[UT] Making Music 1: MP3s to UMX

[zynthetic]

Here it is. I highly recommend not doing this but rather making a music module.
Since this has been asked many, many times before I might as well...
-I've uploaded some reference pictures for ModPlug that go along with this, use them if you need a visualization. Here is where the pix are located. (link removed 3/14/04) BU ate the pix durring a forum crash.
-------------------------------------------------
Simple:
Convert the MP3 into wav. Open the wav in a tracker. Add the sample into the patterns. Save the file as .it (or any other valid extension). Open UEd and open the music browser. Import the file you just made. Now click save and viola!

Detailed: (added ref-pix: 12/22/01)
Convert the mp3 into no greater than 24Khz 8bit mono wav, the lower the quality the smaller the file (better). In the tracker (http://www.modplug.com) load the wav file as a instrument. Add the sample into the patterens twice. Default frequency is C5. Next to them set the tempo (t) to 01 and the speed (a) to 00 (edit: set it to 7F instead, sorry:( ) (ref pic 1). Save the file as .it.
Listen to it now. You are listening to check the loop. If the song loops before or way after it has finished you will need to edit the patterens.
Loops before it finishes: Add another blank pattern. repeat last step.
Loops way after song is finished: right-click on the pattern number and select properties. decrease the number of rows (ref pic 2). Do this until the song loops at the point you want it to.
Save again.
Open UEd and open the music browser. Import your .it file. Listen to it again to double check, then save.

-In some cases another step may be required.
If the song does not loop in unreal go back into your tracker.
Loop the sample: ie in ModPlug click the samples tab and select the sample being used. There is bitrate information displayed next to the sample number. It also shows whether the sample is stereo (it should never be) or mono and the length. Take the length and put that number into the Loop/End field. Make sure start says 0 and Type is set to On. (ref pic 3)If you need to edit the loop (if it loops after it should run your mouse over the data (sample) you will see numbers at the bottom rght of the screen (Cursor: ##). Drag it to the desired point, take the number it gives you and enter that into the end box.
If it loops before the beat is over and you have set the end point correctly there's nothing you can do except obtain a new sample (longer than the one you were using).Listen to the song again, fix any errors that may have popped up. After you are completely satisfied (if you are using ModPlug) click Edit\Cleanup\Cleanup Song. It will remove any unused data, patterns and any data after the loop point (so you can pick a sample that has ~30sec extra and not worry about not using it, as long as you have the begginning set right). Save
...back into UEd.

Congrats, you are now finished(?)
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if you have any problems or if I'm missing anything just post em

[Arcturus]

Look out though, even at a fairly low quality, a, say, 5 minute WAV file is going to be pretty big in file size.

It's also more trouble than it's worth, IMO. If you can find a decent .it file, use that. You get good music (even if it isn't your fave band) without the huge file size.

Although I'm not stopping ya. If you wanna listen to famous tunes whilst fraggin', go ahead! :)

PS. Thanks for giving out the info, zynth. I've lost count of how many times I've been asked how to do this :)

[zynthetic]

*bump

killed the infamous no-loop problem

[[UM]theswarm]

So, um, I don't know **** about trackers. How do I add a sample into a pattern!?:rolleyes:

[zynthetic]

:con:
eh?

in the pattern field push 'a' at the top of the first collumn. It should read C5.

[[UM]theswarm]

ok in the top of the first collum i see this:
C-5 01 -- A04
So i hit the 'a', then what? I've never actually used the program before, so i'm clueless.

[zynthetic]

You push play and listen to it:p

I've updated the first post, that help any?

gah! couldn't replace the attachment in the first post and ended up deleting it:(
well here it is

[Wormbo]

1. Convert the MP3 file to WAV. (WinAMP can do this.)
2. Start ModPlug Player and open the WAV file.
3. Use Save As and select S3M or IT.
4. Use UnrealEd to convert the file saved in (3) to UMX.

[RedFox]

Will this file be a very big? We all know bout how much weigh wav files...

[zynthetic]

the final result is the size of the wav file. Depending on what type of bitrate (16/8bit 44.1-whatever kHz) that's what it will be.
If the sample is 3.45mb then the umx will be ~3.46mb

[[UM]theswarm]

I will NEVER get this right, somebody want to do it for me?:) If so meet me on #beyondunreal, as I am STILL clueless and won't get it right no matter how much time I waste at it.

[zynthetic]

catch me ~1-2pm (est) tomorrow*. I have to work 3-12am and I probably wont be online after that.
*that is if my roommate isn't playing with his new toy (this comp;))

[[UM]theswarm]

BTW I heard converting mp3 files is a pain in the ass? They're all .mp3's.....:rolleyes:

[[DecoY]]

Originally posted by Wormbo
1. Convert the MP3 file to WAV. (WinAMP can do this.)
2. Start ModPlug Player and open the WAV file.
3. Use Save As and select S3M or IT.
4. Use UnrealEd to convert the file saved in (3) to UMX.

I've tried adding a wav file longer then 5min to modplug, but then My computer just crashes...

[[DecoY]]

Or even better, who can make a program that converts MP3 into UMX?
That would be handy...
If someone can or has, please contact me...
IRC: irc.quakenet.org #unrealed

[zynthetic]

Originally posted by PeaceKeeper
Or even better, who can make a program that converts MP3 into UMX?
That would be handy...
If someone can or has, please contact me...
IRC: irc.quakenet.org #unrealed
not possible.
mp3 is a stream or one continuous compressed wav.
umx is a simple file conversion of a module with a header attached for reference purposes
a module is a midi-like music file that plays many wavs at one time in seperate channels.
Lets just say if you were to extract all the wavs for a 5 min module the total size could be as low as 300kb whereas uncompressing a 5min mp3 would be ~30mb
If you've ever used fruityloops your going in the wrong direction. modules cannot be made by sequencers.

[[DecoY]]

damn

[Pat]

how (in simple steps) do i convert mp3 to wav using winamp?

[zynthetic]

I only assume you can (dont use it, no like). If soneone knows, do tell.
Or use mmjb (http://www.musicmatch.com/), which is much better, imo.

[Wormbo]

First select the Nullsoft Disk Writer output plugin and select a directory. Then load all the files you want to convert into the playlist and disable shuffle and repeat. Double-click the first title in the list and wait until all files have been converted.
The files will be named like they show up in the playlist, double files will be overwritten without any warning.

[zynthetic]

:D:tup:

[[DecoY]]

Originally posted by Wormbo
First select the Nullsoft Disk Writer output plugin and select a directory. Then load all the files you want to convert into the playlist and disable shuffle and repeat. Double-click the first title in the list and wait until all files have been converted.
The files will be named like they show up in the playlist, double files will be overwritten without any warning.

nice avatar, d00d!!:D

[Tre]

Wait a sec... Last time I used converted mp3s in a map.. it took about 5 minutes to load, and affected various other sounds, usually drowning them out.. maybe it was too loud... Burning Angel.. heh.. but Is it worth it? damn music making is so expensive...

Oh and MSI kicks ass...

[zynthetic]

Originally posted by Tre
Wait a sec... Last time I used converted mp3s in a map.. it took about 5 minutes to load, and affected various other sounds, usually drowning them out.. maybe it was too loud...

Most likely it was too large
damn music making is so expensive...

Not true. I made most of my tracks when I was literraly broke. All of the software I have is free (legally too, no warez; fyi I now have better software).
All you really need to make modules is a tracker (there's hundreds of differnt kinds and most if not all are free). You may need a sound editor (mssound edit, cooledit, ect..) and thee's tons of free sample sites.

Oh and MSI kicks ass...
yeah:D

[Tre]

Hey, could you tell me those programs, i want to make some computer music next to my other stuff...

[zynthetic]

here (http://forums.beyondunreal.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=92948)

[C5m7b4]

i have no problem getting the file to .it or .s3m format. i have a weirder problem that no one else it talking about. if i open up unrealed and go to the music browser it is blank. when i try and view all files, i just see the .ogg files. if i try and open one of those the editor crashes.if i try and import my 2.5MEG .it file it never shows up, and of course if i save the package it just doesn't exist. any ideas. patch i can't find? help

[Wormbo]

UT2003 doesn't support module music anymore.

[Erika]

It is perfectly possible to convert MP3 files to OGG files.

But hey, find a MP3 to MOD converter and get back here.

[The_Cape]

How would I go about adding sounds into the killing sprees in UT and or UT2K3.

ex:
Kill, double kill, multikill...

Killing spree, rampage...

[RJGexplode]

Well, i did all the afore mentioned stuff, my first file turned out 30MB coz i'd forgotten to record it on a lower quality and the second time when i did do it on a low quality i got a useless lump of staticy noise :eek:

So erm...any ideas on what i've done wrong/should do ???

[Wormbo]

Well, the best thing still is creating music directly in a tracker program instead of using one MP3, OGG or WAV which is converted to UMX.

I think the best ways to keep the UMX small have been mentioned already: Keep the song's length short, use 8bit and a lower sampling rate and maybe even use mono.

[[SAS]Solid Snake]

MP3 to MOD converterThat kind of conversion shouldn't be automatic since a huge file size would result, unless of course it gave you options to control the sample's bitrate, Hz and so forth. It's not *that* hard, just Google some other programs... It can all be done in SoundRec32 (From windows), WinAmp and MadTracker or any other tracker... All of these can be found via Google, and SoundRec32 comes with Windows.

[AzNCompFreak CC]

Problem, when i do that, the UnrealEd will Always crash on me, what should i do?

[Malacia]

I think you just need to give it some time, as taking a 40 odd mb file within UeD takes quite a while

[The brasilian noob]

Which one should I lower first? bits, khz or mono/stereo?

Is 5MB WAV too big?

[zynthetic]

Convert to mono
lower Khz
8bit if there's not many higher freq sounds

A 5mb wav is going to make a 5mb umx.

[The brasilian noob]

All UMXs that comes with UT are no bigger than 1,5MB.

Converted 3:50 MP3 to 8bits, 22khz, mono WAV and got 5MB.

[AzNCompFreak CC]

HOW do i convert the UMX Files? What program can i use that is the easiest for a beginner?

[zynthetic]

Large filesizes are what you get with long uncompressed audio (wav).
Convert a umx, what are you trying to convert to what?

[The brasilian noob]

A@#$%*#@%@#!*)$¨*)!¨%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Music loops fine in Modplug but after importing in UED it always loop after 15 seconds !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reextracted the MP3 to WAV, resaved as IT and it stills loop in the wrong point...............
No matter what I do in modplug, after importing the IT file in UED the loop always **** my music.

[AzNCompFreak CC]

I'm trying to to convert regular music like .mp3 .wav into umx. What program can i use to convert it that is easy to use?

[Pikadam2000]

...Is there still any way to convert .umx files to .mp3 or .wav?

[zynthetic]

Goldwave maybe.
Modplug if you want more control over the result. Builtin EQ, Bass Expansion, Surround seperation will make it sound better. Save as 16, 24 or 32bit wav.
Only 1mb unzipped so what's not to like?

[Terry Matthes]

Whatever happened to playing winamp and UT and the same time? lol

[Monday..]

The_Cape..... get a voice-pack maker for UT, they are on BeyoundUnreal.com or another UT site, i'd like to give you a Link for the 1 i've got but i've had it so long I can't remember where from.... ;(

lol they are great....

[[]Coi[]]

http://www.planetdeusex.com/heliowalton/Tutorial-Mp3-to-Umx.htm

[[]Coi[]]

http://www.planetdeusex.com/heliowalton/Tutorial-Mp3-to-Umx.htm

mp3 to ogg is not hard, but mp3 to umx is harder :p

:eek2:

[Kantham]

Do you realize that this thread is 1 year old?
And not only that, you post the same link twice.

[JohnnySix]

Do you realize that this thread is 1 year old?
And not only that, you post the same link twice.

That's not so depressing as the amount of wav/mp3 > .umx threads.

It's like pulling out the engine of a car and attaching a horse - you've got this awesome, streamlined and game controllable format - and people just gank an .mp3, convert to an even crummier quality wav to make it a half-way managable (but usually barely listenable) size.

Either -

1. Learn to track yourself

2. Find someone who tracks and collaborate. :)

[Fuzzle]

modules > all :(

You could have a 30 minute long module in full stereo with 16 bit samples weighing in at 100kb, and you'd be able to have the game play it dynamically instead of a simple start to finish.

Shame that they got forgotten imo. Imagine how neat it'd be with gamer soundcards with intergrated softsynths, with enough memory to fit some samples and play the game's tracks live, allowing you to have them practically "generated" on the fly. Assuming several tracks share the same sample library, the tunes would be like 40kb.

Couple favourite tunes of mine:
"we have explosives (http://scrap.5elements.net/dh-xplsv.xm)" remix by darkhalo (http://signalburst.org/josh/), 4:50 long at 1mb
"Scrap Metal II (http://scrap.5elements.net/MRD-SCRP.IT)" by MrD, 3 mins at 500kb

and some random tune (http://scrap.5elements.net/o3_Velvet_&_A-Move_-_Lupo.xm) at 5kb just because.

I was into tracking a while ago myself, but made nothing worth posting :<

[JohnnySix]

modules > all :(

You could have a 30 minute long module in full stereo with 16 bit samples weighing in at 100kb, and you'd be able to have the game play it dynamically instead of a simple start to finish.

Shame that they got forgotten imo. Imagine how neat it'd be with gamer soundcards with intergrated softsynths, with enough memory to fit some samples and play the game's tracks live, allowing you to have them practically "generated" on the fly. Assuming several tracks share the same sample library, the tunes would be like 40kb.

Couple favourite tunes of mine:
"we have explosives (http://scrap.5elements.net/dh-xplsv.xm)" remix by darkhalo (http://signalburst.org/josh/), 4:50 long at 1mb
"Scrap Metal II (http://scrap.5elements.net/MRD-SCRP.IT)" by MrD, 3 mins at 500kb

and some random tune (http://scrap.5elements.net/o3_Velvet_&_A-Move_-_Lupo.xm) at 5kb just because.

I was into tracking a while ago myself, but made nothing worth posting :<

Hey Fuzzle! :)

A couple of nice tracks, love the dirtyness of the first one, the distorted drums are great. :D

The second takes me back to Sonic 2 and Hydrocity zone. old school :D

Yeah, I always felt like it was a complete backward step when they ditched a fully integrated and controllable format for .ogg, especially making the music non-pushable, so if you had a custom map on a server, you'd not get the music (at least, I've never seen a server push it), which for me was one of the bonuses of playing random custom maps online.

I first got into tracking by playing around and remixing forgone from facing worlds, from there I started trying to convert some of the old midi stuff I'd recorded over to it with mixed results.

Some of my favourite maps I've made I've spent more time on the music than I have the actual map.

My most recent UT map is symptomatic of this haha :D

If you still got UT (or modplug/winamp) check it out -

http://nalicity.beyondunreal.com/map_hub.php?mid=9130

[zynthetic]

Unreal2 did a decent job using DX containers to impliment dynamic music much like was done in Halo (not sure if same method).