Audiophiles Guild

sfxr -- You need this

Sat, 24 May 2008 09:57:02 GMT

sfxr is a small utility designed to generate sounds as easily as possible, and it is extreemly good at it's job. Need some sounds for your game? Click a couple buttons and within 30sec you'll have more explosions than the game will ever need. Need samples for use in a mod file? Play with the sliders for 3min and you'll roughly have the instrument you were looking for. Really, I can't think of anything to say to properly hype sfxr; you need it, download it.

More info here: sfxr home page

Samples:
get_item.wav
lasers.wav
no_clue.wav
step_in_snow.wav
sword_swipe2.wav
sword_swipe.wav

Mod Tracking Tutorial: Part 1

Sun, 11 May 2008 16:37:39 GMT

Ahoy again! The next section of our Mod Tracking tutorial is now available. In part 1 I go over how to use the basic features of Mad Tracker, such as the instrument editor, the metrics editor, module modes, and (finally!) placing notes. Have no clue what any of that is? Don't worry, it's all explained for the absolute beginner (like me).

Mod Tracking Tutorial: Part 1

Though the tutorial uses Mad Tracker throughout it's examples, the other programs I've used have similar enough interfaces, so most should carry over.

Mod Tracking Tutorial: Introduction

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:27:12 GMT

Ahoy! If this is the first time you've visited the Audiophiles guild, allow me to introduce our community. Whether you're talking music or sound effects, we're hear to make Audio as simple to make, and as present on BYOND, as either programming or graphics.

How do we get BYOND-user made music in our games? Mod Tracking is part of the answer.

Mod Tracker Tutorial: Introduction

Want more? Join up for notifications on future tutorials and resources, or to ask your questions on the forum.

Instrument Waveforms, and Audacity

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:09:35 GMT

I downloaded Audacity about a month ago, but wasn't able to do much with it because of my lack of experience in audio. However, I was recently looking through some samples, seeking a good pipe organ, and didn't see exactly what I wanted, but found some things close to what I wanted.

What happened next was a break through for me. I accidentally opened the sample (one note) in audacity, and was able to view the wave form for that one note. Using the "generate tone" command to generate a second or so of square waves, I then was able to use the "envelope" tool to make a wave form that was a compromise between several of the samples I had found.

With that success, I've turned to making samples like those you might find on the NES or other pre-32bit era consoles. First, I find a .wav sample I like (of a violin, for instance) and examine the wave form. Then, I generate either a square wave or a "triangle" wave, and then use the envelope editing tool to reproduce that wave form.

I've had a lot of success with this technique, and as soon as I get some time I'll post some images. In the meantime, try downloading Audacity and examining various instrument samples that can be downloaded for free.

Tracking Software Chosen

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:31:21 GMT

A temporary ModTracker has been chosen for the guild to use in any tutorials or other materials (in other words, if I post a tutorial, it'll be aimed at how to use that tracker to produce a mod file). Please respond on the forums (members only for now).

Anyone interested in learning how to make mod files should download the software. If you're feeling adventurous, you can attempt to make your own files right off the bat using whatever info you can find online. For those who don't want to waste hours digging around random forums, I'll be providing a very basic tutorial sometime in the next week.

Launch Strategy

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:49:21 GMT

Ahoy! I just wanted to outline (for anyone paying attention) my basic plan for jump starting the audio community on BYOND. This is just my own personal musing on how things should go, and isn't based on anything concrete, so if you know better than I how to go about getting people together to enjoy making music, please tell me.

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First, make a place (this guild) where people can gather. This place should eventually have 1) a means to associate with other like minded persons, 2) an appropriat theme, 3) resources.

Second, find a Mod Tracker program which the guild can endorse. Tutorials will be written for this tracker, and screenshots posted here (from staff) will show that tracker, for consistancy.

Third, write tutorials and provide starter material so that a determined novice can see results on the first day.

Fourth, provide (on site) a library of free samples (or instrument files) for commonly needed instruments (like guitar) or effects (like wind... melodic wind?).

Fifth, collect links to off site tutorials, samples, trackers, and other resources. Note: This does not remove the guild's need for it's own resources; A BYOND user should be able to get into tracking completely from this site.

Sixth, go public.

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If this looks like I'm placing a heavy emphasis on Mod Tracking (instead of other forms of music, or sound effects at all), I am. Mod Tracking seems to have a steep learning curve, and I feel that it's important that BYOND developers be able to lay down notes like they lay down pixels. Also, Tracking seems to be something which can be taught in a pretty straight forward way; all I have to do is choose a program and explain it's interface. The creation of sound effects is foreign to me.

So, there you have it, the official game plan. If you think you can help get us to the next step, please contribute what you can. Also, please give me suggestions for a better game plan, you probably know better than me! This includes if you'd like to include steps for jump starting the Foley community.

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While I'm here, I'd also like to lay down the long term goals of the guild, as I see them.

To give BYOND community members the tools they need to create game related audio just as easily and confidently as they create game related graphics or programs.

To provide a venue within the community for audiophiles, and to promote an appreciation of well crafted game audio as an art form, such as the pixel art society has done for game art.

To make BYOND a more viable development and gaming platform by fostering an audio community.

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I don't know how many more times I can encourage you to comment. This is our BYOND Audio guild, and these are the principles on which it will run. If no one gives me any feedback, it may just become Iain's Audio guild, and no one wants that. :)