gytaka wrote on 2022-11-07, 04:24:
BEEN_Nath_58 wrote on 2022-11-07, 03:36:
In fact, DxWnd can separate the two volumes but with a catch: changing the SFX volume will change the CD audio volume too. This is because the SFX volume actually went on wave channels, and DxWnd only changes the CD volume sent nowadays through the wave channel (it used to send through the CD channel before Win Vista), so if SFX volume (wave channel) is at 50% and CD audio is at 50%, you will hear 50% of 50% cd audio volume.
For now I can't test this because for some absurd reason, the volume sliders have stopped working for me, they change nothing; but when I reported they worked, so I know what should change. Regarding the A3D emulator, I could test it in a few hours, I will edit this post or reply if you have seen this message.
Is it okay?
Yes thank you. If you need the install files from the closed Facebook group (where they are experimenting with the a3d emulator), I will gladly send them to you.
(The volumes are actually preset here -20-25% SFX, 100% CD , but you can't set them independently, no option to change it.)
The problem where I wasn't able to use the volume sliders comes from the fact, I used a "mobile phone wired headphone", one that goes into the headphone jack. Once I reverted to my USB headphone, the problem doesn't happen; I even disabled all sound devices in the Sound Control Panel but it was same. But anyways...
Regarding the DxWnd part you should do the following:
- First get DxWnd. The latest version is 2.05.89 and is available on SourceForge.
- When you open DxWnd, you should enable Expert mode from the Options list in Menu bar. This ensures better customization of settings.
- Right click anywhere on DxWnd interface and click Add.
- When the new window opens, press the '...' beside the Path:\ setting and navigate to your 'motor.exe'.
- Now go to the CDaudio tab and enable either of Play from CD, Use audio files or Rip CD audio. This give DxWnd CD audio control. [More information regarding what to select in the end]
- Enable 'Emulate CD mixer' from the same tab. This will ensure CD audio is changeable.
- Go to the Hook tab and change injection mode to 'Inject DLL', to ensure every function is hooked properly.
- Click OK, in the right end of the window. The profile gets created.
- If you have dgVoodoo2 or DDrawCompat or WineD3D or any such wrappers, for testing purposes and verification, I recommend removing them. I know there are things that dgVoodoo2 fixes and DxWnd hasn't, but for avoiding any conflicts I say so.
- Double-click the entry in the DxWnd control panel, the game will most likely launch in a window.
- If everything is fine, you should go the Sound settings and try the volume sliders.
Regarding the choice between Play from CD, Use audio files and Rip CD audio, the latter two is recommended. The first option, directly runs the CD audio from the disc using IOCTL, but many IOCTL commands are illegal now so there are a lot of cases where it can't handle CD audio properly. However if you find everything is okay, you may use it; keep in mind that the CD audio is slightly delayed with this option.
The Use audio files option reads the music files from a folder named 'Music' in the same directory level as 'motor.exe' and the files are named 'tracknn.fmt' where 'nn' are integers greater than or equal to '02' and '.fmt.' is the file extension: 'flac', '.wav', '.ogg', '.mp3' are supported. You have to extract the audio using some application such as Windows Media Player. After extraction, you will likely get files 'Track01.xxx', 'Track02.xxx',...; change them to 'track02.xxx', 'track03.xxx' and so on.
If you want an easier route, the Rip CD audio setting will automatically extract the audio files for you in the right path and launch the game. If you have track files in the Music folder already (already extracted by DxWnd or put by you), you should change the Rip CD audio option to Use audio files, else you will always get an annoying but harmeless "Can't overwrite tracks" prompt before launch.
Regarding the A3D part, you could share them to me. I had checked A3D-Live 3 years back for GTA3 and it didn't work fine then, let's see what happens now. I remember I reverted to using A3D Alchemy (not the Alchemy for EAX) that was discovered out of nowhere in VOGONS. Technically, there should not be difference in volume sliders by using A3D Live, it's just that the sound may feel different.
previously known as Discrete_BOB_058