Mission Editing

[Flyboy]

So I'm finally trying to get more serious about learning triggers and am stuck for the moment with adding sounds for the messages to coalition. I looked online and watched one video so far which led me to download Audacity, but where is the best place to get some of the sound files that would be appropriate for DCS? Can I use text to speech computer voice? @Klaiber where did you come up with some of your sounds like "Engaging bandit?"

[Klaiber]

So, the "engaging bandit" sound was mined from DCS when DCS left their sound files out in the open.

However, ED-created sound files have been encrypted since DCS 2.5.6.  This doesn't apply to Third-party sounds.  They should be somewhere within the modules.  However, most Third-party sounds are less than useful.

When I want to create a sound, I most often use a text-to-speech website.  Though, I have experimented with using actors (i.e., me or Brit, etc.)

Method #1 for getting TTS sound files involves using a free or free(ish) website.  However, they usually have a download limit.  And the more free they are, the worse they sound.

• My favorite free(ish) TTS website is: https://ttsmp3.com/
  • You can also get good Morse code through a website like this: https://www.radio-amater.rs/morsecodegenerator/
• Once you create and download the sound file, it'll be in a .wav or .mp3.
  • You should get this into an .ogg.
• Open the .wav or .mp3 file in Audacity.
  • Boost the Gain of the opened file to +12.0 dB, as DCS makes files sound muted/soft.
    • I learned this lesson the hard way, as many of my first sounds in missions were muffled and lost in noise.
  • Then save the file as an .ogg, by going to Export Audio > Format - Ogg Vorbis Files.
  • Then hit Export.
• Exit Audacity.
  • No need to save the project.
• Next, go to this website to compress the .ogg file: https://www.compresss.com/compress-audio.html
  • We need to make the file as small as possible, without negatively impacting the audio quality.
    • DCS has a limit for how much extra stuff it will allow in a mission.
    • This extra stuff includes images and sound files.
    • If you have too many sound files in a mission, the sound files will stop working.
    • So you want your stuff as tiny as possible to maximize your space.
  • Drag your new .ogg into Choose Files on the compress.com website.
  • Output is at the bottom, with a new download link.
  • Personally, I send the files through twice.  Or until they file stops getting smaller.
• You now have an .ogg you can use in game.

Method #2 is almost identical, but uses a cheat to get the better TTS sound files from the not-free websites:

• My favorite website for this method is: https://www.naturalreaders.com/online/
  • You can preview the voices with text, but it won't let you download without a login/account.
    • We can get around that by using Audacity to record your desktops audio.
    • So, click on the AI avatar, pick your region, pick your person, and then enter your text.
  • Don't create an account.  Don't save.  But keep the window open, ready to go.
• Open Audacity.
  • Click on the Audio Setup button.
    • Select Audio Settings in the drop down menu.
    • Make your Host: Windows WASAPI.
    • Then select your speakers/headset as the Playback method.
  • Place Audacity side-by-side with the Natural Readers website.
  • Hit the red record button on Audacity.
  • Then push play on the Natural Readers website.
    • If was done correctly, you should start to see Audacity recording what your headphones are hearing.
  • Stop the recording in Audacity when done.
  • Then trim the file to remove the dead air from the leader and tail of the audio recording.
  • Now boost the dB, save as an .ogg, and compress the file as you did in Method #1.
• Good to go!

To get the files into DCS, that requires some Mission Editor magic.

But, you can trigger sound files through trigger zones, add sound files to trigger zones to replicate NDBs, and other cool stuff.

I can show you how if you want to set up a meeting.

Hope this helps!

 

 

 

 

[Flyboy]

Wow this is great stuff! Thanks for the detailed info

[Flyboy]

I'm in the process of creating a new "nearly real" training map using Kutaisi for Blue and Vaziani for Red. It will have low clouds so you can't see the ground easily and have to use instrument references for SA and do an instrument approach on return (but with 2 nm vis so can do nonprecision with F-5 and Mig-19), no labels and no ref on map. I want to put in enemy spawned AI like on your BFMACM maps and have been studying your triggers plus watching youtube vids.

I also want to set up a practice "sparring" maps where one side defends and the other attacks where we can divide up into sides and do internal practice battles.

Mouce and I are also thinking that having smoke pods on the Mig-21 can be useful not only for training but for helping find each other. It's better than wasting flares and is negligible weight.

[Klaiber]

14 minutes ago, Flyboy said:

I'm in the process of creating a new "nearly real" training map using Kutaisi for Blue and Vaziani for Red. It will have low clouds so you can't see the ground easily and have to use instrument references for SA and do an instrument approach on return (but with 2 nm vis so can do nonprecision with F-5 and Mig-19), no labels and no ref on map. I want to put in enemy spawned AI like on your BFMACM maps and have been studying your triggers plus watching youtube vids.

I also want to set up a practice "sparring" maps where one side defends and the other attacks where we can divide up into sides and do internal practice battles.

Mouce and I are also thinking that having smoke pods on the Mig-21 can be useful not only for training but for helping find each other. It's better than wasting flares and is negligible weight.

Yeah, that sounds cool.

Let me know how I can help!