The Music Tinkering Thread...

[Conn]

Here's a small (yet incompleted) tutorial of my research how to insert custom music.
Is here somebody who can program excel to convert openmpt midi data into HM data?

Here's the tutorial:
http://bszelda.zeldalegends.net/stuff/Con/music_hm.zip
(word 2007 *.docx format)

Feel free to improve it with additional findings or whatsoever

Edit: added ALTTP instruments, and special effects like vibrato into the tutorial.

MIRROR: http://www.bwass.org/bucket/music_hm.zip

[Conn]

haha* thanks. I'm no fan of music as well, but the basics are the same. Also the music editor of HM must follow some rules (even I find it awful as well).

umm... I don't know if I can complete it. I also have only rudimentary knowledge about music hacking, and all I know I already inserted. Maybe the information given is enough for somebody to give it a try? And in case there is some additional knowledge he could complete the tutorial?

[Conn]

That's very interesting
But... to be honest, I am not sure whether I like to get my hands on this project. Probably I could, but music is not really my thing... I like more starring hours on hours on hex (being sarcastic here   ).
I gave the information what I have and suspect into that tutorial and I hope we find a volunteer (my hope is on Potentialing) who is more skilled in music than we are ...

[Potentialing]

Wait I'm confused, what are you looking for me to do? I'd love to help people learn how to make music, though you probably have an awesome chance PM'ing a couple of people from the Super Mario World Central (smwcentral.net) community. Many of them are familiar with the SPC engine as well as I am (some actually know it better than I do, actually), but you'd have to teach them how to use Hyrule Magic's music editor.

Anyways, I'd love to know and help if I can, so fill me in!

[Puzzledude]

SePH wants to achieve this:
Basically make new music and replace the tunes on the left, with the midis on the right
 
BANK1:
======
 
01 - Title        = http://midi.thehylia.com/midifiles/gba/metroid-fusion/title-screen.mid
02 - World Map    = http://midi.thehylia.com/midifiles/ps1/final-fantasy-9/alexandria-2-.mid (MODERN WORLD)
03 - Beginning    = http://midi.thehylia.com/midifiles/gamecube/zelda-the-wind-waker/hyrule-castle.mid
04 - Rabbit       = http://midi.thehylia.com/midifiles/nes/legend-of-zelda/overworld-2-.mid
05 - Forest       = lost woods / by potentialing
06 - Intro        = http://midi.thehylia.com/midifiles/ps1/final-fantasy-7/the-forested-temple.mid (RIFT)
07 - Town         =
08 - Warp         =
09 - Dark World   = http://midi.thehylia.com/midifiles/n64/zelda-ocarina-of-time/gerudo-valley.mid (WASTELANDS)
10 - Master Swd  =  http://midi.thehylia.com/midifiles/snes/mega-man-x/stage-start.mid (MASTERSWORD)
11 - File Select =  http://midi.thehylia.com/midifiles/gameboy/legend-of-zelda-link-s-awakening/overworld.mid (CITY OF THE GODS)
12 - Soldier     =  
13 - Mountain    =  http://midi.thehylia.com/midifiles/snes/starfox/map.mid (SPACE)
15 - Shop        =  
16 - Fanfare     =  
 
 
Here's the process that Conn was using.
MIDI (.mid) --> tracker (.it) --> convert to SPC --> convert SPC to final form to fit Hyrule Magic's music editor.
 
 
I don't know if it is possible to do it directly in HM.

[Conn]

midi-spc conversation isn't much a problem, it's step by step in the music tutorial:
http://bszelda.zeldalegends.net/stuff/Con/music_hm.zip

However, I'd not suggest loading a new spc instuction into your rom. It might be possible as I did with bszelda, but the problem is that the native zelda3 spc instuction handles the complete music. Means, if you replace it, also the sfx are gone. In bszelda it was possible since the inserted spc was played during a waitsign break.

For your game, however it is simple replacement with HM (I can't imagine another way). It's even not necessary to convert the midis, just open it with OpenMPT and look which tone is played with which instrument and which duration (everything explained in the tutorial).
A midi doesn't consist of many tones, but it would be better if somebody experienced takes this task.

[Potentialing]

In all honesty, I actually just kinda use my ears to convert music. I don't really use a reference other than what I hear in the original song.

The note durations can vary per track. 0C could be equal to one "tick" in OpenMPT, or it could be equal to two, or four, or whatever the tempo was set to.

Hyrule Magic has a similar look to a Tracker music interface, however durations are scripted, and must be looked at in a different fashion.

If I were you, I'd import the music into something like NoteWorthy Composer, which shows actual note durations, but even then it can get problematic when dealing with notes divided into 3 (aka triplet note lengths) and not 2. It's very math-based and you have to consider the hindrances before even starting to convert the song. (If the song contained both triplets and normal note lengths, you'd have to find the least common denominator of the two lengths so you can find out which tempo you have to use to be able to play every note as intended.)

In all honesty, I'm not sure how I'd be able to make a consistent method to port music without the porter having a sense of both scripting and music, because it's all about making the best of the limitations the game gives you, specifically note lengths. (Wow I'm pretty repetitive, aren't I? lol)

[Conn]

I can't use NoteWorthy, since it isn't free and I absolutely am not music skilled...

As for the note length, maybe it helps to check tutorial 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE6AG1xEObM
It is wonderful explained how to set durations of a tone (play time, 2nd column) and the note durations (set value in first column). Whole=60, half=30, quarter=18 and so on.
I hope that somebody is able to insert the themes, if you cannot do it, Potentialing... it could be best to ask at vgmusic.com or smwcentral.net (or best the author of the tutorial - he actually created a theme for a Zelda Hack ;)then.

Edit: Here's also a tutorial for music editing (pg.78)
http://www.romhacking.net/documents/314/