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Monkey Island Special Editions coming to stores (in Europe)

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 Laserschwert
09-13-2011, 2:47 PM
#101
The concept art viewer though shows the MI2:SE cover with a better face on LeChuck:

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/1051/56678499.jpg)
 makabro
09-16-2011, 7:29 PM
#102
Guys i'm messing with that audio file: "default.aws" (included in the Launcher.pak) and i did this: remaned it from *.aws -> *.ogg, converted it from *.ogg -> *.ogg but did not cut it. It has awesome quality!!!. Does any of you cut it in tracks?

Edit: i forget to mention that i used Easy CD-DA Extractor [Ultimate] in the process of convertion, it did a great job!!

Edit 2: they DEFINITELY are the "master tracks" of the games, the trumpets are simply GREAT!!
 Laserschwert
09-16-2011, 10:05 PM
#103
They can't be the "master tracks", as those wouldn't be compressed ;-)

I wonder though if Benny could write an automated tool to split the big file, giving the snippets the correct track names (through a text file which contains timings and titles).
 sinus
09-17-2011, 4:17 AM
#104
I would rather have an compressed-by-Lucas version than a transcoded-by-user version. :)
 Laserschwert
09-17-2011, 4:56 AM
#105
Well, you don't have a choice ;-)

And the quality of these is really outstanding.
 sinus
09-17-2011, 5:59 AM
#106
No I meant I prefer extracted as-is versions rather than transcoded from-to.
 Laserschwert
09-17-2011, 6:33 AM
#107
Yeah, but in this case the "extracted as-is" version is a single 137 minute long file, with the tracks in random order.

Splitting it up into the appropriate tracks doesn't require a re-transcode (or you'll transcode them to FLAC).

Edit:

Opening the "default.awb" file with a text editor, it looks like the order isn't all random after all:

MI1_01_TheGoldGuy
MI1_02_Introductions
MI1_03_TheLookout
MI1_04_ChapterScreen
MI1_05_TheScummBar
MI1_06_LeChucksTheme
MI1_07_TheShopkeeper
MI1_08_MeleeIsland
MI1_09_TheFettuciniBros
MI1_10_GuybrushElaine
MI1_11_TheVoodooShop
MI1_12_KidnapGovernor
MI1_13_StansVessels
MI1_14_MeleeForest
MI1_15_Meanwhile
MI1_16_TheJourney
MI1_17_MonkeyIsland
MI1_18_GhostShipShuffle
MI1_19_CannibalVillage
MI1_20_OrganPrelude
MI1_21_ClosingThemes
MI1_22_BonusCue2
MI2_14_RumRogersJr
MI2_15_JojoTheMonkey
MI2_16_BootyIsland
MI2_17_KioskAndCook
MI2_18_MardiGrasFishFry
MI2_19_KateStansCoffins
MI2_20_ElainesMapTiff
MI2_21_DemBonesAndDream
MI2_22_WallyIsKidnapped
MI2_23_RoomsOfUglyBone
MI2_24_TortureChamber
MI2_25_DinkyIsland
MI2_26_TheVoodooDolly
MI2_27_TheTunnels
MI2_28_BigWhoopFinale
MI2_01_HeyYouGuys
MI2_02_ItStartedOnScabb
MI2_03_TheLargoEmbargo
MI2_04_WoodtickSuite
MI2_05_TheCemetery
MI2_06_TheHouseOfMojo
MI2_07_PokingLargo
MI2_08_CaptainDread
MI2_09_PhattIslandArrival
MI2_10_TheBoneMaster
MI2_11_GovPhattsMansion
MI2_12_TheGamblersClub
MI2_13_BeyndTheWatrfall

It's only the first half of the MI2 soundtrack that's moved to the end of the tracks... whyever. Maybe Benny might be able to get the exact split points from these file and automate it somehow?
 sinus
09-17-2011, 7:15 AM
#108
Finally I found the MI-SE explorer. :D Sorry!
(Thanks benny btw.)


Opening the default.aws with audacity shows a selection window with different streams (recognizing them as Ogg Vorbis) and imports the selection as separate stereo tracks, which makes exporting very easy! :) (no need to edit)

The selection window looks something like this ...

Index[00] Version[0] Channels [2] Rate[44100]
Index[01] Version[0] Channels [2] Rate[44100]
...
Index[0f] Version[0] Channels [2] Rate[44100]
...

(The index numbers are hexa-decimal.)

(foobar won't play it. and eac3to "could not detect the format of the source file".)

I wish there was some way to really extract these streams without re-encoding or at least find out the quality setting.
 sinus
09-17-2011, 7:44 AM
#109
doing the math:

137 minutes of music = 190 MB
8220 seconds = 1556480 kb
1 second = 189,35 kb

My default.aws is 182 MB (?) which leads me to
1497116.46875 kilobits and 182 kbps which is approximately ogg vorbis -q5.7 ...
 Laserschwert
09-17-2011, 7:46 AM
#110
Oh, haven't tried it with Audacity... good to know it recognizes the splits :)

But saving the files as straight WAVs shouldn't result in any quality loss, or does it?

EDIT
Filesize in the properties: 191,630,908 Bytes
So yeah, 187,139 kB or 182,75 MB

All is well :)
 bgbennyboy
09-17-2011, 7:47 AM
#111
Only just seen this thanks to a pm from Laser.
My friend has the cd so I'll borrow that and have a look into the music today.
 sinus
09-17-2011, 7:56 AM
#112
But saving the files as straight WAVs shouldn't result in any quality loss, or does it?

IT DOES




... in a loss of disk space. :D
 Laserschwert
09-17-2011, 7:57 AM
#113
Then use FLAC ;)
 bgbennyboy
09-17-2011, 11:04 AM
#114
I've got it, had a look and it looks simple enough.

At some point I'll update Monkey Island Explorer to support the .awb files but for now I'll just knock together a quick dumper with everything hardcoded to get the ogg's out with the correct filenames.
 Laserschwert
09-17-2011, 11:13 AM
#115
Awesome!!!
 Alex IDV
09-17-2011, 11:23 AM
#116
Indeed. Thanks a lot, Bgbennyboy!
 sinus
09-17-2011, 1:38 PM
#117
dumper

Which means without re-encoding, right? :)



btw: Just played the Secret SE for the first time ever. and on the top of monkey island (where you can suffer a sierra-like fake death) the entire sky is missing, says "texture not found" ...

anyone had a similar problem?
 bgbennyboy
09-17-2011, 6:18 PM
#118
Done it. It took a bit longer than expected because I did it properly rather than make a quick brute force dumper. It parses the .awb file and then dumps the music from the .aws file, its all automatic - just point it to launcher.pak and it'll take care of the rest.

Monkey Island Music Extractor (http://quick.mixnmojo.com)

http://quick.mixnmojo.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/MIMusicExtractorBig.png)
 bgbennyboy
09-17-2011, 6:19 PM
#119
Which means without re-encoding, right? :)


Yes :)
 Laserschwert
09-17-2011, 7:14 PM
#120
You, sir, are a genius! :)
 bgbennyboy
09-17-2011, 10:02 PM
#121
Thanks to Laserschwert I've updated the program to include tagging. All music files are now tagged with name/artist/album/trackno information, filenames are improved and the music is dumped to separate folders for each game.

Many thanks to Laserschwert for providing the tags.

Get it here. (http://quick.mixnmojo.com/new-program-released-monkey-island-music-extractor)
 sinus
09-18-2011, 3:54 AM
#122
You, sir, are a genius! :)

Indeed! Thanks!!!!
 Laserschwert
09-18-2011, 12:56 PM
#123
While the soundtracks on the Collection are almost complete, I've got three more tracks that should be included as well, to make it even more "almost complete":

The Secret of Monkey Island - SE:

Monkey Island Main Theme (Menu Version)
This is a version of the main theme without the flute, which is heard in the menu of the game.

Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge - SE:

Monkey Island 2 Main Theme (Game Version)
The version of the main theme in the game is slightly different (different slap bass, different drums, ...), which I like a bit better than the album version.

Woodtick Suite (Extended)
Since Jesse's version on the album leaves out a bit of the themes, this is a version of Woodtick including every second of music from it (except for some of the transitions, of course).

You can get the tracks HERE (http://www.mediafire.com/?zb96x7izx44r3yb).
 sinus
09-18-2011, 2:42 PM
#124
Thanks again for the dumper tool. :)
Listening to it now with foobar - love seeing the VBR meter exceed MP3's 320 kbps. :)
And with this nice tool, it was possible to retain some little peaks over 0dB.


LEC/Harlin really should get together with LaLaLand Records. :)
 rnbteddybear
09-19-2011, 6:54 AM
#125
if it's not too much to ask, can someone make itunes cover artworks for both special editions? pretty please with cherry on top? :) and possibly for the collection also? thanks in advance. :thmbup1:
 Alex IDV
09-19-2011, 7:56 AM
#126
if it's not too much to ask, can someone make itunes cover artworks for both special editions? pretty please with cherry on top? :) and possibly for the collection also? thanks in advance. :thmbup1:

I don't know how Itunes works, but I can make a CD album-like cover, no problem.
 Alex IDV
09-19-2011, 10:55 AM
#127
 Laserschwert
09-19-2011, 6:05 PM
#128
Why not make them the same size? Also, please use this one for MI2 (click for big):

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2734/mi2seo.jpg) (http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/620/mi2se.png)

Much better LeChuck and Guybrush, I'd say. I'm really not sure, why they chose to use the other one for promo... this one looks so much more refined...
 Alex IDV
09-19-2011, 6:17 PM
#129
I... do not know why I didn't make them the same size. And yeah, that version of the cover is way better than the final one. I guess they found it too wacky? I'll make a new, bigger version of the album art, using the "wacky" cover tomorrow.
 Thrik
09-19-2011, 7:22 PM
#130
I really wish they hadn't toned down the final cover, the original draft has so much more emotion whereas the end result just lacks spirit. Even the crow looks less dead!
 ThunderPeel2001
09-19-2011, 8:30 PM
#131
So, can I just confirm... The "only" extras in this new DVD set are:

Extra artwork from the SE
Soundtrack
Movie storyboards (which is awesome!)

No more commentary stuff?
 Gabez
09-20-2011, 7:16 AM
#132
Nice work, Alex IDV.

I decided to have a quick go as well and here are my crappy results:

http://mixnmojo.com/temp/2011/Image1.jpg) http://mixnmojo.com/temp/2011/Image3.jpg)

Not good for printing, obviously, though maybe someone will want those for iTunes. I seem to have gone a bit jolly with the filters but oh well.

Also, about the two MI2 covers... is it the original draft? Looks like the second version was done later since why would they take OUT detail, like on LeChuck's hat? Maybe an artist had some more time to work on it after it was released.
 Thrik
09-20-2011, 7:34 AM
#133
Yeah now you mention it it does look like an improved version. There are various touch-ups that are easy to miss but seem like they'd have been done afterwards, such as making Guybrush's shirt be tucked in more like it appears in-game, the hat, etc. Not mention the faces carry actual emotion rather than seeming a bit vacant.

You're probably right: they ran out of time and put out the first version. The artist probably hoped he'd have time to get the newer version put through the channels to replace it but it never happened.
 Laserschwert
09-20-2011, 9:33 AM
#134
So, can I just confirm... The "only" extras in this new DVD set are:

Extra artwork from the SE
Soundtrack
Movie storyboards (which is awesome!)

No more commentary stuff?

Unless the in-game commentary has been beefed up (which I doubt), there isn't any new commentary material.

The artwork from the two SEs is around 60 pieces per game at very high resolutions, as are the movie story boards (each image alone is about HD size, the full pages including text around twice the size horizontally and vertically).

The soundtracks are basically flawless at very high bitrates (and thanks to Benny easily extractable).

So, yep, that's it.

To me the soundtracks alone are worth those 15 Euros.
 Alex IDV
09-20-2011, 11:32 AM
#135
I'm linking to them, since they are quite large.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9313667/Box%20Art/Albumart/MI1-B-Albumart.png)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9313667/Box%20Art/Albumart/MI2-B-Albumart.png)

Not all that impressive, but it works I guess
 iglock
09-25-2011, 5:48 PM
#136
Does anyone know if you can launch the collection without having the disc inserted (i.e. from a virtually mounted backup disc?).
If you can't it's not too big of a deal- I'm just a bit OCD about having everything on my hard drive.

Thanks. :thmbup1:
 Alex IDV
09-26-2011, 10:24 AM
#137
I don't know, but that would be convenient. I'll check it out and get back to you on it later.
 elTee
09-26-2011, 10:33 AM
#138
If you guys want a no-CD crack for the game that's fine, but please don't post a link to one on the forum - it's too much of a legal issue sadly. PMs should be okay though, between people who own the game :)
 Teeth
09-26-2011, 10:20 PM
#139
Woodtick Suite (Extended)
Since Jesse's version on the album leaves out a bit of the themes, this is a version of Woodtick including every second of music from it (except for some of the transitions, of course).

Ooh, was this inspired by my Woodtick Suite? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpVF2t39jEc) The way it's put together is very similar. :D
 Eduardo
09-27-2011, 12:08 AM
#140
Concerning the movie storyboards, is one of them flawed?

Concept Art 16 (Storyboard page 18) doesn't have the page number or any text next to the storyboard images.
 The Silent Man
09-27-2011, 7:52 AM
#141
I've updated the program to include tagging. All music files are now tagged with name/artist/album/trackno information, filenames are improved and the music is dumped to separate folders for each game.

I sincerely want to thank you for creating this extractor. THANKS A LOT!
I will use it immediately as soon as I get the PC version, I just finished playing the buggy PS3 version.
 Laserschwert
09-27-2011, 3:32 PM
#142
Ooh, was this inspired by my Woodtick Suite? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpVF2t39jEc) The way it's put together is very similar. :D
I've just used the themes in the order they appear in the album version... and thus there weren't so many ways left to combine them ;)
 Sven_Q45
10-02-2011, 4:51 PM
#143
I pre-ordered it on September 7th before the vacation but it still isn´t here. :(
 iglock
10-15-2011, 8:44 AM
#144
OK, so I received the Special Edition Collection today and have just installed it and tried launching it from a backup (using ImgBurn to create a backup .iso and Virtual CloneDrive to mount it).

It didn't work and apparently the game uses SecuROM (I hadn't realised beforehand), which I'm a bit annoyed by.

Does anyone know how to remove/bypass the SecuROM DRM? Not sure about the legalities (it should be fine I guess- I own the game after all), but PM me if this kind of thing isn't allowed to be discussed on the forums.

Thanks again (and the music extractor is brilliant btw :D).
 sinus
11-27-2011, 2:08 PM
#145
Here's a little custom cover for the Special Edition Collection soundtracks ...

http://zeitgestalten.org/misec.jpeg) (http://zeitgestalten.org/covers/misec.png)

By clicking the image you'll get a version with higher resolution (~ 220 dpi).
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