Good evening. This is my first post here on the forum, and I apologize if it's a long one.
I know there is a whole seperate thread for feedback on sounds and music, but in my honest opinion I feel as if the issue (no negative connotation implied here) I'm about to post warrants its whole own topic.
I have been following the Mental Omega mod and playing it off and on since about Fall of 2007. Even then, I was amazed by the devotion this team has had to making Yuri's Revenge, well, "almost perfect" (like the mod's tagline would suggest).
I recently downloaded the latest build of the mod and, as someone who loves music, had a number of thoughts / suggestions / proposals regarding the soundtrack, the first of which being, wow. This is obviously an endeavour that has obviously required incredible amounts of collaboration and inspiration. I commend the musicians (including Frank Klepacki, whose soundtracks I grew up on as the backdrop to my commands and conquerings) for putting the package together. Additionally, the thought of making a whole hour or so of music for each of the three respective sides was, in a word, ambitious.
The second, and more important point, is this. I would like to add some tracks to the soundtrack for my own personal use. (Specifically, the original RA2 tracks, the original YR soundtrack, the Tib. Sun. soundtrack, a couple of the songs composed by David Arkenstone for the Harkonnen side for the Emperor: Battle for Dune soundtrack (which I enjoyed greatly) and maybe some 8-bit remixes of Scandinavian black metal songs. ) Let me clarify: I am not intending to have this be a replacement for the soundtrack download that everyone will be getting with their copy of the Mental Omega mod. Instead, I am looking to add on tracks to the game's soundtrack for my own use to enhance and personalize my playing experience.
I know there is a disclaimer on the soundtrack section of the MO website which claims that the "Red Alert 2 and Yuri's Revenge soundtracks will not work with Mental Omega 3.0", and maybe I'm on a fool's errand trying to do what I'm trying to do, but I would like your help and clarifications on this one. Even if it is impossible, and you state the reasons for me why (considering that I am by no means computer-savvy), that would at least give me a sense of closure.
I know very little of the technical aspects behind pretty much anything that has to do with computers. But here's what I do know (even this I am a little uncertain about) in regards to what I'm trying to do:
- the content (models, textures, and yes, music files) in Westwood games are within packages with the extension .mix.
- Additionally, the audio files that go within these .mix ...-es are 16-bit .wavs, of a certain megahertz frequency which escapes me at the moment.
- Assuming that what I'm trying to do is even possible, I would have to convert these .mp3s, which I do have already, into whatever megahertz .wav files
- and then use a certain compiler utility (I believe someone by the name of Nyerguds a while back made such a tool) to make my .mix.
- Additionally, I probably would have to be in possession of the .mp3s from the original 3.0 soundtrack .zip to re-compile the additional tracks with the rest of the soundtrack. (I would be killing two birds with one stone that way, because then I would be able to enjoy the tracks without even having to play the game.
Finally, as an aside, it took me a little while to find the link to download the OST add-on, but I eventually did find it on the mod's ModDB page. It would be a good idea to add the download link to the soundtrack section of the official site.
I would appreciate any input you have in regard to this topic. And I apologize if I seem completely oblivious here, granted though, it is my first post on this board...