[RSC+] Creating a music pack
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 9:49 am
Creating a music pack in RSC+
If you're simply looking to add RuneScape 2 music to RuneScape Classic, you may do that by downloading this 2004 RuneScape 2 music.zip archive from Hlwys: Here.
Place the music.zip file inside RSC+'s mods folder, which is located in Cache/extras/rscplus if you are using the OpenRSC launcher.
How it works
This section quickly explains what the client reads for the music. If you need a step-by-step guide, please see the next section.
RSC+ reads from a "music.zip" archive placed inside the mods folder. Inside the archive are all the music files, and an areas.json file which tells the client where to play each music track. For example:
The areas.json file will be formatted as follows, with a title line being a special case for the title screen:
As many lines can be inserted as desired. For example, if we were making a RuneScape 2 inspired music pack:
Note that currently, only .mid files are supported.
Guide for making a music pack
RSC+ allows users to add custom music to RuneScape Classic by packaging a set of .mid files in a “music.zip†archive, then writing an areas.json file to tell the client where to play the music.
The music will play in a similar fashion to RuneScape 2, where the world map is broken up into square chunks, and each chunk will play a different music track of the user’s choosing. A title screen theme may also be added.
Getting chunk co-ordinates
Before writing your areas.json file, it is important to decide where you want music tracks to play. Each area chunk can be viewed with its reference number by opening the RSC+ world map by clicking on the map icon, and clicking “Enable Chunk Grid†and “Enable Chunk Labelling†in the bottom right. This should bring up a screen that looks similar to the below:
The numbers are the co-ordinates of each grid, styled as FXXYY, where:
Note that it is possible to have tracks play continuously across 2 different chunks, or across 4 chunks shaped in a square, this will be explained in the next section.
Writing the areas.json file
After deciding where the music files will go, make a text file called “areas.json†in the same location as all the music files.
Put the following in the file:
Under the { “soundfontâ€: “soundfont†} line, music files are referenced with the following syntax:
For example, if we were making a RuneScape 2 inspired music pack and wanted Harmony to play at Lumbridge Castle, we would write this into the areas.json file:
The file would then look like this:
All that has to be done now is for new lines to be added that reference the correct chunks and music files that wish to be played.
Title screen
Title screen music can be added by adding the below line:
Playing music across multiple chunks
Music tracks can be played continuously across multiple chunks in the below format:
For example, Entrana in RuneScape 2 plays a song across 2 chunks horizonally, which would be done the following way:
Note the use of regionX2, which will make Background the music of 05648 and 05748. If RegionY2: 47 was added to the above, it would make Background the music of:
After writing all the appropriate lines in area.json, package all the music files and the .json file in an archive called “music.zipâ€, then put it in the mods folder in the RSC+ folder.
If using the OpenRSC launcher, this will be located in Cache/extras/rscplus/mods.
Open up the game, and music should start playing (providing the option is enabled in RSC+)! You can check which chunks are playing which music by opening up the world map and looking at the chunk labels: it will display the music, as below.
If you're simply looking to add RuneScape 2 music to RuneScape Classic, you may do that by downloading this 2004 RuneScape 2 music.zip archive from Hlwys: Here.
Place the music.zip file inside RSC+'s mods folder, which is located in Cache/extras/rscplus if you are using the OpenRSC launcher.
How it works
This section quickly explains what the client reads for the music. If you need a step-by-step guide, please see the next section.
RSC+ reads from a "music.zip" archive placed inside the mods folder. Inside the archive are all the music files, and an areas.json file which tells the client where to play each music track. For example:
- areas.json
- track1.mid
- track2.mid
The areas.json file will be formatted as follows, with a title line being a special case for the title screen:
Code: Select all
[
{ "version": 1 },
{ "soundfont": "soundfont" },
{ "title": "FILENAME", "trackname": "TRACKNAME", "filetype": "FILETYPE" },
{ "floor": FLOOR, "regionX": XCOORD, "regionY": YCOORD, "trackname": "TRACKNAME", "filename": "FILENAME", "filetype": "FILETYPE" },
]
Code: Select all
[
{ "version": 1 },
{ "soundfont": "soundfont" },
{ "title": "scape_original.mid", "trackname": "Scape Original", "filetype": "mid" },
{ "floor": 0, "regionX": 62, "regionY": 49, "trackname": "Moody", "filename": "moody.mid", "filetype": "mid" },
{ "floor": 0, "regionX": 61, "regionY": 49, "trackname": "Sad Meadow", "filename": "sad_meadow.mid", "filetype": "mid" },
{ "floor": 0, "regionX": 52, "regionY": 50, "trackname": "Unknown Land", "filename": "unknown_land.mid", "filetype": "mid" },
{ "floor": 0, "regionX": 52, "regionY": 49, "trackname": "Start", "filename": "start.mid", "filetype": "mid" },
]
Guide for making a music pack
RSC+ allows users to add custom music to RuneScape Classic by packaging a set of .mid files in a “music.zip†archive, then writing an areas.json file to tell the client where to play the music.
The music will play in a similar fashion to RuneScape 2, where the world map is broken up into square chunks, and each chunk will play a different music track of the user’s choosing. A title screen theme may also be added.
Getting chunk co-ordinates
Before writing your areas.json file, it is important to decide where you want music tracks to play. Each area chunk can be viewed with its reference number by opening the RSC+ world map by clicking on the map icon, and clicking “Enable Chunk Grid†and “Enable Chunk Labelling†in the bottom right. This should bring up a screen that looks similar to the below:
The numbers are the co-ordinates of each grid, styled as FXXYY, where:
- F is the floor number; note that RSC uses UK floor numbers, not US.
- XX is the x co-ordinate
- YY is the y co-ordinate
- Floor: 0 (or ground floor)
- X co-ordinate: 50
- Y co-ordinate: 47
Note that it is possible to have tracks play continuously across 2 different chunks, or across 4 chunks shaped in a square, this will be explained in the next section.
Writing the areas.json file
After deciding where the music files will go, make a text file called “areas.json†in the same location as all the music files.
Put the following in the file:
Code: Select all
[
{ “versionâ€: 1 },
{ “soundfontâ€: “soundfont†},
]
Code: Select all
{ “floorâ€: FLOORNUMBER, “regionXâ€: XCOORD, “regionYâ€: YCOORD, “tracknameâ€: “TRACKNAMEâ€, “filenameâ€: “FILENAMEâ€, “filetypeâ€: “FILETYPE†},
Code: Select all
{ "floor": 0, "regionX": 50, "regionY": 50, "trackname": "Harmony", "filename": "harmony.mid", "filetype": "mid" },
Code: Select all
[
{ “versionâ€: 1 },
{ “soundfontâ€: “soundfont†},
{ "floor": 0, "regionX": 50, "regionY": 50, "trackname": "Harmony", "filename": "harmony.mid", "filetype": "mid" },
]
Title screen
Title screen music can be added by adding the below line:
Code: Select all
{ “titleâ€: “FILENAMEâ€, “tracknameâ€: “TRACKNAMEâ€, “filetypeâ€: “FILETYPE†},
Music tracks can be played continuously across multiple chunks in the below format:
- 2 chunks vertically
- 2 chunks horizontally
- 4 chunks in a square
For example, Entrana in RuneScape 2 plays a song across 2 chunks horizonally, which would be done the following way:
Code: Select all
{ "floor": 0, "regionX": 56, "regionY": 48, "regionX2": 57, "trackname": "Background", "filename": "background.mid", "filetype": "mid" },
- 05648
- 05748
- 05647
- 05747
After writing all the appropriate lines in area.json, package all the music files and the .json file in an archive called “music.zipâ€, then put it in the mods folder in the RSC+ folder.
If using the OpenRSC launcher, this will be located in Cache/extras/rscplus/mods.
Open up the game, and music should start playing (providing the option is enabled in RSC+)! You can check which chunks are playing which music by opening up the world map and looking at the chunk labels: it will display the music, as below.