Sound not loud enough
by Eric Prem · in Torque Game Engine · 05/14/2006 (8:10 pm) · 18 replies
I just finished the music tutorial on TDN and was successful. There is only one problem. The music that is playing during the main menu is not very loud at all, far from being as loud as anything else that is playing on my computer.. Changing things like the master volume seems to do nothing? Has anyone else run into this problem? What sould I do to makeit loud besides turn up the computer volume.
#2
05/14/2006 (11:20 pm)
I've noticed this as well. You could use an audio editing tool like soundforge and normalise all your sound files. Also try replacing the OpenAl.dll with a new one, the one that ships with 1.4 bites. If you can't be bothered with the OpenAl sdk just download a demo game from this site, like puzzle poker, and pinch their dll. 
#3
In prefs.cs, is all the audio channels set to max volume?
Ie..
05/15/2006 (2:26 am)
Eric,In prefs.cs, is all the audio channels set to max volume?
Ie..
$pref::Audio::channelVolume1 = 1; $pref::Audio::channelVolume2 = 1; ...
#4
05/15/2006 (2:27 am)
The DLL with 1.3 is the only one I can use, I've even had to copy that into other TGE _and_ TSE games in order to get them to run on my system.
#5
Does anyone know if it is possible to modify sound files themselves to make them louder? I am using .wav
05/15/2006 (11:15 am)
You say that the openAl.dll with 1.4 bites? Are you sure this is the problem? I am going to simply replace that one with the one from the Rewalm Wars demo because itrs sounds are fine. Does anyone know if it is possible to modify sound files themselves to make them louder? I am using .wav
#6
Use a thing mostly called normalize that changes the audiofiles volume to 0dB in your fav audio editing program.
But check so your sound file dont have strange peaks , that can lower the base sound volume badly.
05/15/2006 (2:38 pm)
@Eric Use a thing mostly called normalize that changes the audiofiles volume to 0dB in your fav audio editing program.
But check so your sound file dont have strange peaks , that can lower the base sound volume badly.
#7
05/15/2006 (6:16 pm)
Alright thanks I am useing Audacity. Do you have any tips for using it?
#8
- As Billy says, you want to flatten out your peaks as much as possible. This will give you better results when normalizing as more data can be squeezed into the 0dB range without causing distortion.
- Use the normailze tool to average the rms level (loudness).
- Use a maximizer to really boost the sound and squeeze as much dynamic range out of it as possible.
How you do this will vary pending on the audio editing tool you use. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend sound forge. There are too many techniques, tools and plugins you can use to master your audio files to list. I would imagine Audacity has a user manual which outlines the process of normalizing / maximizing. It's a pretty common task.
Before Normalize
After Normailze
05/15/2006 (9:29 pm)
I've never used Audacity but here are some general tips:- As Billy says, you want to flatten out your peaks as much as possible. This will give you better results when normalizing as more data can be squeezed into the 0dB range without causing distortion.
- Use the normailze tool to average the rms level (loudness).
- Use a maximizer to really boost the sound and squeeze as much dynamic range out of it as possible.
How you do this will vary pending on the audio editing tool you use. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend sound forge. There are too many techniques, tools and plugins you can use to master your audio files to list. I would imagine Audacity has a user manual which outlines the process of normalizing / maximizing. It's a pretty common task.
Before Normalize
After Normailze
#9
05/16/2006 (10:46 am)
I was looking aroud audacity but didn't find anything, are there any other really good tools you guys use for free?
#10
I have even raised the DB sound lvl, and it does nothing really.
All TGE settings are set to full.
05/16/2006 (12:32 pm)
Im also having the same problem. Using audacity.I have even raised the DB sound lvl, and it does nothing really.
All TGE settings are set to full.
#11
Also check compression , remember you can change parts of the file to take down peaks that are to high.
Read the help in audacity it has some guidance.
05/16/2006 (1:27 pm)
In Audacity check the effects, there you have normalize ,amplify and more, be careful with amplify so you not get a distorted sound.Also check compression , remember you can change parts of the file to take down peaks that are to high.
Read the help in audacity it has some guidance.
#13
07/31/2006 (7:18 pm)
Nothing I have trid has worked do far. I downloaded the new Audacity but no matter what the music is very quiet. I think it is because I am converting mp3 to wavs but I dont really know. Any othe help would be appreciated.
#14
07/31/2006 (7:37 pm)
I do sound, and I can at least say it's most definitely not from converting MP3 to WAV... unless you are using a strange converter that turns the volume down on things it converts. ;-)
#15
Give us a link to a example file to download that you feel are to low, then we can check it out.
I have compared the TGE audio volume with other programs and engines and i know the level
is the same, at least in windows.
So it's not TGE, more likely a sound file problem ,driver problem or script problem.
08/01/2006 (3:55 am)
@EricGive us a link to a example file to download that you feel are to low, then we can check it out.
I have compared the TGE audio volume with other programs and engines and i know the level
is the same, at least in windows.
So it's not TGE, more likely a sound file problem ,driver problem or script problem.
#16
08/01/2006 (12:53 pm)
Billy - Really? I've done the same thing with my own sound gear here to measure the exact dB output, and found that the same sample, played in SoundForge, is considerably louder than it is when played in TGE. I completely disagree with your statement.
#17
I don't know how many test i have done, but its several test, with the same audio file played in diff engines ,and several sound editing program and measured with external audio equipment.
And the dB output is close the same, atleast you cant hear it with the ears.
Test done with SBLive, Audigy, Echo's layla.
So I'm really sure this is the case, atleast on my test comps.
08/01/2006 (1:48 pm)
@Cliff I don't know how many test i have done, but its several test, with the same audio file played in diff engines ,and several sound editing program and measured with external audio equipment.
And the dB output is close the same, atleast you cant hear it with the ears.
Test done with SBLive, Audigy, Echo's layla.
So I'm really sure this is the case, atleast on my test comps.
Torque 3D Owner Jesse Liles
I use a soundblaster Audigy (an old one) and an Nforce2 motherboard, I don't know if either of these things have anything to do with it.