SoF2Map, it still has a practical purpose... EAX!

[Emon]

I e-mailed Raven the other day asking if they had an importer to use for Creative's EAGLE 2.0, the software used to add EAX support to JO levels. Ever wonder what those EAL files are for? They contain all the EAX information for the level.

 

Here's the reply I got from Raven:

 

We used the eagle too from Creative (well, actually they used it).

The tool imports LWO files which we created from the .map file. We used our sof2map bsp tool like this in a batch file on each file we wanted to import to eagle:

 

sof2map.exe -bsp -nocurves -nodetail -fakemap %1

sof2map.exe -bsp -nocurves -nodetail fakemap

sof2map.exe -lwo -worldonly fakemap.bsp

rename fakemap.lwo %1.lwo

 

-James

 

WOOHOO!

[WhiteShdw]

Cool, so with this you can compile your map in Q3map2(if you prefer) and then use sof2map to create a .lwo file?

And this .lwo file you then import into that Eagle 2.0 program to create the EAX files?

 

This is good info. Perhaps you can elaborate on the complete process(making a small tutorial?) in this thread. Then some of the moderators can add it to one of the sticky threads.

[Emon]

I'll get around to doing a tutorial soon. EAGLE 2 is pretty easy to use, and has tutorials with it. The hardest part is probably making your level sound realistic, meaning, don't overuse reverb and echoes.

[Grets Sirob]

Wait, what is an eax and lwo file?

I'm lost....

[Emon]

EAX is Creative's fancy audio hardware type thing that allows game designers to implement lots of advanced sound environments into games. Things like reverb, echoes, sound distortions in the distance, or sound reflecting off walls.

 

If you've got a Soundblaster Live or Audigy, you have EAX. The SB Live's EAX is a little older, so I don't think you get as many effects. Other cards like some Santa Cruz ones have the same EAX as the SB Live, possible the newer stuff.

 

Here's a link to it:

 

http://eax.creative.com/advanceeax.asp

 

A LWO file is a Lightwave Object. EAGLE 2.0 is the software Creative used to make the EAL files you see in the PK3. The EAL files tell EAX what to do in each environment. Using SoF2Map, you can export your map to an LWO file, allowing you to import it into EAGLE 2.0 and create those EAL files.

[MilesTeg]

hm...

Although I haven´t a Audigy (yet). I´m curious if you can use EAX Advanced HD with these sound files... (in the documentation it only mentions EAX 2.0)

 

But for myself (and my SB Live 5.1) EAX 2.0 is good enough. I will try to implement this in my newest map!

 

thx so much for this info!