Due to a considerable amount of new threads involving questions on music and sound files that I've seen recently, I've decided to launch this thread.

Subjects covered:

1. How can I play music and/or sound effects in AOK/AOK:TC?
2. How do I mute a sound that is still playing?
3. In which folder are the sound files stored?
4. How can I add new sounds into the sounds list?
5. Where can I get new sound effects?
6. What types of sound files can I use?
7. Can I play music from a CD in AOK/AOK:TC?
8. Whoa! MCrnigoj's music is awesome!!! I'm gonna use it!
9. I've played a map in which there was a song from a CD in it! Isn't that ilegal?
10. How can I make my own music?
11. I know nothing on musical theory. Can someone make me some music?
12. How do I edit sound files?
13. When I set a file to play, it crashes the game. What is going on?!
14. How do I change an audio file's extension into one that can be played in AOK?
15. Where can I get medieval music?

Here we go:

1.

Q₁: How can I play music and/or sound effects in AOK/AOK:TC?

A₁: There are three ways to do it: in the "Effects" trigger list, you can select "Play Sound", "Display Instructions" or "Send Chat".

Screenshot

Remember: never set the "Source Player" as GAIA. The sound file won't play. Use any other, preferably a human player (player 1 if you're not making a multiplayer).

2.

Q₁: How do I mute a sound that is still playing?

A₂: Set a "Display Instructions" effect, select a sound. Then, on the instructions field, simply press the space bar a couple of times. Next set the display timer to 999999999999999, any huge number works. It also works if you erase the timer (don't put 0, leave it blank!) and never look at the effect again.
The music will play. When you want it to stop, just set a new trigger with an effect "Clear Instructions".

3.

Q₃: In which folder are the sound files stored?

A₃: The default sound files folder is:
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT GAMES\AGE OF EMPIRES 2\SOUND\SCENARIO
In order to add new sounds into the sounds list, you need to put the files in that folder, or whatever folder you've stored AOK.

4.

Q₄: How can I add new sounds into the sounds list?

A₄: Refer to A₃.

5.

Q₅: Where can I get new sound effects?

A₅: You could try:

www.findsounds.com
A Google-Like Engine.
www.sounddogs.com
Good for finding human voices and phrases.
MIDI Playback
Originally created by Ensemble Studios. Hosted by DGDN.
Sound Effects Categories
Also at DGDN, listed by categories.
Sound Effects
At my team's website, Imperial Creations.

6.

Q₆: What types of sound files can I use?

A₆: *.mp3 and *.wav. Some computers also play MIDI files.

7.

Q₇: Can I play music from a CD in AOK/AOK:TC?

A₇: Use an extractor to copy the song from your CD, and then put the song in the game sound folder.
You could use:

CDex
Free Rip
EAC

Windows Media Player version 9 (or higher) allows you to extract songs from CDs, in *.wma format. You can change the format, however, by selecting TOOLS/OPTIONS/SELECT MUSIC.

Remember: It is ilegal to distribute copyrighted music, wether it is for profitable purposes or not.

8.

Q₈: Whoa! MCrnigoj's music is awesome!!! I'm gonna use it!

A₈: It would be polite to ask for his permission first. Always ask for a designer's permission before using his/hers sound files.

9.

Q₉: I've played a map in which there was a song from a CD in it! Isn't that ilegal?

A₉: Yes and no. Extracting a song from a CD you own and keeping it in your private computer is not ilegal. But sharing it is .

I must also remind you that:

Copyright infringement is a violation of federal law subject to criminal and civil penalties. HeavenGames (including its management team, staff and independent contractors) assumes no responsibility for the consequences resulting from the use of copyright materials for the purpose of scenario design.

Many individual scenario designers in the Age of Kings Heaven community have claimed that the use of copyrighted material for their scenario design hobby is in accordance with the Fair Use doctrine of the United States.

The file share features at the Age of Kings Heaven Blacksmith are such that it places the onus of responsibility on the individual registered members in regard to the sharing of files, and HeavenGames expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind arising out of their use. For additional information, please read the HeavenGames Disclaimer.

10.

Q₁₀: How can I make my own music?

A₁₀: You can use programs to compose music. Some programs:

Guitar Pro
An easy-to-use program (for those who know musical theory), with over 127 instruments to work with. MIDI quality. Shareware.

Encore
Very similar to Guitar Pro. Also a shareware.

FruityLoops _{^{(no, it's not from Kellog's)}}
Hard to use. Focuses on writing loops, that can be played several times in a row. Theorically, it was created for makers of techno music, but due to the large amount of packs and plugins you can download, it becomes almost limitless. MIDI, VST/VSTi and DXi sound quality.
Also shareware.

KB Piano
Another music creator, with 225 musical patches (instruments). It focuses mainly on piano tracks.
Also shareware.

Note Worthy Software
Also shareware, MIDI quality. Very similar to Guitar Pro and Encore.

11.

Q₁₁: I know nothing on musical theory. Can someone make me some music?

A₁₁: Try asking to the following forumers:

ibroberts@gmail.com
Colo the Great

I can't guarantee that your requests will be fulfilled. Those forumers have volunteered themselves to help people out, but I doubt that any of them would take "make me a song, pleeease!" requests as a top priority. But give it a shot, it doesn't hurt to ask.

12.

Q₁₂: How do I edit sound files?

A₁₂: You can use some programs, there are several available on the web, but the greatest are:

Gold Wave
Powerful engine, used by lots of AOK designers and Flash makers. Shareware.
Sound Forge
From Sony. Also very powerful. Used as treatment for recordings in some studios. Shareware.

There is also ProTools (the greatest), but it is professional equipment for studios, and takes an entire computer fully dedicated to it to have it working at its maximum.

13.

Q₁₃: When I set a file to play, it crashes the game. What is going on?!

A₁₃: Either the file is corrupted (probably by Windos Media Player 10) or it is not an actual mp3, but another file with a renamed extension. It also occasionally happens when you rename the file's name (not the extension), though it's rare.

14.

Q₁₄: How do I change an audio file's extension into one that can be played in AOK?

A₁₄: DO NOT RENAME THE FILE'S EXTENSION MANUALLY! NEVER! Use:

dMC converter
(Extra codecs)

15.

Q₁₅: Where can I get medieval music?

A₁₅: You could try:

Anyway, these are just some of the questions I've seen over and over again crawling these Forums. If anyone's willing to contribute by adding questions, answers, websites or any related content, feel free to post here.

[This message has been edited by Cesar Bernardi (edited 05-15-2006 @ 03:35 PM).]