Sound Files Editing (VCE)

[Zapper]

After stating that grass surface sound is missing on AdLib/Sound Blaster setup (Tandy also doesn't) by comparison with PC Speaker and MT-32 VCE files, I found a way to use a skid sound when driving non-tarmac (grass/mud/ice) surfaces.

I've replicated the same fix on Tandy resource file TDENG1.VCE, check attached TDENG1SK.VCE file below.

[Duplode]

Great news! This is indeed one of the most annoying bugs in the game. Thanks Zapper!

[Cas]

Wow!  I've just downloaded the updated file. It's almost 3:00am, so I'm going to bed, but I'll try it tomorrow.

[Daniel3D]

By knowing this, my curiosity simply got me into checking how this sound file have inside. So I unpacked ADENG1.PVC in Stressed application and easily find out all this resources:

Out of curiosity. Mario Andretti's Racing Challenge version can be edited in stressed. But stunts version can not.
What happens if you edit the Mario Andretti's Racing Challenge version to match stunts? Does that work?

[Frieshansen]

Just tried it - great work Zapper!

[alanrotoi]

By knowing this, my curiosity simply got me into checking how this sound file have inside. So I unpacked ADENG1.PVC in Stressed application and easily find out all this resources:

Out of curiosity. Mario Andretti's Racing Challenge version can be edited in stressed. But stunts version can not.
What happens if you edit the Mario Andretti's Racing Challenge version to match stunts? Does that work?

Yep they are very similar games, graphics and sounds. They took many things from Stunts like Porsche 962 and Porsche March 3d models.

[Daniel3D]

Out of curiosity. Mario Andretti's Racing Challenge version can be edited in stressed. But stunts version can not.
What happens if you edit the Mario Andretti's Racing Challenge version to match stunts? Does that work?

Curiosity got the better of me as well.
Editing the Mario version is very possible. and i managed to match the stunts version easy. The files are however not the same.
There are slight variations in the file (Stunts had not problem with it though). Adding SKI2 in stressed also worked fine in stuns
(if SKI2 is located before SKID it seems, had it at the end the first try, that didn't produce skidding sound, but worked otherwise fine)..

But i wanted closer to the original. So I edited the second high bite of the original from 2 to 4 (as it was in my adaptation of mario's file [ADENG1-MA.VCE] )
that gave the expected size in stressed of 1136 (instead of 624) that was long enough to trim the last few bits and have a working original in stressed. [ADENG1-C.VCE]
then I added the SKI2 Chunk by duplicating and renaming SKID. [ADENG1.VCE]
** files attached for reference - all are different, but all work in stressed and in stunts **

I think we can do this for other files that stressed won't open with this error as well.
Credit goes to Zapper. i only connected two separate bits of information together. And I am happy that it fit withing my skill set.

[Daniel3D]

Applied the same trick to the tandy version. (only 22 empty bites difference)

Needs testing, but i think it will be ok.

also edited the other PC and MT VCE file so they can be opened in stressed now.

[Daniel3D]

@zapper. You know, I think, more than most of us about how the game processes the sound files. Can you lower the tone of SKI2 so that it is more of a rumble?

[alanrotoi]

Daniel this is getting good! We have another game to take resourses for Stunts.

[Zapper]

@zapper. You know, I think, more than most of us about how the game processes the sound files. Can you lower the tone of SKI2 so that it is more of a rumble?

Yes it should be possible, I'll try to achieve it in a couple of days. (im out from home) 

[Daniel3D]

I have something else to play with (continuing earlier acquired knowledge)
The other VCE files contain the instruments for the music. (KMS has the notes)
stunts has 25 instruments.
Mario's has the same format as do both versions of 4D boxing.
There is some overlap, but there are a lot of instruments there.

We can switch the instrument code to get the songs with different instruments.
I fixed the files, so they can be opened in stressed.

Stunt's own version I also cleaned. It had some crap at the end of the file that had noting useful,
The others still have it.

you can rename any of them to ADSKIDMS and it will work, but not all instruments will be played.

[alanrotoi]

What a great job! I'll download it tomorrow (saturday). It wil be fun. I wonder if we can add sounds for new things... A different sound for snow grip or driving over water...

[llm]

is the VCE format fully understand? (i mean every byte)

i can only find this description: https://moddingwiki.shikadi.net/wiki/Kris%27_Music_System_Voice_Format

[Daniel3D]

is the VCE format fully understand? (i mean every byte)

i can only find this description: https://moddingwiki.shikadi.net/wiki/Kris%27_Music_System_Voice_Format

Yes and No
We know that for music the KMS provides the tone and rhythm and the VCE provides the instruments. It is build similar to MIDI but with less variables.
That is why we can convert KMS to MIDI but not the other way around.

As for the contents. There is not more to it than the wiki says. Its just a list of base instrument sounds. No melody or anything.
How the sound is build up is something zapper can tell you more about.

But the sound parts have all the same buildup and can be exchanged. The only thing that matters is that the chunk has the name stunts is looking for.