Exult Forum

I recall there was a fix to the super loud wave sounds but the older thread links to the files no longer work. I wish it was default with Exult because it's pretty annoying having to turn down the volume when you get near waves. Other sounds that should be fixed that I can think of is the force field sounds, they are too loud also.

Is there a fix floating around somewhere for these or does it have to be done from scratch? Would be a good default setting for exult hah.

Oh, add SFX 64 (In BG) to the list of ear piercing loudness that needs to be fixed haha.

This has always bothered me as well, but it occurred to me just now that this is something that I can actually fix.

So far these always gave me a headache:

TBG:
49 - wave
51 - no idea, but it's head hurting
52 - field (poison field, sleep etc.)
64 - that awful cure
66 - the worst of them all - unlock magic - brain piercing
82 - that piercing sound in the meditation center
108 - field
113 - bees
114 - unsure

SI:
5 - sawblade
29 - gremlin attack
64 - cure sound/jester attack
67 - unlock magic
91 - forgot
96 - don't know
109 - wave
128 - weird wave, dunno
129 - field
130 - spell

I forgot what some of the sounds are used for, but my brain does have a bad relationship with them.
If there are more, please let me know.

I don't remember the Energy Field making endless sound in the original either.

Isn't the sound volume separately configurable from the music?

@KC: Nope, there are no volume settings.

This is a task that someone should do and implement volume sliders for music, sfx and speech.
No one wanted to do that yet...
Colourless???

Is a general sound volume slider the solution though?
I get the feeling some of these sounds (the ones listed) stick out like a sore thumb.
If reducing sound in general, it might make lots of sounds too quiet.



Oh well, one way to find out, I guess. To be continued.

How did we get the volume levels for these sounds?

I was thinking someone could extract the wav files somehow, turn down the volumes on the specific ones in a program like Audacity or something, then re-import?

That's exactly what I'm doing. Hahaha.

Hmm, might be worth investigating whether some effects can be tuned down with some code (volume curve or so)

@Dominus: Might definitely be worth it, because in all honesty, I think everyone has different preferences on what sounds right. So the thing I'm doing might not suit everyone.

I also wish I had access to the original sound files. Seeing the differences in volume in Audacity, I wonder if it is all intended or if the creator of Exult's .wav files was a bit sloppy. No offense meant, just wondering why a bunch of sounds are so head-ache inducing. It isn't the case in the original game.


Anyway, a new jmsfx.flx For TBG:
https://avatar.home.xs4all.nl/jmsfx.flx
Lessed the volume on many sounds, depending on how head-hurting it is to hear in-game and how far the sound went above a certain threshold when compared to other sounds.


I'll do the SI one later, I think I'm coming down with something. Need some rest. "The sands of time are dwindling, Avatar!" Yeah yeah... I'm sure there's another day tomorrow, Dupré.

Could very well be that the creator was sloppy or maybe he felt the effects were too low. It's been a while that Joseph did those
We would all like access to the original sound files (or the sourcecode ).

Joseph recorded them from in game back then.

Oh wow, that must have been a hell of a job. Kudos to him.

We don't access the original sound effects via Exult?

Correct, that's why we need to use the sfx packs. The SB one is recordings of the SOundBlaster effects done by Joseph Morris, the MT32 pack was recorded by Simon Quinn

Gotcha, where do we install this file, what folder? I wasn't able to get anything to work with it.

You should already have one in your Exult\Data folder. Just replace it with this one.

And here is the Serpent Isle one:

https://avatar.home.xs4all.nl/jmsisfx.flx

I did some quick testing in both games, and find it much better now, but if anyone using these still finds a certain sound annoying/too loud, please let me know.

Excellent work!

At first I wasn't sure if it was working, then I realized my volume was up way too loud

Thanks! Please let me know if you do run into a sound that still bothers you.

how is the Mt32 sfx pack? Also too loud or is that one ok in those instances?

The Roland MT-32 ones are perfect. No high-pitched sounds or weird volume differences going on there.

if you feel adventurous, here is my ages old (16!!!!! years) sfx packs
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0qmzb26w2wi7b ... x.flx?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g22thrdb2z2dy ... x.flx?dl=0
Either rename them or change exult.cfg via the tag.
It has sfx from varios sources, some are from Ultima IX, UO, some few I made myself or I don't know anymore
That's the reason it never became official

Cool, I'll certainly check them out.

I had the same idea while I was doing that sound stuff. Nothing is stopping us to insert fresh new sounds into the games. It'd take away the nostalgia, but it could be fun to experiment.

Definitely! Just don't make the same mistake I did and use others stuff

Well, I don't have the resources and know-how to create decent sounds myself, so I pretty much have to.
There are sites for free sound effects though. And even if there were not, no worries, I won't be sharing anyone else's property.

Yes, free sound effects is the way to go... back then... I was stupid to invest much time in others properties