Np3 Or Wav: Which Is Better?

Depot · January 2005

<div class="IPBDescription">Let's hear the pros and cons</div> Lately I have been adding music to my readyrooms and was wondering, which is better to use, mp3 or wav? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each (excluding filesize)? Which could be used to cover a broader area of the map? I've noticed their format is quite different:

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>{
"origin" "-496 128 -81"
"targetname" "music"
"fadeout" "1"
"fadein" "1"
"volstart" "8"
"message" "Legos/415.wav"
"pitchstart" "100"
"pitch" "100"
"health" "10"
"spawnflags" "8"
"classname" "ambient_generic"
}</td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>
</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>{
"origin" "2194 -1533 -1756"
"soundname" "sound/mp3/nordbeat1.mp3"
"targetname" "readyroommp3"
"fadedistance" "600"
"soundvolume" "255"
"spawnflags" "6"
"classname" "target_mp3audio"
}</td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>

BobTheJanitor · January 2005

Well wavs can be stopped with the 'stopsound' command, whereas MP3s cannot. From a map standpoint, if you design an area to be loud (engine room, computer room, etc.) in order to make ambushing there easier, you'll want to use an mp3 so that people don't just stopsound it. This does tend to aggravate competitive players though. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' />

Kouji_San · January 2005

In the case of music mp3 is also the better way to go due to better quality at smaller filesize.

And if some competative players had their way ns would be nothing more then grey low res texture maps without atmospheric sounds or lights and that isnt what ns is about now is it <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' />

Jezpuh · January 2005

And because .wavs can be stopped with "stopsound" I suggest you use those. As not everyone wants to listen to (crappy) music. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' />

Depot · January 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jezpuh @ Jan 15 2005, 04:41 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> And because .wavs can be stopped with "stopsound" I suggest you use those. As not everyone wants to listen to (crappy) music. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' />  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
The vast majority of the times this music will be in the readyroom only, so I'm not really concerned with players using stopsound.

Could someone explain the various parameters for the wav?

BobTheJanitor · January 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (kwikloader @ Jan 15 2005, 03:29 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Could someone explain the various parameters for the wav?  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
<a href='http://collective.valve-erc.com/index.php?ent=ambient_generic' target='_blank'>Verc can</a>.

Jezpuh · January 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (kwikloader @ Jan 15 2005, 11:29 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jezpuh @ Jan 15 2005, 04:41 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> And because .wavs can be stopped with "stopsound" I suggest you use those. As not everyone wants to listen to (crappy) music. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>
The vast majority of the times this music will be in the readyroom only, so I'm not really concerned with players using stopsound.

Could someone explain the various parameters for the wav?  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
Exactly, but you never know. People, including me, tend to get annoyed by it. Even if it's for 5 seconds only. I suggest you use a .wav. Though it may be bigger, it can always be stopped when wanted.

Kouji_San · January 2005

Music in the RR is no prob if you use mp3, since it really doesn't influence the gameplay with its sound.

And if you use big wav files people would be complaining the map and files are to big to download, on the other hand people would also complain with the reason given by Jezpuh. However if you don't add the music these two groups of people would be happy. But then again you the mapper probably aren't satified without this feature and even some people would complain you don't have sounds/music in the ready room........

To make matters worse you cant make everyone happy with a map <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' />
<ul><li>If its in the RR go for mp3, it is the better file format (small filesize and quality)</li><li>If its in the map itself and the filesize is acceptable you could go for wav</li><li>If its the purpose of the sound to add some atmosphere to the map, like an ambush spot which was given as example, then by all means use mp3 so noone can stop it.</li></ul>

Depot · January 2005

Good points Kouji San, thanks! <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' />

Np3 Or Wav: Which Is Better?

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