I have downloaded many music mods, and though generally high in quality, few are dedicated to one time period and none capture the essence of a single nation and culture, but instead aim at accommodating the music of many nations and periods. I'm a stickler for historical immersion, and needless to say I got tired of hearing Scottish highlander songs and 19th century symphonies while playing as the glorious nation of France under Louis XIV. Fortunately I have always been passionate about Baroque music so it was not difficult to consolidate and integrate my collection of French composers. I hope you enjoy it!

Change log (1.1) 3/23/10:

• Naval battle music completely renovated
  
• Two land battle marches replaced with more fitting pieces
  
• New, more efficient file format -> see install instructions

Change log (1.2) 4/18/10:

Details:


Outline:

Land battle music renovated:

• Three better marches added
• Technical issues fixed- no more skipping out in the middle of tracks (as can be controlled... this may still happen as an unfixable sound bug with ETW), sound quality improved (fewer pops and clicks), needless silent parts of tracks at beginning and end deleted for smaller pack file size
  

Other adjustments:

• Two new loading screen pieces
• One new campaign piece
  

Install Instructions (v1.2):

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=M3H7ND25

To install, simply download the above archive and extract vive_le_roi_music.pack to your data folder, overwriting old versions if necessary, and then activate using the mod manager.

Compatibility:

Tested and compatible with vanilla and Darth Mod (DMUC) but should be compatible with all mods that don't alter music.

Credits:

• Major thanks to jarnomiedema for his direct help and input!
• La♔De♔Da♔Brigadier Graham for his advice.
• Maximinus Thrax for his music suggestions.
  
• LtChambers for his Pack File Manager, without which this mod would not be possible.
  
• And of course, the French Baroque composers for their brilliant works!

Don't hesitate to post if you have feedback or are experiencing problems!

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

I like the idea, but I have a question:
What type of files have you used, which means: lossless (flac, ...) or lossy (MP3, ...) files?

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

Isabelxxx said:

I like the idea, but I have a question:
What type of files have you used, which means: lossless (flac, ...) or lossy (MP3, ...) files?

Click to expand...

MP3.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

Ok, I'm looking for something different... Flac or AAC with 6 channels, something not possible I think if you are aware that no one has this type of sound system or the time for uploading up to 4 GB.

Anyway, I will try it the next week. It seems interesting.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

Yes please do. I probably should have released this before NTW was released... but I'm sure there are still some ancien régime diehards around who may appreciate it.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

I was looking forward to downloading this and giving it a try, but unfortunately megaupload is indicating that this file is 'temporarily unavailable for download'..

Could you perhaps upload it somewhere else as well? Thanks in advance!

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

jarnomiedema said:

I was looking forward to downloading this and giving it a try, but unfortunately megaupload is indicating that this file is 'temporarily unavailable for download'..

Could you perhaps upload it somewhere else as well? Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

This could just be an anomaly... it appears to be working for me and according to Megaupload there have been 13 other downloads so far. Regardless, if your problem persists I could upload it at Filefront, though given the size it would have to be in two parts.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

From what I can tell, the download seems to be working now..

Nevertheless, it's probably a good idea to upload it somewhere else as well in case it happens to other people..

It's downloading now and I probably won't have time to test it out until tomorrow, but I'm definitely looking forward to it.. For some reason Baroque music combined with Empire: TW sounds like a match made in heaven..

Are you also planning to make similar mods for other factions or perhaps an all-factions encompassing baroque music mod?

For some reason I think this might be fantastic in-game:

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

I think I will wait to see if there are any problems with its current state before uploading the mod to other sites. Some volume levels may need to be adjusted, and I may add music for naval battles.

Depending on feedback I could release a similar mod for the British faction, once I'm completely finished with this one. As I said I'm trying to keep it faction-specific... there are already several good baroque/classical music mods with broad scopes.

In any case do remember to leave feedback once you get around to trying it out!

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

Well, I tried it out and I have a few suggestions / ideas / comments, etc.. All with the best of intentions, so please don't take it as some kind of harsh criticism..

First of all: I'm going to apologize in advance for the length of this post.. Secondly: I must say that the selection of music is very good indeed. It definitely immerses you in the atmosphere of the 18th century and certainly evokes that feeling even more when you play as France.

However, there are three pieces of music that stand out as a bit strange: the first is "La Marche des Mousquetaires Noirs". The second is the "Te Deum". The Mousquetaires Noirs sounds strange because (unlike the other pieces of music) it's a bit pompous and in a seemingly completely different style. The "Te Deum" actually made me laugh while I was playing the game, because the game switched between one of those awesome baroque marches you've included to the "Te Deum", just when my units opened fire (which is usually the moment when the music switches). I immediately thought of the opening tune of the Eurovision song contest, and all seriousness had gone out of the battle..

The last one is the main menu music: for some reason a sung version of Vive le Roi doesn't seem to work with the epic feel that the main menu music is supposed to convey (at least, I thought so).

Maybe these are personal preferences, but I decided to replace those three files with the following:

In place of the Te Deum I used Lully's "Ballet de la Nuit" Ouverture, certainly less known as the Te Deum, but still incredibly powerful and therefore just as effective:


In place of Mousequetaires Noirs, I used Lully's "Air pour les Matelots jouant des Trompettes Marines" from Xerxes. As far as I'm concerned, another suitably epic piece of music for use in battle:


For the main menu music, I used "Vive Henri IV", from this video, without the sung part that's added to the end:


Also, with regards to the way the mod is structured: by modifying the original patch.pack and sounds_music.pack, you're probably chasing away a lot of potential downloaders, who don't want to go through the hassle of either backing up their originals or turning your mod into a seperate mod or patch .pack file. Furthermore, by deleting the files emp_mus_loadscreen_01_v1.00.mp3 and emp_mus_loadscreen_02_v1.00.mp3 from patch.pack, your mod is a little bit tricky to turn into a mod / patch file for inexperienced modders.

What I did to overcome the above problem and turn this mod into an actual mod file is to replace the above mentioned files with two .mp3's of complete silence. That way, the files are still replaced by the modding system, but don't play anything at all anymore, except those files you created to replace the ambient sounds!

So with a bit of tweaking, the music is now a seperate mod rather than files that you have to replace, the loading screen music works and I added the above mentioned pieces of music. If you're interested, I can upload it somewhere so you can check it out..

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

Your input is much appreciated! I was wavering over using those two battle pieces, and I agree that they're best replaced. Your suggestions are great; however, the one problem I do have is with the length... one and a half or two minute pieces on loop can get monotonous, especially in a prolonged battle. That was one advantage of the Te Deum and Mousquetaires Noirs, but on reflection, I think yours are better choices.

It's a matter of opinion but I'd rather keep the main menu song as it is... the main menu isn't really "in-game" so I think I'm allowed a little creative license here .

About the format... I had actually imagined my format being easier for installation purposes, but your format would reduce the size of the download considerably and the potential for conflict with other mods, so I'm all for changing it. Please do upload it though! I might use an audio editor to cut down on the size of some files, and increase the volume of the campaign music. I think I'll also add music for naval battles (and am willing to take suggestions from you or anyone else on this!).

Thank you very much again . Official credit will certainly be given when the next version is released.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

Here you go: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JX3I9M28

It's roughly 450 MB, fully packed. The changes I made, including the main menu screen music, have been included. Enjoy and good luck with the further modding!

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

[DEL]Ironically I'm now getting the same error you got with my download earlier... [/DEL]

Nevermind, it's working fine now. Thanks once more. I hope you don't mind if I use that as the template for future versions? Credit will be given of course, as promised.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod

I don't mind at all.. Haha, I probably wouldn't have uploaded it if I had minded you using it.. All about helping out a fellow modder here..

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

Version 1.1 released! Read the original post for details.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

Awesome! I like the baroque music too. Thanks and ++ Rep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81bxIH9uvhk&feature=related

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

carricanta said:

Awesome! I like the baroque music too. Thanks and ++ Rep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81bxIH9uvhk&feature=related

Click to expand...

Thank you! And yes, that is one of the pieces (loading screen, I believe) included in the mod . In fact I used several of Lully's works, considering he was certainly among the most prolific of the French Baroque composers.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

Excellent work! This would probably be among the first mods to install after buying ETW. Hope you don't mind if I'll list some of my favorites works - the first three could be already in your pack.

Lully - La Marche des Combattants
Lully - Marche pour le Turenne Regiment
François-André Danican Philidor - Marche du Regiment de la Calotte

Marin Marais - Marche pour le matelots
Louis de Caix d'Hervelois - La Mouguichet

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

The first and third marches are indeed already included. I'll keep the others in mind for future versions!

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

This is good too. Marche des mousquetaires du roi (first tune) (Lully).

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

Wow! I can't use E: T.W. at present, so thank you for making these into MP3 files, my friend. Royalist propaganda is all the more sweet when disguised in game music.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

Monarchist said:

Wow! I can't use E: T.W. at present, so thank you for making these into MP3 files, my friend. Royalist propaganda is all the more sweet when disguised in game music.

Click to expand...

I thought you might appreciate it!

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

Wow, although I use Unca Tuca's Period Music Mod, I'll definately have to try this. Sounds like you are well versed in Baroque. I would prefer a more diverse selection of pieces from different countries, but I think I will enjoy this anyways. Half of those composers, I even never heard of.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

Yes, this is certainly intended for those who play as France. The mod loses a great deal of its relevance otherwise.

But be sure to leave feedback if you do try it out!

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

S!

is it possible to unpack and listen the MP3 files alone?

If yes which program have I to use?
thanks in advance

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

M Severvs Longinvs said:

S!

is it possible to unpack and listen the MP3 files alone?

If yes which program have I to use?
thanks in advance

Click to expand...

Yep. Just install LtChamber's Pack File Manager for ETW.

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

S!

please can you help better me writin' the Link?

regards

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

Here's the link to the Pack File Manager:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=234546

After you install it (to any location), use it to open my mod, or vive_le_roi_music.pack. Double-click on entries to listen to individual pieces, or you can extract them to other destinations on your computer by right-clicking and selecting the option to extract files.

I hope that helps .

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

thank you very much indead!

best regards

Re: Vive le Roi: A French Baroque Music Mod [v.1.1 Released!]

Alright, I'm planning on working on this mod a bit more before I can say it's finished. I'm satisfied with the naval battle music but unhappy with a couple of my original choices for the land battle music. I'm also planning on adding separate battle music for the Americas, and possibly for India but I doubt I can find enough suitable pieces.

Therefore I would be happy for any further battle music recommendations, or feedback for the current version.