[DIRECT SONG] Music Mixing Guide for Guild Wars

+------------------------------------------------------+
+>[DIRECT SONG] Music Mixing Guide for Guild Wars
+------------------------------------------------------+

So I finally got around to writing this out. Here's what this is. This guide is to teach you how to legally mod your Guild Wars to be able to play any music you want! You can specify certain music to play for certain areas of the world to make your exploring even more fun!

Why mod your DirectSong?
In my opinion, nothing is more important to your game experience than the music. The music heightens your sense of things, gives you the mood you're suppose to feel, and controls your emotions whether the very beat of a drum or the sound of a horn. Spending an hour to mix your own music playlist for Guild Wars will make you enjoy the game so much more.

Getting Started - How to install DirectSong onto your Guild Wars
Head over to the Direct Song official website and register (http://www.directsong.com). Once you register, you can download the free Sorrow's Furnace miniPAK. Once you install this, it will install DirectSong music for you at the same time.

Now where do I start in order to music mix?
The only file you will be using to make your music playlist is labeled "GuildWars.ds" under the DirectSong folder. When you open Guild Wars, the application will grab the current GuildWars.ds file and use it, so if you make any changes you have to restart Guild Wars for it to take effect.

How do I add my own music (stuff from various bands, etc.)?
This is the big one. In order to access your music, you must put all the music files you want into the DirectSong folder. It's recommended you make a copy of it when you put it in the DirectSong folder, unless you lack disk space, of course. Let's say you have a folder inside the DirectSong folder named bands. Then, inside that, you have a song named Mary Had a Little Lamb.mp3. The syntax would go like this:
If you don't want to drag your music to the DirectSong folder, this is the disk saving alternative. Basically you use the syntax "../" in order to go up a level of directory. Let's say, your DirectSong folder is on this path, "C:\Program Files\Guild Wars\Direct Song\", but you have music in the path "C:\Program Files\Music\Mary Had a Little Lamb.mp3", this is how you would do it:
Basically you go up two directories back to Program Files and then you go back forward into the piece of music you want.

Note: For some reason, you cannot directly state the pathname to the music, you have to start from the reference point of the DirectSong folder.

How do I know if my songs are being successfully played?
Other than being able to here your music, you can go to options [F11] and click the sound tab. The music note on the bottom will be lit up orange if it is playing.

The Basic Syntax of GuildWars.ds
* A "#" is a comment market, basically like in any programming language, you can add personal comments.
* A "*" indicates that the music that shipped with the game should play (default music).
* The [number] is the volume in Microsoft format millibells. Basically, a larger number is quieter, while zero is full volume. If you're going to put band music on there, I recommend using a 500-600 number for starters.
* The lettering before the ":" are general locations of where the music will be played.
* L<number>: is a level number. These are for specific in-game areas (like a town or a zone)
* A blank line ends the program. Make sure you don't have any blank lines in the file!
* The file name goes between the ":" and then [number]. The default point is the DirectSong folder. Drag all the extra music stuff you want here.
* Sometimes, there will be more than one music separated by commas. Usually the first music plays and then goes through the list like a playlist, but sometimes, the first piece of music will be randomly selected (overall, the first piece has the highest chance of being picked).

Syntax of Tokens (The first 7 letters are called tokens)
* A letter of the alphabet at the end of the token indicates variations of music to be played. For example, if you have "asdfa" and "asdfb", then when you load in, one of those two tokens is randomly selected, and music from the repesctive token will be played. In some instances where there already is more than one variation (other than for log-in screen music), you may be able to add extra variations. In order to do so, just continue up on the alphabet (c, d, e, etc.).
* "out" at the beginning usually means outpost.
* "en" at the beginning indicates GW:EN music.
* All of the letter of the tokens usually stand for something, whether an abbreviation or an acronym.

___________________________________________

+-------------------------------------------+
+>Location Guide to the GuildWars.ds File
+-------------------------------------------+

Now we are ready to begin editing music! What I will do is list the location of the corresponding letterings and then give the locations in which I found them.

Note: Please help add to this list, it would be greatly appreciated.

Just use Ctrl + F if you want to find any specific lettering. The format is the same format as of that in the GuildWars.ds file. Also, most outposts/towns/missions should be listed. Only a few instances are listed, however.

Key:
TOKEN: {GENERAL AREA} - Examples of places where you can hear the music.
There are three main categories of music: Outposts, Instances, Battles

Log-In
loginen: {Log-In Screen} - Only this token works for log-in, the others will not do anything. This one works like a playlist.

Prophecies
outcosc: {Kryta outposts} - Gates of Kryta, D'Alessio Seaboard, Bergen Hot Springs, Beetletun, Fisherman's Haven, Riverside Province
outcosd: {Kryta outposts} - Temple of Ages, Lion's Arch, Sanctum Cay

outcryc: {Crystal Desert Outposts} - Seeker's Passage, Elona Reach, Augury Rock, Dunes of Despair, Thirsty River, Dragon's Lair, Tomb of Primeval Kings
outcryd: {Crystal Desert Outposts} - ONLY plays at Amnoon Oasis

outednc: {Certain Pre-Searing outposts} - Ascalon City (Pre), Foble's Fair, Fort Ranik (Pre)
outednd: {Certain Pre-Searing outposts} - Foble's Fair

outovrc: {Maguuma Jungle Outposts} - The Wilds, Quarrel Falls, Bloodstone Fen, Aurora Glade, Ventari's Refuge, Hedge of Denravi, Maguuma Stade
outovrd: N/A

outscrc: {Old Ascalon outposts} - Great Northern Wall, Ruins of Surmia, Grendich Courthouse
outscrd: {Old Ascalon outposts} - Ascalon City (Post), Fort Ranik, Nolani Academy

outsnwc: {Shiverpeak outposts} - Borlis Pass, Beacon's Perch, Droknar's Forge
outsnwd: {Shiverpeak outposts} - Ice Tooth Cave, Zaishen Elite, Camp Rankor, Port Sledge, Ice Caves of Sorrow, Iron Mines of Moladune, Thunderhead Keep

outvolc: {Ring of Fire Island Outposts} - Ember Light Camp, Hell's Precipice
outvold: {Ring of Fire Island Outposts} - Ring of Fire, Abbadon's Mouth, Ember Light Camp

outposc: {Any Outpost (Uncommon} - Random Arenas
outposd: {Any Outpost (Uncommon} - N/A

outpose: {Any Outpost (VERY Common)} - Ascalon City (Pre), Frontier Gate, Piken Square, Yak's Bend, Shiverpeak Arena, Frost Gate, Druid's outlook, Aurora Glade, Beacon's Perch, Camp Rankor, Heroes' Audience, Tomb of Primeval Kings
outposf: {Earlier Outposts} - Foble's Fair, Sardelic Sanitarium

outposr: {Battle Isles Outposts} - Random Arenas, Team Arena, Heroes' Ascent, Great Temple of Balthazar, Guild Hall (Burning Isle)
outposs: N/A
outposx: N/A

outglda: N/A
outgldb: N/A
outrfta: N/A
outrftb: N/A

riftgld: {Battle Instances} - Isle of the Nameless, Training Arenas
riftina: N/A

snowsaa: {Entrance to Sorrow's Furnace} - Grenth's Footprint
snowsab: {Entrance to Sorrow's Furnace} - Grenth's Footprint
snowsac: {Entrance to Sorrow's Furnace} - Grenth's Footprint, Deldrimor War Camp
snowdaa: {Sorrow's Furnace} - Beginning Areas of Sorrow's Furnace
snowdab: {Sorrow's Furnace} - Beginning Areas of Sorrow's Furnace
snowdac: {Sorrow's Furnace} - Beginning Areas of Sorrow's Furnace

dungbsi: {Sorrow's Furnace} - Later Areas of Sorrow's Furnace (Specifically Final Assault quest)
dungbsa: {Sorrow's Furnace} - Later Areas of Sorrow's Furnace (Specifically Final Assault quest)
dungbsb: {Sorrow's Furnace} - Later Areas of Sorrow's Furnace (Specifically Final Assault quest)
dungbsc: {Sorrow's Furnace} - Later Areas of Sorrow's Furnace (Specifically Final Assault quest)

coasada: N/A

crysada: {Crystal Desert/Shiverpeak Instances} - Traveler's Vale, Anvil Rock, Lonar's Pass, Snake Dance, Witman's Folly, Diviner's Ascent, Skyward Reach, Vulture Drifts, The Scare

edenada: N/A
edenadb: N/A

fountna: N/A - Location Unknown, in the .ds file, Jeremy says this one is challenging to find.

geneada: {Maguuma Jungle Instances} - Tangle Root
geneadb: {Maguuma Jungle Instances} - Sage Lands, Silverwood, Tangle Root
geneadc: {Kryta Instances} - Nebo Terrace, Black curtain
geneadd: {Kryta/Crystal Desert Instances} - Stingray Stand, Watchtower Coast, Prophet's Path, Salt Flats

scorada: {Old Ascalon Instances} - Eastern Frontier, Old Ascalon
scoradb: {Old Ascalon Instances} - Regent Valley, The Breach

snowada: {Shiverpeak Instances} - Anvil Rock, Traveler's Vale, Talas Chute, Tasca's Demise

villaga: {Unknown} - Lion's Arch

volcada: {Ring of Fire Island Instances} - Perdition Rock, all Ring of Fire mission instances
volcadb: {Ring of Fire Island Instances} - Perdition Rock, all Ring of Fire mission instances

ambient: Small chance to occur anywhere in prophecies.

Factions
Work In Progress

Nightfall
Work In Progress

Eye of the North
Work In Progess

Level Specific Mods
All of the information on the level specific ones ( L<number>: ) should be listed inside the GuildWars.ds file. In case it isn't, here it is:
L16 - Divinity Coast
L55 - Lion's Arch
L161 - Wizard's Folly
L160 - Green Hills Country
L163 - The Barradin Estate
L164 - Ashfor Abbey
L197 - Shenzun Tunnels
L220 - Sunjiang District
L256 - Sunjiang District
L225 - Raisu Palace
L226 - Imperial Sanctum
L232 - Shadow's Passage
L241 - The Undercity
L274 - Dragon's Throat
L351 - Divine Path

___________________________________________

Really cool program here by Silent Coyote. It only has Prophecies mainly at the moment. It's virus free as far as I can tell.
GW DirectSong Playlist Editor - By Silent Coyote
___________________________________________

Feel free to leave any quesitons or comments!

Very nice guide. Do you mind If I put a link to your guide in my guide (found here - http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10069916) ?

now i can play the entire game with the original full version of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers song playing.

Excellent.

Wow, haha. Finally after a whole week this got posted.

@Eternal, sure why not!

I love the new word you invented:

Heh, awesome work though ^_^

nice thread thx

bookmarked for later use

If we can find someone to write a program that gives you more of a point and click gui editing the file, combined with your great guide data.

Again, great job, I also have this bookmarked and your made the ability for custom sound tracks much easier and have a lot of the data as what code does what.

Nice guide!

I was thinking about writing one by myself... in German though.

Here are a few addenda:

edenada: Plays in explorable areas of Ascalon, Pre-Searing
edenadb: Same as above

outglda: Zaishen Elite Arena, Team Arena, Heroes’ Ascent
outgldb: Great Temple of Balthazar, Team Arena, Random Arena

(outglda seems to play more often than outgldb)

If you’re looking for a complete list of levels (for specific music that should play in these areas only), you may find this useful: http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Guild...me_integration
This link was posted by MithranArkanere in this thread. Thank you!

If I find more tags (that actually work and follow a certain logic), I'll post them here.

EDIT: I still have to test it, but I think I heard outrfta:, and outrftb playing in Heroes' Ascent (Observer Mode, so I think they trigger in these arenas)

Cool list, it's useful to finally know what area each code corresponds to .

I wrote some code to parse the ds file and save it back out a while back when messing around with this. I could stick a GUI on it using this list. If your still interested pm me or something.

Great.I can't wait until the guide is done so that I can put ANY songs I want ^_^
Yay for having all of the touhou soundtrack :P

what are the songs called that are played in the frozen isle guild hall? Its also played in Olafstead.

wtb dethklok GW WOOHOO

Hey, I have a problem.

After downloading the Sorrows Furnace Pack, I try to instal it but this message pop-ups

What should I do?

Sounds like it's bouncing off your firewall. Make sure the directsong program is allowed to access the net, then try again.

And how I do for allowing the directsong program for accessing the net?

A few questions regarding Directsong.

How secure is this function? I see that once you install the directsong updates to your registry, and place the downloaded songs in a folder, you now have a small directsong icon under your 'audio' tab in Guild Wars. Is this a functionality that ANet has built in, or has Directsong modified your GW?

Does directsong constantly 'call home' from your computer while playing GW, or at all times? Is there a security risk if this is the case?

I'm very interested in using directsong, but I'm fearful that I'll open up my GW and PC to continuous connection with the directsong servers...

Any help would be appreciated!!

Sykoone already answered you. Make sure your firewall allows DirectSong to access the internet.

This is a one time deal. It only does it the first time you install DirectSong, and after that it is not touched. Guild Wars has built in the DirectSong capabilities into the game. All GuildWars does is check to see if it has DirectSong files and if it does, it reads them. The security risk, at this point, is less than even that of just playing Guild Wars itself.

I get this message when I try to open the GW DirectSong Playlist Editor :


Any help?

I checked the requirements, and I do have the following:

- .Net Framework 2.0
- a DirectSong pack

Hi Aerial,

That's quite strange that your getting that error as it means the .NET framework isn't installed yet apparently it is :S. Maybe your .NET install is corrupt? I notice there was a service pack for 2.0 it might help:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

I just double checked and I did compile it targeted for the 2.0 framework so you shouldn't need 1.1 or 3.0/3.5. It may be best to run Windows Update and just grab every version of .NET it suggest you download, can't hurt to have all of them . It's quite difficult to check for these things on my dev PC. If your still having problems after checking your .NET install is valid and up to date I will see if I can get hold of another comp and replicate your problem.

I'm sorry for refreshing the thread, but i have two qeustions:

1. why theres no dsData.xml file in my direct song directory, i guess i need to copy it from GW DirectSong Playlist Editor folder.
2. How to add some music into Costume Battles outpost and several areas? I tryed using that program (with coping xml file) and it just doesnt work.

Ok a little trivia question.

In de guildwars.ds file Jeremy Soule mentioned this:
# Extra bonus points if you can find where this is played in the game.
fountna:Guild Wars Special Edition Soundtrack/06_Prince_Rurik's_Theme.wma[1200]

Who knows where this is...can't find any clues on wiki's and on the board...

Would love to know the place though....

DUDE! that's awesome!

believe that the song was originally played for the 1st Presearing beta video. As for its location in the game, couldnt tell ya, that is if it actually is in the game.

I registered on DirectSong, but I can't find the Sorrow's Furnace pack. It only tells me I haven't purchased any music licenses when I go to the Downloads section. Did I miss something that I was supposed to do or is there anywhere else I can get the SF miniPak?

EDIT: I guess nevermind, I'd probably have to buy that Battle Pak thing, but if someone does know if there is somewhere where I could find it still or if there's another option let me know. ^_^

It looks like DirectSong no longer supports guildwars anymore....
I'm re-writing my DirectSong FAQ on how to get it back.

The only plus side of things..... is you can download any packs you own, and there a zip file (for each album) that in mp3 format, with no Digital rights management at 320 bit rate.

I can only download prophecies/eye of the north soundtrack and the battle pak.
There's no download option for my other orders on directsong. Great.

Here's a link to all of the direct song pack downloads:
http://www.directsong.com/wma/

You still have to purchase (or already own them) to authorize them on your pc.

If you login, -> My Past Order's -> Click on the "View this order" for each order, there will offer a download link to the drm free, 320kb MP3 version... which does nothing for intergrating in to guildwars.

Note: This is not a warez or illegal link. It's from there own knowledge base article: http://www.directsong.com/support/kn....php?article=1

I've noticed that unlike Prophecies and Factions, Nightfall and Eye of the North have certain music when you're running around exploring, and other music once you've engaged in combat with a group of enemies.

As an example from the default GuildWars.ds file, let's look at Eye of the North:
According to this, the series of enbabaX represents battle trigger music, where X ranges from a-f in the example above.

What I'm wondering is - do these triggers exist for Prophecies and Factions, and it's just that the Guild Wars team kept the music the same for exploring and fighting? Or does this not exist for Prophecies and Factions? If they do exist, what are the commands? The ds file only has them for Nightfall and EotN as far as I know. If I am wrong, please help point me in the right direction.

Thank you for your time.

I'm wondering something, does the game have a detection system with their soundtracks to make sure they are directsong versions? I would think if they came from any other source it would be counted against your account for breaking EULA and risk a permanent ban.

Considering the DirectSong icon changes orange as a notification that other songs are being played, thus having a clear indication that such an action is supported, I don't think it will be counted against your account especially since no distribution is taking place.