[Raikouga]

I seem to have come across a rather strange issue with certain .wav files in FRED not working properly, specifically "emptymsg.wav," "msgstart.wav," "msgend.wav," and, "vasudantalk.wav". These audio files do not play in either FRED or in-mission. I've already moved them out of the "freddocs," folder and into "data/voice/special," as per FRED's own tutorial guide, but that has done nothing to fix the problem; the files still don't play in-mission or in FRED. I have a sneaking suspicion that for whatever reason, FRED can't find these files in particular (as all other audio plays just fine), but I'm pretty much at a loss right now for how to go about solving that.

Anyone have some light to shed on this?

[Colonol Dekker]

Is OpenAL installed? Also, are the files in the right format?

[Raikouga]

OpenAL is indeed installed. All audio files are in the .wav format (once again, they're the files that came with the game, not custom audio).

[Colonol Dekker]

So you can't hear them in Fred (the message/events editor?) when you click play, and all the files are in the default path.


I'm at an absolute loss. I'm really sorry pal.  Someone else must have seen this issue before, hopefully they'll spot the topic soon and shed some light for us both.

How are you finding FRED in the meantime?

[Raikouga]

Correct, I get no response when I click play in the message/events editor, and all files have been moved onto (what I assume is) the default path ("C:/Games/Freespace2/data/voice/special" if that's wrong, please feel free to correct me). Curiously, it appears to just be the four audio files I listed earlier that are having playback issues. All other voice files work fine both in FRED and in gameplay, but those four just refuse to be heard. Maybe they're being shy because I'm the new guy?

On a more positive note, I'm quite enjoying FRED so far (this issue aside, of course). I started the included tutorial yesterday and when I eventually ran into this problem, I decided to take a break before frustration destroyed my drive to continue working.

[DahBlount]

Did you click the browse button next to the message box, navigate to data/voice/special, and select the file? I'm not quite sure if that will change anything but it's worth a try.

You could also open the pre-made file, also found in the freddocs folder, in FRED to see if it works there.

[Colonol Dekker]

He's already using the pre-exisiting stuff.

Have you tried playing a .ogg file?  (audacity is free and can be used to convert the freddocs wav files)

[Raikouga]

Just converted the audio files. Problem slightly solved, "emptymsg" now plays properly, but the other three still refuse to cooperate.

[Colonol Dekker]

 

Why one would work but not the others......... Confounds me.
Have you tried any other user generated files?  Files you've created? both wav and ogg?

[jr2]

Hmm.. corrupted .wav files? I would think Audacity would complain about the others if that was the case, though.

[Raikouga]

Why one would work but not the others.........

You got me there. Ever since I ran into this issue I've been immensely confused as to why I'm having FRED problems during the tutorial. In even more confusing news, I just created a random recording of my voice with Audacity and ran it through FRED. It worked fine. That's not the confusing part.

The confusing part is after that, all the other uncooperative files started playing right both in FRED and in-mission. Just... *poof* "All better!"

If there is ANYONE who can come up with some kind of logical explanation for any of this, I"m all ears.

[Colonol Dekker]

Maybe installing Audacity updated a Directsound driver or something windows'ey?

[Raikouga]

Hmm.. corrupted .wav files? I would think Audacity would complain about the others if that was the case, though.

Agreed. Checking for file corruption was actually the first thing I did. Ran them through VLC and Audacity, but neither had any problems playing them back. After moving the files from "data/freddocs" to "data/voice/special" as instructed by the tutorial and finding out they did nothing to solve the problem is when I finally decided to pull from the greater pool of wisdom that is HLP.

Speaking of which, you guys have been a great help. I do very much appreciate the quick response time, as well as the generally helpful atmosphere 'round here. Thanks guys!

[Raikouga]

Maybe installing Audacity updated a Directsound driver or something windows'ey?

Hmm... I'm not quite sure installing Audacity itself was the solution. I've had it on my computer for quite some time now.

EDIT: I also haven't updated Audacity for the last several months now. Just throwing that out there to help narrow down any possible explanation.

[Colonol Dekker]

 

The SCP is a whimsical beast. 
You are running FSO and not retail, just to check?

Also, if not alredy, belated:

[AdmiralRalwood]

If there is ANYONE who can come up with some kind of logical explanation for any of this, I"m all ears.

Only one thing possibly comes to mind... did you close and reopen FRED after moving the audio files originally, or did you leave it running throughout the process?

[jr2]

^ point

[Raikouga]

I did allow FRED to run while moving the files at first, then later on closed, reopened, then physically browsed and reselected the audio files in the events manager as a double-check.

Also thanks for the belated welcome Dekker. I'm indeed running FSO and not retail. I hope the SCP isn't prone to spiteful, vengeful, finicky mood swings like the RNG is?

[AdmiralRalwood]

I hope the SCP isn't prone to spiteful, vengeful, finicky mood swings like the RNG is?

Codethulu laughs at such petty attempts at anthropomorphization (and also any petty attempts to understand its whims).