Tropico Music RIPPER/CONVERTER!

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

Hola Amigos!

I haven't been to this board in eons (short of the message that I posted yesterday over in the T2 section), and figured that I'd share this little utility that I've been sitting on for more than two years.

Note that the utility isn't of my own creation, but rather was sent to me by someone else back in Sep. 2002.

Anyhow, http://tang.cmoo.com/~snor/weeds/Tropico/tropico_music_ripper.zip -:)

(Note that the URL is case sensitive)


VIVA LA TROPICO MUSICA!


(Edit #2: changed URL of ZIP... again <G>)

[Coconut Kid]

Hey Rich,

It has been a long time. It's good to see you back; don't be a stranger.

Thanks

 

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

Please, what does the utility do? I suppose it would tell me if I downloaded it, but ...

Hehe, think about it... Tropico+music <BG>... the utility is simply a converter XDT->MP3 -:)

BTW, you have some broken links in your signature

Yep yep, all of those links to my old Tropcio web page have been non-existant for several years now <LOL>.

[CafeDave]

Hey Rich, nice to hear from you!  How are things at the ranch?

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

Doing quite well -:) Everything is much calmer now, after our last hurricane season <LOL>!

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

Interesting new discovery!

Apparently, the Tropico Music Ripper can not only convert the XDT proprietary format Tropico music files to MP3 format, but it can *ALSO* convert MP3 format music files to Tropico XDT format


Normally you would run the utility like this (to convert the XDT files to MP3 files):

1) Create a new temporary directory on your hard drive (i.e. "C:\Temp).

2) Copy Tropico's XDT files to this new temporary directory.

3) Run the converter -> "Tropico Music Ripper.exe" "C:\Temp" (including the quotes, due to long filenames).


Now... the new discovery, to convert MP3 format files to XDT format files:

1) Create a new temporary directory on your hard drive (i.e. "C:\Temp).

2) Copy the MP3 format files that you wish to convert to this new temporary directory.

3) Change/rename the MP3 files' extensions to XDT (i.e. rename "Music.mp3" to "Music.xdt" (minus the quotes) using "My Computer", the WinDoZe Explorer, or simply from the DOS prompt.

4) Run the converter -> "Tropico Music Ripper.exe" "C:\Temp" (including the quotes, due to long filenames).

5) Change/rename the *new generated* MP3 files' extensions to XDT (i.e. rename "Music.mp3" to "Music.xdt" (minus the quotes) using "My Computer", the WinDoZe Explorer, or simply from the DOS prompt.


Bingo! Your MP3s have been converted to Tropico's proprietary XDT format, and can be listened to within the game

In other words, if the utility is run on a true XDT format music file, it will be converted to MP3 format (which is what the utility is supposed to do in the first place).

If the utility is run on an MP3 format music file (remember, you have to first *rename* the original MP3 using an XDT file extension, as the utility *only* recognizes files with an XDT file extension), the resulting so-called MP3s are *actually* in XDT format... the utilty converts them from MP3 to XDT format. Then simply rename the resulting so-called MP3 files to new filenames using XDT for the file extension, and enjoy!

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

OK Folks,

SCRAP *ALL* of the above <LOL>, as I have created a quick hack of the original Tropico Music Ripper utility that can deal with regular MP3 files to convert them to XDT format (without having to rename them first using an XDT extension, per my previous post)!

Link is the same as in my first post ( http://tang.cmoo.com/~snor/weeds/Tropico/tropico_music_ripper.zip - case sensitive) as I have simply added the hacked version to the ZIP file, so redownload the ZIP again.

After unzipping the files, simply run MP32XDT.EXE for usage syntax (the included TMR.EXE in the ZIP is the original unhacked Tropico Music Ripper utility that converts XDT files to MP3 files).

WOOHOO! XDT->MP3 and MP3->XDT! Enjoy!

[artemais]

  ;DWow!  Thanks Rich!  I have wanted this capability forever!  So, how would it work in game?  Would the file have to take the place of one of the original tracks in order to be played?  I guess what I mean by that is if I have the song "Sample.mp3", and then change it to "sample.xdt", will it play that in the regular rotation, or will I have to dump one of the original songs and give "sample.xdt" that name?

It doesn't matter as there are at least four or five songs that have been repeated in the lineup; I discovered that when I used the tool the first time!

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

I'm not a 100% sure, but I think they can be named any filename to be included in the music files queue (dunno how to spell that word <LOL>!). A simple test (which I haven't tried yet), simply temporarily move all of your XDT files out of your Tropico\Data2 directory to another directory on your hard drive (leaving ADAT01.xdt and wdat01.xdt), and copy a few cutom named XDT files to the Data2 directory Should work, but I'm not sure.

Push come to shove, simply name your new XDTs numerically starting from Xdat40.xdt (and higher).

(Edit) OT, but if we could now find some sort of PK2 extractor (that would in turn also convert the graphics and sound effects to a common image and sound file format), I could die a happy man <LOL>!

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

Hmmm...

It appears that the game CTDs if any custom XDT filenames are used, as well as if you simply start naming your newly converted XDTs numerically (starting with XDat40.xdt, XDat41.xdt, etc...). To replace the music, you'll have to back up the original Tropico XDT music files, and then rename your new ones using the same filenames as the originals (i.e. files XDat02.xdt through XDat39.xdt).

Anyhow, other than the filename glitch, it works perfectly BTW, I highly recommend Craig Riley's "October" ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00007C66F/ref=j_disp_dwnld_14/103-2120209-7527835?v=glance&s=music&st=digital-music ), from his "October" CD ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006RGNK/ref=j_de_a_smp/103-6723489-5148613?v=glance&st=* )... reminds me a lot of the pretty slow nylon string guitar piece in the stock Tropico music.

Also, another good one, if ya happen to have an MP3 of the Survivor main theme (like I do) <BG> -:)

P.S. You can legally download all of Riley's music free from the above link

Some games trigger changes in the music (sound files) to coodinate with the events. That was probably too advanced for the basic Tropico.exe of its release date.

Correct, Tropico doesn't support triggered music changes (although there isn't anything really fancy about that type of coding, been around for eons). BTW, dunno if you know, you can quickly move the music volume slider in the options window back and forth rapidly (going all the way from 0% to 100% volume) and the game will randomly play one of the Tropico tunes

[artemais]

I had the list of xdt files that are repeats of others songs, but I don't know if I have it anymore...I'll check tonight and see and then post it so anybody who wanted could just replace those files without losing any of the original music.

Oooh, just thought of one problem.  There was one song that I didn't like at all, so I got rid of that mp3 version....it was from the list of missing files that I made the other list.

Anyway, we'll see if I have it, or if somebody else has nothing else to do...

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

I had the list of xdt files that are repeats of others songs, but I don't know if I have it anymore...I'll check tonight and see and then post it so anybody who wanted could just replace those files without losing any of the original music.

You are correct, several of the songs are duplicates of other songs. More specifically, one version is strictly instrumental, and the other has vocals. I don't remember how many duplicates there is, but I think there were a few.

[artemais]

More specifically, one version is strictly instrumental, and the other has vocals.

What?  Are you serious?  I never noticed that!  That changes everything!  I totally thought they were the same and I was gonna get rid of them.  Now I can't do that.  I have seriously never noticed that during game play or when listening to the mp3 tracks....How did I miss that? 

In that case, I won't provide a list of the duplicates, at least not for awhile unitl I do some more research on that!

[v4ella]

Rich,

Thanks for the tool, I have been looking for this all this time since I bought tropico AND paradise island when it first came out, being a ghost from the past myself.  Followed you back here from google groups.

I do feel like the genie out of the bottle though, glad have having the tool at last! but miffed that it took so loooong.

Hats off to you and your 'Hax0r phren'  and thanks again

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

Glad you found the utility (as well as my hacked version) useful

Hats off to you and your 'Hax0r phren' and thanks again

Hehe, actually I don't even remember who the person was who sent me the utility <G>. From what I remember, I didn't know the guy, he simply saw my gripes eons ago here in the forums about the Mac version having MP3s and the PC version having those infernal proprietary format music files, and he passed the utility on to me

[Rich goes searching thru emails....]

Ahhh.... El Presidente's email archives searched <G>

I saw your post regarding Tropico and its music. I've recently come across a little (180K) program that converts the XDT music files to MP3. If you're interested, I can send it in an attachment to you.

---snip/next email---

Here you go. I'm just passing the good news around, just as it was passed on to me. Enjoy!

---snip/next email---

In the same way that I discovered you, I came across a guy's newsgroup post and e-mail address. I e-mailed him and asked him if he had since had any luck. He hadn't, but, a week later (yesterday), he e-mailed me back with this excellent utility as an attachment. Since someone shared it with him and he shared it with me, I felt obliged to share it with anyone else out there who wished to have the music.

I put the music on a CD last night. I had a 100 mile drive to make today, and I was blairing those Caribbean tunes as I was driving down the coast. It was heavenly . BTW, if you haven't bought the Paradise Island expansion yet, you may want to now. It comes with an extra hour of music.

Please pass the program along if you find anyone else who may be interested. The program is apparently nowhere to be found on the web, so sharing through e-mail is the only way for the moment.

Hmmm... what are the odds that the original TMR utility that was emailed to me (that I included in the ZIP) was created by "Kimi" in this age-old thread? -> http://dynamic3.gamespy.com/~tropico/cafe/index.php?topic=282.0 It jibes about with the date that the above emails were sent.

(Edit) 'Nuther post by "Kimi" -> http://dynamic3.gamespy.com/~tropico/cafe/index.php?topic=1298

A million apologies to all Tropicans for sitting on this thing for so long... I should have uploaded it eons ago! I was feeling a bit guilty, as I've had a two audio-CD collection of all of the Tropico and PI music for ages now <G>.

[artemais]

Okay, as far as a can tell, there are five duplicated songs in the xdt format.  As Rich said, the duplicates are specifically tracks with and without the words.

As far as my observation goes, the repeated tracks are:

1.  Xdat11 (words and music) and xdat14 (music only)
2.  Xdat24 (words and music) and xdat25 (music only)
3.  Xdat34 (words and Music) and xdat18 (music only)
4.  Xdat35 (words and music) and xdat 36 (music only)
5.  Xdat38 (words and music) and xdat39 (music only)


And just for the record, the track that I absolutely hate is xdat31, so that one was the first that I switched! 

Also, for those who really like the original music and don't want to lose any of it, then don't.  I bet with a simple audio mixer you could add in one track to another (Example: mix in xdat16 at the end of xdat17, and then resave as one track).  Sure, you'll have to go through the process of converting the songs to .mp3, adding the additional track and saving to one file, and then converting back to .xdt form, but hey, you'll pick up another slot for other music!   

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

Thanks for the info for the duplicate tunes! Adding it to my notes now

And just for the record, the track that I absolutely hate is xdat31, so that one was the first that I switched! 

Hehe, my thoughts exactly! Kind of a "Regge-Disco-Carribean-Tropican Pop" thing, no <LOL>?

Also, for those who really like the original music and don't want to lose any of it, then don't.  I bet with a simple audio mixer you could add in one track to another (Example: mix in xdat16 at the end of xdat17, and then resave as one track).  Sure, you'll have to go through the process of converting the songs to .mp3, adding the additional track and saving to one file, and then converting back to .xdt form, but hey, you'll pick up another slot for other music!   

Yep yep, definately is (technically easy) possible, although a lot of work.

[Brf]

It appears that the game CTDs if any custom XDT filenames are used, as well as if you simply start naming your newly converted XDTs numerically (starting with XDat40.xdt, XDat41.xdt, etc...).

CTD = Crash To Desktop. He is saying you cannot add any extra files.

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

But if I understood post #10 correctly, one could just add new music to the end of the list begining with #40.

On the other hand, perhaps this is what would work easier for me to insert a sound effect between each song -- rather than renumbering everything.

No, unfortunately Tropico crashes back to Windows if *any* custom filnames are used for the XDT music files (including if you start naming your new XDTs XDat40.xdt, XDat41.xdt, etc...). The only way to replace the music sucessfully is to name and replace the exisitng filenames (ADat01.xdt for the intro, WDat01.xdt for the win cutscene movie, and XDat02.xdt through XDat39.xdt for the in-game music).

BTW, there was a question about a church bell not too long ago. Are there "general" sound effects other than music; and are they triggered by location? By "general," I mean not connected to specific action like a Rebel attack.

There a ton of ambient in-game sound effects, but non that appear to be triggered by anything in particular (short of having a specific building on the island). Many of the ambient sound effects are initialized if you have a specific building constructed (such as the church, or EP's childhood home). Although, none of the ambient in-game sound effects appear to be triggered by any sort of condition or event whn playing the game.

In other words, after building a church, the church bell sound effect will be ambiently and randomly played, usually if the church is within view in the main view window of your island.

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

The words go by my eyes, but at some point the connection with my brain goes to hell. Sorry.

Hehe, no apologies needed, I have the same problem myself <LOL>!

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

P.S. I'm sure that this is prolly old news, but just in case no one knows:

*After* installing PI (or initially installing the MM Edition), the file XDat20.xdt was the *original* intro song for the original version of Tropico ("Los Parranderos", the old original filename was ADat01.xdt). The current file ADat01.xdt (after installing PI/MM) is the new intro song added/changed by PI/MM. IOW, BreakAway renamed ADat01.xdt to XDat20.dat, and then added a new ADat01.xdt file for the intro music.

Personally, I like the old intro "Los Parranderos" *much* better, and have renamed the two files in question accordingly

[artemais]

Man, I must be the most un-noticing person on the planet, because I didn't realize that one either until you said it.  So I went and checked those music files.  Now I remember what the original intro song was....strange.

[Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel]

I had played the original Tropico for many moons right after I first bought it when it first came out (I had it pre-ordered). Needless to say "Los Parranderos" was burnt into my brain... and still is <LOL>!

[artemais]

Yeah, I had played the original forever too....I actually only got PI just last year, so you would think that the origianl song would have been burned into my memory.

[icebox]

Man, you are the man !
I've been working on getting the music on a cd for my car for a week now ! You rock !