zapper's sound pack).

[Zapper]

Hi,

Visiting this maturated topic, I found that some images were lost with imageshack... so I tried to fix some of those included in the first topic.

Also related to this topic I recently discovered an edited VCE file (different than the ones included in Zapper's Sound Pack) in my old laptop... so I decided to share it here:

ADENG1T3.VCE (Just copy over adeng1.vce after making it's backup)

This version has an good engine sound match for Flat-6 or V6 engines as Adlib/SoundBlaster sound effects.

Try and enjoy.