[GTA 3] Audio Fixes

[Vannimon]

New update. This update includes no *new* fixes, but new, high quality audio! Not all audio in the game, just some mission related audio. Start a new game and you'll notice it as soon as 8-Ball starts talking.

 

Just extract to audio folder, and have fun! Make sure to back up your original files!

 

Linky

 

MISCOM sound with added reverb is missing from the new update. If anyone wants it, let me know and I'll put up a link for it.

 

Original post:

 

 

Hi!

Not a huge mod here, just some audio fixes. For example, the cutscene that Toni says "KIP-riani" has been fixed.

The Shoreside Vale unlock news broadcast is also fixed.

Nothing big, I just noticed nobody fixed that "Toni KIP-riani" thing before, and so I fixed it.

Also included is a MISCOM sound with added reverb, which is optional.

Just extract to GTA 3's audio folder, and have fun!

-snip-

This is my first mod, so please, any criticisms are welcome!

 

 

Edited July 18, 2016 by Mr. Boredom 1603

[stef_92]

I don't want to be harsh on you especially because this is your first mod. But I've been into audio/music production for 6 years and some things bother me .

I'm struggling to notice any better quality in your files compared to the original ones. Your changes are more sensible in the files which are played not in the cutscenes but in game since they are usually in lower quality and without any reverb effects. The difference I can hear is that you boosted the low and the high frequency range. For me it doesn't make it sound better, especially in the low frequencies range because you made it sound muddy (or dirty if you wish).. simply unpleasant to listen. Boosting the high frequencies a little bit can be a good way to make muffled sounds to sound better for the human ear (simple psychology) but this is not always possible when it comes to GTA 3 audio files. You see, the thing is that the audio files which are played in game (not in the cutscenes) are encoded in low sample rate - 12 000 Hz which allows encoding only frequencies up to 6 000 Hz (Fourier's law). So basically everything above 6 Khz has been cut so even if you use EQ to boost frequencies higher than that - you are simply boosting nothing. I also see that the sample rate of your files is 192 KHz (instead of 12 Khz as the original) and I don't get that point too. Upscaling the sample rate doesn't make the quality any better - it just makes the file 16 times bigger. You can see spectral analysis of the old and new j4_d.wav file for example:

Old:

Your new version:

Pay attention to the left Y-axis and you will see what I mean And if you wonder what are these faint high frequencies that appear somewhere above 70 Khz - they are parasitic frequencies (or pseudo frequencies) which are due to the resampling from 12 KHz to 192 KHz.

 

On the other side - the files played in the cutscenes are in higher quality. They are encoded using 44 100 Hz sample rate which is much higher than the 12 000 Hz I talked about above. But there's one big BUT - unlike the low quality files, these were encoded in MP3 format using 128kbps compression. It's understandable because 44.1 Khz files wouls be much bigger, so MP3 compression is a good way to save space. But usually when you encode in 128kbps the encoders put a LP filter on 15 800 Hz, so basically everything above that range is lost (if you encode in the highest 320 kbps bitrate, the filter is being put on 20 000 Hz). Now I guess it's needless to mention the same things again so you will do the conclusion yourself

 

Another thing that is worth mentioning is the bit depth - the one in the original files is 4 bits and the one you used for encoding is 16 bits. 4 bits is too low bit depth to represent audio in a good quality unlike 16 bits (which is the CD standard). But the things here are similar as the sampe rate - you are increasing the file size without adding new information. So when you convert a 4 bit audio to 16 the encoder simply fills the less significant bits with zeros.

 

I apologize if I'm telling you things that you already know but I felt that I need to tell all this and I hope you find it informative.

Edited July 27, 2016 by stef_92

[Vannimon]

As I said I didn't do too much with it, or try too hard (at least I meant to, anyway).

But I appreciate the tips.

[stef_92]

I understand that you are not trying too hard and that's why I don't want to sound like a huge critic but I thought that these things can be useful to you.

If you are interested in audio editing you can read some articles like this one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_bit_depth. Understanding the basics of digital audio encoding can be very helpful

 

Anyway I appreciate that you are interested in modding GTA 3 because it's my favorite.

Edited July 27, 2016 by stef_92