Author Topic: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial  (Read 202640 times)

Covarr

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[Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« on: 2009-05-31 04:01:27 »
While this tutorial still works, there is now an easier way. If you plan on using either the original Playstation PSF music, or FinalFanTim's wonderful remastered soundtrack, you can use this installer, which will do all the work for you. Simply download, install, and enjoy! I'm going to leave the tutorial here for people who still want it.


TwilightFantasy's tutorial was good three years ago, but the advent of Windows Vista and the rise in popularity of x64 operating systems have created a number of issues that his tutorial could not have accounted for. Furthermore, there were some issues that even Win98 users had that his tutorial didn't address. As such, I decided to create an updated tutorial, as well as a zip file that contains everything you'll need, except for the actual music.


1. Download this zip file (mirror)

Contents:

2. Extract the contents of this zip file into your Final Fantasy VII directory (usually "C:\Program Files\Square Soft, Inc\Final Fantasy VII\" for Win32, "C:\Program Files (x86)\Square Soft, Inc\Final Fantasy VII\" on Vista x64 and Win7 x64).

3. In the "ficedula" directory which should have been unzipped, open FF7Music.exe and click Configure.

4. In the "Setup" tab (where you should probably start out), change where it's looking for the input and output plugins. The ff7music.ini file included assumes the game is installed to "C:\FF7" as it is on my machine, but yours is probably in a different place (one of the locations I mentioned in step 2). Use in_psf.dll for PSX rips (.psf files) and in_mad.dll for MP3s. The output plugin will almost always be out_wave.dll, unless FF7Music is crashing)

5. In the "Files" tab, select a profile to work with. The ff7music.ini file I included already has profiles for the remastered soundtrack (though you'll have to put all the songs in the same folder), and the PSF collection available at zophar.net. If you wish to use anything else, you'll have to set up the songs individually yourself. Fortunately, TwilightFantasy had a list of what songs were what, so you'll know what you're doing if you edit it.

aseri - Hurry
aseri2 - Hurry Faster
ayasi - Lurking In The Darkness
barret - Barret's Theme
bat - Fighting
bee - Honeybee Manor
boo - The Flow Of Life / Lifestream
bokujo - Farm Boy
canyon - The Valley Of The Fallen Star - Cosmo Canyon
cannon - The Makou Cannon Is Fired (not including Shinra Explodes)
cephiros - Those Chosen By The Planet
chu - Still More Fighting
chu2 - J-E-N-O-V-A
chase - Crazy Motorcycle
cinco - Cinco De Chocobo
cintro - Those Chosen By The Planet (edit: Should be Sephiroth intro, but most collections don't seem to have this)
condor - Fortress Of The Condor
costa - Costa Del Sol
comical - J-E-N-O-V-A
corel - Mining Town
corneo - Don Of The Slums
crwin - A Great Success
crlost - Tango Of Tears
date - Interrupted By Fireworks
dokubo - Underneath The Rotting Pizza
dun2 - Chasing The Black Caped Man
earislo - Flowers Blooming In The Church
earis - Aerith's Theme - Aeris' Theme
elec - Electric De Chocobo
fanfare - Fanfare2 (this should be the second fanfare not the first as stated. This one is the shortened version only for the Parade in Junon.
fan2 - Fanfare (the normal fanfare, extended version.)
fiddle - Fiddle De Chocobo
fin - World Crisis
geki - Debut
gold1 - Gold Saucer
gun - A Full Scale Attack
guitar2 - On The Other Side Of The Mountain
hen - Who Am I
hiku - The Highwind Takes To The Skies
horror - Trail Of Blood
iseki - You Can Hear The Cries Of The Planet
jukai - The Forested Temple
junon - Off The Edge Of Dispair
jyro - Steal The Tiny Bronco
ketc - Cait Sith's Theme
kita - The Great North Cave
kurai - Anxious Heart
lb1 - Birth Of A God
lb2 - One Winged Angel ( Yayayay! <3)
ld - Judgement Day
mati - Ahead On Our Way
makoro - Makou Reactor
mekyu - Reunion
mura1 - Parochial Town
oa - Opening - Bombing Mission
ob - (JUST Bombing Mission)
odds - Chocobo Racing
over2 - Requiem
parade - Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony
pj - Jenova Absolute
pre - Prelude
red - Red XIII's Theme
rhythm - The Turk's Theme
riku - Shinra Explodes
ro - The Countdown Begins
roll - Staff Roll
rocket - Oppressed People
rukei - The Sandy Badlands
sadsid - Sending A Dream Into The Universe
sadbar - Mark Of The Traitor
seto - The Great Warrior
sea - A Secret, Sleeping In The Deep Sea
sido - It's Difficult To Walk On Both Feet Isn't It
siera - If You Open Your Heart
sinraslo - Infiltrating Shinra Tower
si - Shinra Explodes 2
sid2 - Cid's Theme
sinra - The Shinra Corporation - The Shinra Company
snow - Buried In The Snow
ta - Main FFVII Theme
tb - Main FFVII Theme
tender - Holding My Thoughts In My Heart
tifa - Tifa's Theme
tm - On That Day Five Years Ago
utai - Wutai Theme - Uutai Ruins
vincent - The Nightmare Begins - Vincent's Theme
walz - Waltz De Chocobo
weapon - Weapon Raid
yado - Good Night Until Tomorrow
yufi2 - Stolen Materia
yufi - Decendent Of The Shinobi
yume - Who Are You

EDIT: Can I also add that Bombing Mission, Fanfare 2, Shinra Explodes 1 and 2 are unavailable in the normal OST's.  If you wish to have these files you must either find an MP3 Trimmer to cut part of the song out, or I can have mine up for download if allowed/requested.

6. At the bottom of this section, where it says "Paths to search for music files:", replace the paths listed with wherever you put your music files. Make sure there aren't any spaces in these paths, or FF7Music will likely parse them wrong and not work correctly. (e.g. "C:\ff7songs\" is okay, "C:\ff7 songs" is not). If you're using Windows Vista or later, click Save and Exit and close the program for now.

7. If you don't already have it, download and install Aali's Custom Graphics Driver, and delete the # before music_plugin in the config file.

8. (This step removed, placeholder to keep the numbering consistent)

9. Right click on ff7.exe and choose properties. In the compatibility tab, set it to run in Windows 98 mode.

10. If you're using Windows XP or earlier, skip this step. Right click on FF7Music.exe and choose properties. In the compatibility tab, set it to run in Windows XP SP2 mode, and check "Run this program as an administrator".

11. Back in FF7Music.exe configuration, in the Playback Options tab, where it says "Midi device", choose the device that Final Fantasy VII is configured to use. If you're using Aali's driver, it doesn't matter what you choose.

At this point, you should be ready to go! Just make sure to launch the game from FF7Music.exe instead of from your regular start menu shortcut or from ff7.exe.

Note: If you're having stability problems, use out_ds.dll for your output plugin.



Got questions? I'll answer them. If a question gets asked repeatedly, I'll update this first post.

edit: OOPS! Turns out that my ini had a major flaw: People in PSF mode would have heard Rufus' welcoming ceremony instead of the full scale attack. This has been fixed.
edit: Now uses fake_midi in Aali's opengl driver
edit: Aali changed his driver, so I changed my tutorial accordingly.
edit: New host for the zip. Thanks, MilesTailsPrower!
edit: Steps 7 and 9 seem to be required on XP. Even if they're not, they won't do any harm. Step 10 is still Vista+ because XP's compatibility mode can't be set to itself, that's just turning it off. O_o.
edit: Now with out_ds.dll! Should help with stability issues.
edit: Fixed some PSF mistakes in the ini file. Thanks, Kein!
« Last Edit: 2010-09-06 00:19:10 by Covarr »

DLPB_

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #1 on: 2009-05-31 04:31:12 »
still no....

-=-=[START OF WORLD MAP!!!]=-=-

stop_sound

cross play music: 0

set music volume trans: 127->0, step=4

set music volume: 127

WM_ACTIVATEAPP


Thats what I get from log...

DLPB_

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #2 on: 2009-05-31 04:35:49 »
will get back to u...some things I have to test first

DLPB_

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #3 on: 2009-05-31 15:17:10 »
no.... nothing.

I just get the above log.  someone send me a log of what happened when they go in and out of a town area

myst6re

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #4 on: 2009-05-31 15:25:30 »
Small mistake that everybody does:
cintro - Those Chosen By The Planet (Sephiroth Intro)


Kudistos Megistos

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #5 on: 2009-05-31 15:39:59 »
Small mistake that everybody does:
cintro - Those Chosen By The Planet (Sephiroth Intro)

I've noticed this. Even though Those Chosen by the Planet is very different from cintro (besides the beginning, obviously), people don't seem to take much interest in it.

Anyway, here it is.

DLPB_

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #6 on: 2009-05-31 16:05:29 »
Small mistake that everybody does:
cintro - Those Chosen By The Planet (Sephiroth Intro)

I've noticed this. Even though Those Chosen by the Planet is very different from cintro (besides the beginning, obviously), people don't seem to take much interest in it.

Anyway, here it is.

Yeah when I made my walkthrough I had to edit it in.  It is just a looped file.  I have that file and can make the loop if you want me to?

The other thing is, does ff7music allow this to play in the game or is it completely missing the item?

Kudistos Megistos

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #7 on: 2009-05-31 16:13:00 »
The mp3 he links to in the description works for me. I use:

cephiros - Those Chosen By The Planet

cintro - mp3 from that video

and the right music plays in the right places.


BTW, Covarr, does this setup get rid of the problem of music restarting whenever the player changes a screen?

Covarr

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #8 on: 2009-05-31 20:04:37 »
The included ini file should have the restarting issue fixed for most songs, although you might notice a few continuing when they SHOULD restart. Unfortunately, FF7music doesn't know how to be smart about it, so it's impossible to get it perfect.

As for the list of what's what, I just quoted the other tutorial before. I'll correct cintro right now.

Seifer Almasy, what exactly is your problem? No music, original midi music, or new songs and old songs playing simultaneously? Additionally, what filetype are your songs (MP3 or miniPSF), and are you using the correct plugin?

Also, what OS are you using? 32-bit or 64-bit?

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #9 on: 2009-05-31 22:27:16 »
OS:  Windows vista x64  SP2
Sound card:  Audigy 2 Platinum Ex

Problem:  No sound.  No mp3, no psf.  Followed all instructions to the letter. 

Please send me the log you get with ff7music (when you entera  town)so I can compare it....

« Last Edit: 2009-05-31 22:29:07 by Seifer Almasy »

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #10 on: 2009-05-31 22:28:06 »
edited

terminater27

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #11 on: 2009-06-01 01:17:14 »
I followed the guide and I'm not getting any music, PSF or midi wise.
I used the psf's from zophar.net but the files seemed kind of small...
Help please!

Covarr

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #12 on: 2009-06-01 02:34:57 »
@terminater27 and Seifer Almasy: If you're not getting music at all, you got steps 7 and 8 correct at the very least. Try unchecking "Emulate ramps" and "obey 'stop'" in the Playback Options tab. If that doesn't work, could you send me screenshots of your "Setup", "Files", and "Playback Options" tabs in FF7Music?

@Seifer Almasy: I can't send you a log, because I only just got into this game again recently, and haven't left Midgar yet. If I get out of Midgar and also have trouble with music, I'll do some troubleshooting to see if I can fix it.

@terminater27: The PSFs should be small. There isn't a single one above 5k.

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #13 on: 2009-06-01 03:28:45 »
I will do as you suggested and see what happens, also the log will be ok from any place where the music changes.  such as aeriths place to the slum area or church to slum.

Covarr

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #14 on: 2009-06-01 03:54:01 »
Wait, has yours been playing music until you change locations and then losing it, or not playing any at all? The answer to that question could affect the solution to the problem.

terminater27

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #15 on: 2009-06-01 04:25:03 »
:D I got it working using the remastered mp3's instead of the psf files.
I wish the battle music looped more cleanly though. You can clearly tell when it ends and starts again.
Theres a brief silence right before it finishes looping. Btw, what does delay stop, obey stop and emulate ramp do again?

Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #16 on: 2009-06-01 04:32:46 »
To get the PSF to work you have to rename them all psf files...

to have FF7 In front of their name.......

Like this....... http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/BrokenCrowe/PSFexample.jpg

Just leave Final Fantasy 7.psflib as is... don't rename it or anything... or the music won't play....

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #17 on: 2009-06-01 04:54:35 »
Wait, has yours been playing music until you change locations and then losing it, or not playing any at all? The answer to that question could affect the solution to the problem.

it worked fine with xp, and i have had absolutely no sound at all with it with vista x64 sp2  , will check what you suggested before though soon

terminater27

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #18 on: 2009-06-01 05:11:09 »
When I downloaded the PSF's they already all had FF7 in front of them, lol.
It just didn't work for some reason. Btw, awesome guide, Covarr :D

Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #19 on: 2009-06-01 05:12:42 »
When i downloaded them..... they didn't xD

I was just trying to help ..

Covarr

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #20 on: 2009-06-01 05:27:41 »
:D I got it working using the remastered mp3's instead of the psf files.
I wish the battle music looped more cleanly though. You can clearly tell when it ends and starts again.
Theres a brief silence right before it finishes looping. Btw, what does delay stop, obey stop and emulate ramp do again?
Obey stop tells it to stop when the regular game midis would stop if they were playing. Otherwise, you could end up with music where there SHOULDN'T be any. Emulate ramps copies the volume ups and downs that the game midis would have. Not sure what Delay Stop does.

If you're using the PSFs, make sure you have the right set chosen in the "Files" tab, and are using in_psf.dll, otherwise it won't play.

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #21 on: 2009-06-01 21:49:34 »
I'm not getting sound effect volume at all but everything else is working fine. Great guide, so much better and more clear than the sticky.

EDIT: Ok, when I first started up, I did have sound effects but the default music was also playing on top of the FF7music. I went into config and lowered what would appear to affect the game music but it seems as if sound effect volume is dependent on game volume. How do I get sound effects without having to hear two sets of music?
« Last Edit: 2009-06-01 21:55:53 by dyserga »

Covarr

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #22 on: 2009-06-01 22:04:25 »
dyserga, this is something that steps 7 and 8 were supposed to solve. Are you sure you ff7config.exe to use LoopBe for it's MIDI driver instead of Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth?

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #23 on: 2009-06-01 22:10:05 »
dyserga, this is something that steps 7 and 8 were supposed to solve. Are you sure you ff7config.exe to use LoopBe for it's MIDI driver instead of Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth?

I followed your directions exactly.

dyserga

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Re: [Tutorial] Covarr's New FF7Music Tutorial
« Reply #24 on: 2009-06-01 22:17:39 »
Is LoopBe suppose to be muting when midi songs play on FF7? Because its not. And when I manually do it it does not do anything. Both FF7 music and FF7 config are pointing to it.