GPL: reworked sounds FINAL version

Hi all, first I'd like to asure all of you that this time it REALLY IS the final version! At least for some time. I didn't mean to put so much time into this project, but after the massive positive feedback I got from the very first version I thought it would make sense to make it perfect. Believe me, this is the best I could do. The sounds that come with the game are not that much a playground for engeneering, so it is pretty limited what can be done no matter how good your equipment is. But I'm sure you're gonna like this!!! The engine sounds are the hardest. They have some severe frequencies that simply won't let you aply some of the many filters I could chose from, as by adding x on one side, I got losses on the other, but in the end I managed to get rid of the cheesy and add some bad evil things that will keep the engine's character but add a whole lot of soul. On the other hand, it could be that you don't like the new engine sounds at all. Still a question of taste. DOWNLOAD [link lost in import: /***er/nixfx2.exe] It would be a nice move to drop me a line or two with a short comment. The only way I can improve my work is to gain as much feedback as positive. Thank you for your interest, Mea***er

Oh, yes, and the package does not only contain engine sounds. Just to put that right. Mea***er

New sounds are wonderful, in my opinion. However, I now get a bit of popping only in the new engine sounds. I am wondering if this might be my ***SB 128, as it pops and statics a lot in GPL if I install the latest drivers. The GPL sounds are fine with the original drivers, except that your update causes this popping. Could you confirm that if sound card and drivers are OK, your new sounds do not generate any popping or crackling or static? Those of us with lousy driver support may just have to wait a while longer to truly enjoy your great efforts! Marc. >Oh, yes, and the package does not only contain engine sounds. Just to put >that right. >Mea***er

Well, as you are the first to mention this problem I think/hope/believe that it DOES have to do with your equipment. I don't say 'soundcard' as the effect you describe could be related to 'clipping' that occurs when a) the recording level of the sound file is too high or b) the system playing the sounds is of bad quality OR has a bad setup. The sounds have been created in a music-studio using high-end gear. A great concern was to make the engines sound like 'they got balls 'n' stuff' WITHOUT clipping which wasn't easy as certain frequencies that were useful on one side would give me a bunch of red lights on the other. That's also what took most time. Add to this my concern that there are people out there that only just fell in love with, let's say, the Eagle, and then there's a guy who 'dares' to change the engine's sound! Man, I knew they'd rip me to parts if I screwed it...but as nobody complained about it so far (not even Eagle-Woman) I can't help the feeling that I did the right thing. Another fact that keeps me from feeling guilty is that you say that with the original drivers everything went well. Now, it's easy to blame it to the drivers (as most 'support' people do when you complain about technical problems), but it still could be the reason. I have tested the sounds on a 1500 Watt PA system (almost blowing my balls away with them new engine sounds), on a 150 Watt JBL monitoring system, various headphones, my home stereo and two computers with both speakers and headphones (nothing special, no fancy stuff), and it worked fine, not to say great! But hey: I want everybody to be satisfied and to enjoy these new sounds. Therefore I'll enter the studio once more and try to produce a version of the sounds that has a smaller tendency to clipping. But beware: these new-new sounds will never sound as good as the "real"-pack. They will be available later tonight (22:00 CET) here: [link lost in import: /***er/nixfx_0.exe] The "real" thing is still available at: [link lost in import: /***er/nixfx2.exe] Don't forget to send me comments on both versions, especially if you have any tips or whishes on improvement. Enjoy, Mea***er

Wow...that's service! I have heard of other clipping problems with the SB128 drivers...something to do with the sampling rate of the recording?? I will try the updated sounds and let you (everyone) know how the quality differs and whether it solves the clipping problem (which I am sure the popping is). I only wish Creative Labs could generate a new driver set (which is sorely needed for a number of reasons) for this card with a tenth of your speed and efficiency. By the way, for others reading these posts, do try these sounds--they are great. Marc.

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>Well, >as you are the first to mention this problem I think/hope/believe that it >DOES have to do with your equipment. I don't say 'soundcard' as the effect >you describe could be related to 'clipping' that occurs when a) the >recording level of the sound file is too high or b) the system playing the >sounds is of bad quality OR has a bad setup. >The sounds have been created in a music-studio using high-end gear. A great >concern was to make the engines sound like 'they got balls 'n' stuff' >WITHOUT clipping which wasn't easy as certain frequencies that were useful >on one side would give me a bunch of red lights on the other. That's also >what took most time. Add to this my concern that there are people out there >that only just fell in love with, let's say, the Eagle, and then there's a >guy who 'dares' to change the engine's sound! Man, I knew they'd rip me to >parts if I screwed it...but as nobody complained about it so far (not even >Eagle-Woman) I can't help the feeling that I did the right thing. >Another fact that keeps me from feeling guilty is that you say that with

the

Quoted text (8 lines)

>original drivers everything went well. Now, it's easy to blame it to the >drivers (as most 'support' people do when you complain about technical >problems), but it still could be the reason. >I have tested the sounds on a 1500 Watt PA system (almost blowing my balls >away with them new engine sounds), on a 150 Watt JBL monitoring system, >various headphones, my home stereo and two computers with both speakers and >headphones (nothing special, no fancy stuff), and it worked fine, not to

say

Quoted text (20 lines)

>great! >But hey: I want everybody to be satisfied and to enjoy these new sounds. >Therefore I'll enter the studio once more and try to produce a version of >the sounds that has a smaller tendency to clipping. But beware: these >new-new sounds will never sound as good as the "real"-pack. >They will be available later tonight (22:00 CET) here: >[link lost in import: /***er/nixfx_0.exe] >The "real" thing is still available at: >[link lost in import: /***er/nixfx2.exe] >Don't forget to send me comments on both versions, especially if you have >any tips or whishes on improvement. >Enjoy, >Mea***er

To clarify, the original drivers on the CD-ROM work well with GPL but have a host of other problems. The one driver update that has been issued by CL destroys the sound in GPL (popping and static all over the place in a wide variety of the sounds), but does fix many other problems. Your (original) sounds seem to generate the popping/clipping with either driver set, although the new one generates so many horrid pops that the ones in your sounds can hardly be heard :). I'll let you know shortly how the new-new ones work. Marc.

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>Well, >as you are the first to mention this problem I think/hope/believe that it >DOES have to do with your equipment. I don't say 'soundcard' as the effect >you describe could be related to 'clipping' that occurs when a) the >recording level of the sound file is too high or b) the system playing the >sounds is of bad quality OR has a bad setup. >The sounds have been created in a music-studio using high-end gear. A great >concern was to make the engines sound like 'they got balls 'n' stuff' >WITHOUT clipping which wasn't easy as certain frequencies that were useful >on one side would give me a bunch of red lights on the other. That's also >what took most time. Add to this my concern that there are people out there >that only just fell in love with, let's say, the Eagle, and then there's a >guy who 'dares' to change the engine's sound! Man, I knew they'd rip me to >parts if I screwed it...but as nobody complained about it so far (not even >Eagle-Woman) I can't help the feeling that I did the right thing. >Another fact that keeps me from feeling guilty is that you say that with

the

Quoted text (8 lines)

>original drivers everything went well. Now, it's easy to blame it to the >drivers (as most 'support' people do when you complain about technical >problems), but it still could be the reason. >I have tested the sounds on a 1500 Watt PA system (almost blowing my balls >away with them new engine sounds), on a 150 Watt JBL monitoring system, >various headphones, my home stereo and two computers with both speakers and >headphones (nothing special, no fancy stuff), and it worked fine, not to

say

Quoted text (20 lines)

>great! >But hey: I want everybody to be satisfied and to enjoy these new sounds. >Therefore I'll enter the studio once more and try to produce a version of >the sounds that has a smaller tendency to clipping. But beware: these >new-new sounds will never sound as good as the "real"-pack. >They will be available later tonight (22:00 CET) here: >[link lost in import: /***er/nixfx_0.exe] >The "real" thing is still available at: >[link lost in import: /***er/nixfx2.exe] >Don't forget to send me comments on both versions, especially if you have >any tips or whishes on improvement. >Enjoy, >Mea***er

Sorry....popping still there. I should also clarify that the Eagle (weslake) sound does not pop--just the Brabham/Honda... one. I don't think it can be the wind sound, or it would do it for all the cars, right? The quality difference, if any, between the two sets, was imperceptible during my quick test, but I am sure there is some difference if you listen closely. Thank you so much for attempting to fix this and for all or your efforts. If we are sure the majority are not experiencing any clipping, then it is likely the poorly done drivers for the SB 128 card. But is there any difference between the brabham sample and all of the others, since it seems to be the one that causes the clipping? I wish I had told you that earlier, as it would have made your task a lot easier....sorry!! Marc.

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>Well, >as you are the first to mention this problem I think/hope/believe that it >DOES have to do with your equipment. I don't say 'soundcard' as the effect >you describe could be related to 'clipping' that occurs when a) the >recording level of the sound file is too high or b) the system playing the >sounds is of bad quality OR has a bad setup. >The sounds have been created in a music-studio using high-end gear. A great >concern was to make the engines sound like 'they got balls 'n' stuff' >WITHOUT clipping which wasn't easy as certain frequencies that were useful >on one side would give me a bunch of red lights on the other. That's also >what took most time. Add to this my concern that there are people out there >that only just fell in love with, let's say, the Eagle, and then there's a >guy who 'dares' to change the engine's sound! Man, I knew they'd rip me to >parts if I screwed it...but as nobody complained about it so far (not even >Eagle-Woman) I can't help the feeling that I did the right thing. >Another fact that keeps me from feeling guilty is that you say that with

the

Quoted text (8 lines)

>original drivers everything went well. Now, it's easy to blame it to the >drivers (as most 'support' people do when you complain about technical >problems), but it still could be the reason. >I have tested the sounds on a 1500 Watt PA system (almost blowing my balls >away with them new engine sounds), on a 150 Watt JBL monitoring system, >various headphones, my home stereo and two computers with both speakers and >headphones (nothing special, no fancy stuff), and it worked fine, not to

say

Quoted text (20 lines)

>great! >But hey: I want everybody to be satisfied and to enjoy these new sounds. >Therefore I'll enter the studio once more and try to produce a version of >the sounds that has a smaller tendency to clipping. But beware: these >new-new sounds will never sound as good as the "real"-pack. >They will be available later tonight (22:00 CET) here: >[link lost in import: /***er/nixfx_0.exe] >The "real" thing is still available at: >[link lost in import: /***er/nixfx2.exe] >Don't forget to send me comments on both versions, especially if you have >any tips or whishes on improvement. >Enjoy, >Mea***er