Sound Clips - Revision history

Frionil Fang: /* Functional Spec */ removed the statement about it being unclear, looking at the viewer code it just kinda leave sit for the vorbis encoder to decide, and testing a stereo file with inverted channels produces silence -> 50-50 mix

2025-01-13T13:31:21Z

Functional Spec: removed the statement about it being unclear, looking at the viewer code it just kinda leave sit for the vorbis encoder to decide, and testing a stereo file with inverted channels produces silence -> 50-50 mix

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:31, 13 January 2025
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	* 1 channel (it's mono, after all) and 16 bits per sample.		* 1 channel (it's mono, after all) and 16 bits per sample.

	Also note that if you upload a stereo (or multi-channel) audio file, it ''will'' be converted to mono, but this might produce unexpected results in the audio ~~(it's not quite clear what exactly the SL Viewer ''does'', or if it's handled server-side)~~. To give you a much higher degree of control over how exactly the channels are mixed together — there are many different ways of doing so, some of which might not have existed yet when LL wrote the audio uploading code — you should best leave that to ''your'' audio software; in other words, you'll get better results by using the below-mentioned software to mix the channels into just one, than simply relying on SL's viewers and servers to do it (hint: it's the same as with textures; you get far sharper images if you resize them yourself to powers-of-two width and height before uploading).		Also note that if you upload a stereo (or multi-channel) audio file, it ''will'' be converted to mono by mixing the channels equally, but this might produce unexpected results in the audio. To give you a much higher degree of control over how exactly the channels are mixed together — there are many different ways of doing so, some of which might not have existed yet when LL wrote the audio uploading code — you should best leave that to ''your'' audio software; in other words, you'll get better results by using the below-mentioned software to mix the channels into just one, than simply relying on SL's viewers and servers to do it (hint: it's the same as with textures; you get far sharper images if you resize them yourself to powers-of-two width and height before uploading).

	=== Why mono? I want stereo! ===		=== Why mono? I want stereo! ===

Frionil Fang: specified how stereo is converted: a plain 50-50 mix and not just dropping an arbitrary channel

2025-01-13T13:19:24Z

specified how stereo is converted: a plain 50-50 mix and not just dropping an arbitrary channel

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:19, 13 January 2025
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	* {{mono\|WAV}} files in standard PCM format.		* {{mono\|WAV}} files in standard PCM format.
	* 16-bit with 44.1 kHz sample rate.		* 16-bit with 44.1 kHz sample rate.
	* Mono format. Stereo format will be automatically converted to mono.		* Mono format. Stereo format will be automatically converted to mono by mixing the channels.
	* 30 seconds or less in length. Or more precisely: 1,323,000 samples or less in length.		* 30 seconds or less in length. Or more precisely: 1,323,000 samples or less in length.
	}}		}}

Nexii Malthus: Specify in # samples as well to be more precise

2024-09-21T21:36:56Z

Specify in # samples as well to be more precise

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:36, 21 September 2024
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	* 16-bit with 44.1 kHz sample rate.		* 16-bit with 44.1 kHz sample rate.
	* Mono format. Stereo format will be automatically converted to mono.		* Mono format. Stereo format will be automatically converted to mono.
	* 30 seconds or less in length.		* 30 seconds or less in length. Or more precisely: 1,323,000 samples or less in length.
	}}		}}

Jenna Huntsman: Add Audio for SL converter for Windows to tools section

2024-09-20T10:34:48Z

Add Audio for SL converter for Windows to tools section

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:34, 20 September 2024
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	{{!}}-		{{!}}-
	{{!!}}		{{!!}}
			; [https://aiaicapta.in/audio-for-sl-converter/ Audio for SL]
			: A purpose-built program for converting audio files for use in Second Life. Provides format and sample rate conversion, automatic splitting for files longer than the max allowable for upload, and volume normalization.
	; [https://www.audacityteam.org/download/ Audacity]		; [https://www.audacityteam.org/download/ Audacity]
	: Audacity is a free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application software. Torley Linden did a video tutorial on creating and uploading sounds via Audacity, viewable at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBVmFafFatE		: Audacity is a free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application software. Torley Linden did a video tutorial on creating and uploading sounds via Audacity, viewable at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBVmFafFatE

Gwyneth Llewelyn: Add reference to KB article, as of today, plus a new section for mono vs. audio, some spelling/wikitext corrections, etc.

2023-11-23T21:24:23Z

Add reference to KB article, as of today, plus a new section for mono vs. audio, some spelling/wikitext corrections, etc.

Show changes

Madi Melodious: /* Test scripts */

2023-02-20T18:03:01Z

Test scripts

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:03, 20 February 2023
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	=== Test scripts ===		=== Test scripts ===
	[[Audio Test]]		[[Audio Test]]


	=== Relationship to other features ===		=== Relationship to other features ===

Madi Melodious at 17:50, 20 February 2023

2023-02-20T17:50:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:50, 20 February 2023
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	=== Functional Spec ===		=== Functional Spec ===
	* 10(.000) seconds '''maximum'''. [[Sound Clips#Discussion_for_future_improvements \| (STC)]]		* 30(.000) seconds '''maximum'''. [[Sound Clips#Discussion_for_future_improvements \| (STC)]]
	* PCM WAV format, 16-bit, 44.1kHz, mono / stereo (Downmixed to mono by the viewer at upload time)		* PCM WAV format, 16-bit, 44.1kHz, mono / stereo (Downmixed to mono by the viewer at upload time)

	Second Life supports in-world sound clips, which can be played to all residents within range. The maximum time any clip can be is 10 seconds, requiring longer sounds to be stitched together. There are various LSL functions that can be used to play sound clips, as well as a built-in system for gestures. Uploading a sound clip has a variable cost (see below), and the clip must be compatible with SL. As the Knowledge Base says, "Valid sounds are any .WAV file in standard PCM format, 16-bit/44.1kHz/mono or stereo (which will be converted to mono anyway), less than or exactly 10 seconds in length. (10.000 seconds is fine, but 10.001 will fail to upload; to the degree of one sample makes a difference.) Sounds cannot be saved as 8-bit, 22.05 kHz, or any other frequency. Sounds in other formats can be converted in most sound programs. There is currently no support for compression formats such as MP3."		Second Life supports in-world sound clips, which can be played to all residents within range. The maximum time any clip can be is 30 seconds, requiring longer sounds to be stitched together. There are various LSL functions that can be used to play sound clips, as well as a built-in system for gestures. Uploading a sound clip has a variable cost (see below), and the clip must be compatible with SL. As the Knowledge Base says, "Valid sounds are any .WAV file in standard PCM format, 16-bit/44.1kHz/mono or stereo (which will be converted to mono anyway), less than or exactly 30 seconds in length. (30.000 seconds is fine, but 30.001 will fail to upload; to the degree of one sample makes a difference.) Sounds cannot be saved as 8-bit, 22.05 kHz, or any other frequency. Sounds in other formats can be converted in most sound programs. There is currently no support for compression formats such as MP3."

	=== Pricing Model ===		=== Pricing Model ===
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	One of the best tools for audio conversion under Linux is the tool [https://ffmpeg.org ffmpeg.] It is a command line tool that can convert both video and audio from one supported format to other supported formats. Source code for ffmpeg can be downloaded from the link but most modern Linux distributions come with a modern version already installed or ready for download in their package management system. Consult your distribution's documents on how to install packages and what package management system is supported.		One of the best tools for audio conversion under Linux is the tool [https://ffmpeg.org ffmpeg.] It is a command line tool that can convert both video and audio from one supported format to other supported formats. Source code for ffmpeg can be downloaded from the link but most modern Linux distributions come with a modern version already installed or ready for download in their package management system. Consult your distribution's documents on how to install packages and what package management system is supported.

	The following command will use ffmpeg to convert a sound file to a Second Life compatible WAV file while cutting it just under 10 second segments for instant upload.		The following command will use ffmpeg to convert a sound file to a Second Life compatible WAV file while cutting it just under 30 second segments for instant upload.
	''<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">ffmpeg -i <filename> -f segment -segment_time 9.9 -ac 1 -ar 44100 <output filename>.%03d.wav</syntaxhighlight>		''<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">ffmpeg -i <filename> -f segment -segment_time 29.9 -ac 1 -ar 44100 <output filename>.%03d.wav</syntaxhighlight>

	Command line explanation as follows.		Command line explanation as follows.
	* '''-i <filename>''' The input file to convert.		* '''-i <filename>''' The input file to convert.
	* '''-f segment -segment_time 9.9''' Save the output file in 9.9 second segments. You can specify any time in segment_time option, including 10 for 10 seconds. But experimenting using 10 as a segment size sometimes produces file sizes to large for uploading. The 9.9 entry seems to be the perfect size for uploading ~~with out~~ issues.		* '''-f segment -segment_time 29.9''' Save the output file in 29.9 second segments. You can specify any time in segment_time option, including 30 for 30 seconds. But experimenting using 30 as a segment size sometimes produces file sizes to large for uploading. The 29.9 entry seems to be the perfect size for uploading without issues.
	* '''-ac 1''' Converts a multi channel, stereo, stream into a single, mono, output stream.		* '''-ac 1''' Converts a multi channel, stereo, stream into a single, mono, output stream.
	*'''-ar 44100''' Makes sure the output frequency is 44100 hz.		*'''-ar 44100''' Makes sure the output frequency is 44100 hz.
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	'''Batch conversion'''		'''Batch conversion'''
	<br> The following batch command can be used to convert a entire directory of mp3 files in to segmented wav files for direct upload.		<br> The following batch command can be used to convert a entire directory of mp3 files in to segmented wav files for direct upload.
	<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> $ for i in *.mp3; do ffmpeg -i ${i} -f segment -segment_time 9.9 -ac 1 -ar 44100 ${i/mp3/}%03d.wav ; done </syntaxhighlight>		<syntaxhighlight lang="bash"> $ for i in *.mp3; do ffmpeg -i ${i} -f segment -segment_time 29.9 -ac 1 -ar 44100 ${i/mp3/}%03d.wav ; done </syntaxhighlight>

	'''Windows'''		'''Windows'''
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	[[Audio Test]]		[[Audio Test]]

	~~=== Discussion for future improvements ===~~
	* Linden Lab is implementing (or already have implemented) support server-side and client-side for uploading clips of 30 seconds; however, it is unknown when (or with what restrictions) this feature will become available.{{Citation needed\|date=January 2023\|reason=A link to a transcript, or a forum post, would be most appreciated!}}

	=== Relationship to other features ===		=== Relationship to other features ===

Gwyneth Llewelyn: /* Discussion for future improvements */ fix wrong parameters on citation needed

2023-02-15T13:03:47Z

Discussion for future improvements: fix wrong parameters on citation needed

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:03, 15 February 2023
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	=== Discussion for future improvements ===		=== Discussion for future improvements ===
	* Linden Lab is implementing (or already have implemented) support server-side and client-side for uploading clips of 30 seconds; however, it is unknown when (or with what restrictions) this feature will become available.{{Citation needed\|date=January 2023\|A link to a transcript, or a forum post, would be most appreciated!}}		* Linden Lab is implementing (or already have implemented) support server-side and client-side for uploading clips of 30 seconds; however, it is unknown when (or with what restrictions) this feature will become available.{{Citation needed\|date=January 2023\|reason=A link to a transcript, or a forum post, would be most appreciated!}}

	=== Relationship to other features ===		=== Relationship to other features ===

Gwyneth Llewelyn: /* Discussion for future improvements */ very minor grammar/spelling fixes + citation needed

2023-01-27T23:47:46Z

Discussion for future improvements: very minor grammar/spelling fixes + citation needed

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:47, 27 January 2023
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	=== Discussion for future improvements ===		=== Discussion for future improvements ===
	* Linden Lab ~~are~~ (or already have) ~~implemented~~ support ~~serverside~~ and ~~clientside~~ for uploading clips of 30 seconds; however it is unknown when (or with what restrictions) this feature will become available.		* Linden Lab is implementing (or already have implemented) support server-side and client-side for uploading clips of 30 seconds; however, it is unknown when (or with what restrictions) this feature will become available.{{Citation needed\|date=January 2023\|A link to a transcript, or a forum post, would be most appreciated!}}

	=== Relationship to other features ===		=== Relationship to other features ===

Gwyneth Llewelyn: Replaced with

2023-01-27T23:43:26Z

Replaced <source> with <syntaxhighlight>

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:43, 27 January 2023
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	{{!!}}		{{!!}}
	; [https://www.audacityteam.org/download/ Audacity]		; [https://www.audacityteam.org/download/ Audacity]
	: Audacity is a free and open-source digital ~~audio~~ editor and recording application software. Torley Linden did a video tutorial on creating and uploading sounds via Audacity, viewable at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBVmFafFatE		: Audacity is a free and open-source digital audsio editor and recording application software. Torley Linden did a video tutorial on creating and uploading sounds via Audacity, viewable at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBVmFafFatE
	; [https://community.ardour.org/download?architecture=x86_64&type=compiled Ardour]		; [https://community.ardour.org/download?architecture=x86_64&type=compiled Ardour]
	: Ardour is a free hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. It may be more suitable for users familiar with audio editing & DAWs in general.		: Ardour is a free hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. It may be more suitable for users familiar with audio editing & DAWs in general.
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	The following command will use ffmpeg to convert a sound file to a Second Life compatible WAV file while cutting it just under 10 second segments for instant upload.		The following command will use ffmpeg to convert a sound file to a Second Life compatible WAV file while cutting it just under 10 second segments for instant upload.
	''<~~source~~ lang="bash">ffmpeg -i <filename> -f segment -segment_time 9.9 -ac 1 -ar 44100 <output filename>.%03d.wav </~~source~~>		''<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">ffmpeg -i <filename> -f segment -segment_time 9.9 -ac 1 -ar 44100 <output filename>.%03d.wav</syntaxhighlight>

	Command line explanation as follows.		Command line explanation as follows.