Topic

Things that are loud

It seems to me that the Rube is still *way* too loud. The spinning wheel is better than it was, but also seems too loud. I wonder if the devs, blessed be they, are measuring the total or average audio volume of the effects, and if they have a rule for how loud things should be.

But, you know, that's the kind of thing I wonder.

Posted 15 months ago by Plurp Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • The music blocks were also very loud, and its consider a sfx sound. Can we adjust the music block volume?
    Posted 15 months ago by Bakasora Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I sort of see the volume of the Rube as being like an alarm clock.  It has to be loud enough to wake you up!  I worry that if it were the same volume as the background music that I wouldn't realize the Rube was on my street.
    Posted 15 months ago by Varekai Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have to agree with the Rube as an alarm clock. If you don't hear his approach you lose the chance to trade for things worth as much as 5000 currants!
    Posted 15 months ago by Liza Throttlebottom Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I love the Rube music! Even the volume. I can't get enough of it, really. Especially when he's looking for me. (I love you Rube!)
    Posted 15 months ago by emdot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hey, thanks Plurp.  The intention was to be able to pull everything and master it all-together, but game mechanics took priority to building a very functional sound tool.  I believe it won't be long now.

    I think most of the sounds got mixed on the low end, since at the beginning there wasn't any volume slider for sfx and music.  Some of the music like the Rube and Spinning Wheel were put in the game at the level that most music is delivered at.  You might also find a lot of the music blocks to be on the loud side.

    Most sound effects hover around -10db RMS.  Ones that get played often or have the potential to be biting are closer to -13 to 15db.  Most of the ambient music is between -25 and -30db, which is probably too quiet.  No that we have volume sliders, it might make sense to bring most stuff up to match those things that you're finding too loud now!  The main thing is that it remains consistent.

    When the dust settles from the release, we will be building a tool that will allow us to do batch uploads of sound files, at which time the sounds and music will be able to go through a normal mastering process.  The numbers only tell you so much, as some tones just sound louder than others.

    But!  What I can be doing for now, is pull individual tracks and sounds like the ones you mentioned and mix them a bit lower.  So anything else you notice.... keep taking notes!! Thanks!
    Posted 15 months ago by Danny Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah, I get really excited to hear the Rube's theme. I always hope he's coming to trade me a Cubimal Box for something cheap like a shovel. 
    Posted 15 months ago by Folderol Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Whoa!  I missed the other comments before I posted mine!  So, not everybody thinks the Rube sound is too loud.  It always surprises me, but I love that track by Xavier! 

    The ambient music cuts out when the Rube music plays, so maybe we can split the difference.  Rube music volume has been brought up before.

    Again Bakasora, what we'll probably do is get the levels up to match the music blocks and such, and you can adjust your volume from there.
    Posted 15 months ago by Danny Subscriber! | Permalink
  • When I was newer, the Rube music actually scared me a few times because of how loud it is. But now, I absolutely love it and I get very excited (like most of us do?) when I hear it. I also like to stop & wait for the trade to go down if he isn't there to talk to me, and ask the person who traded what they got. (I'm a curious kind of person & I get really happy when people do well in the game.)

    Now the Pickle scream on the other hand.....

    -C.J.
    Posted 15 months ago by Carnivale Justice Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think the Rube is at a good level as is.  It's very important to be able to hear him when he enters.  If it were at a lower level, some people might miss it.  Some people already miss him...  I don't know if the current level has something to do with them missing him or not, but I think it'd be great if everyone got to trade with the Rube as much as possible.  (My .02 as a professional audio engineer and technician.)  Thanks.  ;-)  
    Posted 15 months ago by Reba Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Okay, here's another thing- if the Rube music is meant to announce his arrival, what about deaf people/people with no speakers?

    Would it make sense to flash something like 'The Rube is Here!' on top of the screen when he arrives, or is that overkill? I think it might be funny to have a garish sign blink on and off :P
    Posted 15 months ago by Cefeida Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Cefeida: love that idea.  One with running ball lights all around it, like an old-fashioned carnival sign. :)
    Posted 15 months ago by Lelu Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Having a visual indicator of the Rube on the street has been brought up in the Ideas forum - especially for those with hearing problems or even those who need to have sounds very low or muted for other reasons. 
    Please do this!  =)
    Posted 15 months ago by Zany Serendipity Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yes, some of us don't hear all that well, or at all. Visual cues for things would help make the game more hearing-impaired friendly. :)
    Posted 15 months ago by Tibbi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • A visual cue would help for those of use playing on mute to not disturb others (not that I play at work or anything........)
    Posted 15 months ago by matrix Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I feel that all the sound effect volumes are perfect for the effect they're trying to achieve. When the Rube music comes on I get excited, and when the pickle screams I laugh. I actually find myself turning the volume slider all the way up:)
    Posted 15 months ago by Muncey Mango Subscriber! | Permalink
  • We informally discussed providing visual cues for the hearing impaired and those that play with the sound off, and it was agreed that we should address this.  It will be addressed formally once the storm caused by releasing the game subsides. Thank you for pointing this out.
    Posted 15 months ago by Danny Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Danny, is there a possibility of having a downloadable pack with all of the sound effects from the game in .wav or .mp3 formats? Or at least some of the sounds?  The app developer page has a graphics pack, but a sound pack would be immensely useful as well.
    Posted 15 months ago by DJ Plaid Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You mean like a flashing "DER RUBE IST HIER!!"? I'd like that.

    I like the Rube music the way it is--it doesn't seem too loud. It's like the ice cream truck. But it wouldn't kill me if it were quieter either.
    Posted 15 months ago by Downburst Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Nice to see someone to respond to these complaints Danny!  I love the RUbe music but in general the special sound fx are way too loud.  I think the meditation ball was fixed (dunno, hate meditation ^^;), and the new screen ding was fixed to the point of uselessness, but the musicblocks remain particularly painful.
    Posted 15 months ago by FlirtyvonSexenhaven Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Last time I actually saw the text Rube notification before I heard the music, because I was futzing with a YouTube song in the background.  Thanks!

    Could you also add text for things that show up in rainbow alerts?  I can usually guess what they were at this point, but when I've been playing for a little while and the computer starts chugging, the rainbows disappear before the lettering animation is complete.
    Posted 15 months ago by Biff Beefbat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ok. Rube and music blocks have been dropped about 5db.  Thanks for the feedback.  I'll double check the meditation music.  We'll probably come up with something else for the new street sound.

    Biff, you might want make a bug for the rainbow thing. 
    Posted 15 months ago by Danny Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Now that is service!!  :) :) :)
    Posted 15 months ago by FlirtyvonSexenhaven Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yep - very responsive devs, as always!
    Posted 14 months ago by Plurp Subscriber! | Permalink