[Feature] External music support

[NightFright2k19]

Since it isn't explicitly mentioned in the readme (it is only described how to extract music):

• Does the port support usage of music packs?
• If so: Which file format (.wav, .ogg etc) would the tracks need to have?
• What are the replacement track names for Blake Stone and Planet Strike in general? Should they follow the names of the IMFs (e.g. 2100a.ogg, golda.ogg, racshufl.ogg etc)?
• Also: Would the files have to be in a specific subdir (e.g. "music") and/or are definitions required or could they just be zipped and externally loaded as a mod?

If the port doesn't support external music yet, you may consider this as a feature request. There aren't too many BS/PS music remasters out there right now, but they would still be an improvement compared to the plain Adlib synth.

[bibendovsky]

Does the port support usage of music packs?

Neither SFX nor music.

What are the replacement track names for Blake Stone and Planet Strike in general? Should they follow the names of the IMFs (e.g. 2100a.ogg, golda.ogg, racshufl.ogg etc)?

Possibly like an embeded extractor does: for SFX - sfx_00000000.ext, for music - music_00000000.ext

Also: Would the files have to be in a specific subdir (e.g. "music") and/or are definitions required or could they just be zipped and externally loaded as a mod?

Possibly same as for external textures: AOG resources in aog directory, and PS resources in ps one.
(i.e. aog/sfx_00000000.ext, ps/music_00000000.ext)

[NightFright2k19]

If this is considered as a feature in the future, I'd suggest to follow the implementation in ECWolf:

• Replacements must reside in "music" dir
• Names identical to the IMFs, i.e. "2100a.xxx", "racshufl.xxx"...
• Format: OGG and FLAC (at least)
• Can be zipped and loaded as a mod

For the record, here's a list of the IMFs:

• AOG (19 tracks):
  2100A
  APOGFNFM
  DRKHALLA
  FREEDOMA
  GENEFUNK
  GOLDA
  HIDINGA
  INCNRATN
  INTRIGEA
  JUNGLEA
  LEVELA
  MEETINGA
  RACSHUFL
  RHUMBAAS
  SEARCHNA
  STRUTA
  THEME
  THEWAYA
  TIMEA
• PStrike (21 tracks):
  APOGFNFM
  CATACOMB
  CIRCLES
  DARKNESS
  FORTRESS
  GIVING
  HARTBEAT
  HISCORE
  LASTLAFF
  LURKING
  MAJMIN
  MONASTRY
  MOURNING
  PLOT
  SERPENT
  STICKS
  THEME
  TIME
  TOHELL
  TOMBP
  VACCINAP

There are only two tracks with identical names, APOGFNFM (Apogee Fanfare) and THEME. While the former files are exactly the same, the latter aren't. Otherwise the two soundtracks could even be placed in the same zip. Maybe it would make sense to support three names: THEME (any), THEMEA (AoG is loaded) and THEMEP (PStrike is loaded).

[NightFright2k19]

Addendum:
Playback of plain MIDI files (optimized for proper General MIDI playback) should also be possible, just like in ECWolf.

[bibendovsky]

Addendum: Playback of plain MIDI files (optimized for proper General MIDI playback) should also be possible, just like in ECWolf.

What sense to support MIDI? Just because ECWolf does?
Vanilla AOG and PS does not have any MIDI data.

[NightFright2k19]

Well, there are MIDI files available for Wolf3D which allow General MIDI playback. Admittedly, such files currently don't exist for AoG/PS, but someone might eventually create them.

I understand this is a rather unlikely scenario right now, however, so any implementation should be based on what's actually available.

[bibendovsky]

Well, there are MIDI files available for Wolf3D which allow General MIDI playback. Admittedly, such files currently don't exist for AoG/PS, but someone might eventually create them.

I understand this is a rather unlikely scenario right now, however, so any implementation should be based on what's actually available.

In that case lets stick with *.wav, *.ogg and *.flac.

[Zombie-Ryushu]

Can I add my two cents here? What is actually being requested is the ability to pipe the Midis to Timidity++ or FluidSynth. Either way is acceptable. Timidity++ can output Midis to Ogg. I want to bump this feature.

[bibendovsky]

Can I add my two cents here? What is actually being requested is the ability to pipe the Midis to Timidity++ or FluidSynth. Either way is acceptable. Timidity++ can output Midis to Ogg. I want to bump this feature.

Piping adds another level of complexity.
Is not just decoding to audio output would be enough?

[Zombie-Ryushu]

I think you are overcomplicating the problem. To take ECWolf's example: ECWolf just invokes Timidity and a file name matching the song, either using Timidity's server mode, or calling an external Timidity process like PrBoom does. The music is not sourced by the asset data in Blake Stone, but rather external files or custom Sequenced Midi remixes of the music from Blake Stone Using Timidity in this way allows users to play using other sound cards far Superior to Adlib.
Examples being:
Gravis UltraSound
Yamaha MU1000 XG
Roland SC-55