Echo?

[CometCrashCinema's]

Whenever I add in a sound it creates an echo effect, how do I cancel that?

[Zappy]

It happens because that Source has built-in echo support for games to use to (usually) make sounds sound more realistic, by making it sound as though that they bounce off walls as in real life. Maps then say "in this area, use this sound setting", so that a large room is more echo-y than an empty outdoor area or such. Source Filmmaker does not prevent this from happening, which can be both a blessing and a curse.

If you use the Element Viewer to add "#" (without quotes) in front of a sound clip's sound filename, that will disable all automatic echoing for that sound clip, but you'll have to do this one sound clip at a time, so it's not a very favourable option when dealing with lots of sounds.

However, if you load the "dark_room.bsp" or "black_void.bsp" maps (included with Source Filmmaker by default), there won't be any echoing in those maps, allowing you to do a sound-only export from those maps to get an echo-less resulting audio file.
You can then combine this with an image sequence exported on the map that you want (just as you would if you had exported the sound on that map), and then the resulting video should be free of any unwanted echoing.


TL;DR: Export the sound from "dark_room.bsp" or "black_void.bsp".

[CometCrashCinema's]

Ok the dark_room sound export sounds better to do, I don't want to spend hours cancelling out the echos when they can be helpful in some situations. How would I do a sound only export though? I'm not stupid, I just haven't used sfm in awhile LOL

[Zappy]

Originally posted by CometCrashCinema's:

- How would I do a sound only export though? -

At the top-left of Source Filmmaker's main window, click "File" > "Export" > "Movie...", and set the drop-down "Export" selection list to "Sound".
It will then export a "standalone" WAV sound when you click on the "Export Movie" button.

[CometCrashCinema's]

ok I did that, thanks a lot. Though...the sounds sound a bit..cut off at the end, so to speak.

[CometCrashCinema's]

Nvm I fixed that, I exported the files, but is there a way to put WAV files in sfm?

[Zappy]

Originally posted by CometCrashCinema's:

- is there a way to put WAV files in sfm?

Yes. That won't help you avoid the echoing, though; You're "supposed" to just export the whole session's sound from an echo-less map (and export the image sequence from another map), then feed that echo-less sound into the video editor that you use to make a video from the image sequences.

[CometCrashCinema's]

I did export the whole sessions sound. So basically, what your saying is, after I make the animation I have to put all the effects in through an editing software?

[Zappy]

Originally posted by CometCrashCinema's:

- So basically, what your saying is, after I make the animation I have to put all the effects in through an editing software?

Yes. You have to do that in any case, as Source Filmmaker's video exports are all very unfavourable due to issues, with [image sequence exports that are later to be turned into a video with an external program] being the only good option available.

[CometCrashCinema's]

Well, its not exactly the best situation, but I guess I gotta work with it huh? Thanks a bunch, would you mind letting me know or tagging me if there is ever a more...convenient option I suppose.

[Zappy]

Originally posted by CometCrashCinema's:

- would you mind letting me know or tagging me if there is ever a more...convenient option I suppose.

May I ask what's really "inconvenient" about just having to change the map before exporting the sound?

[CometCrashCinema's]

Wait....IM DUMB! On your last reply I thought you meant something else. So yeah, after I export the sounds, in order to use them (since I can't use WAV's in sfm) I have to put in through an editing software. Then boom I got an animation that has sound.

[Zappy]

Originally posted by CometCrashCinema's:

- after I export the sounds, in order to use them (since I can't use WAV's in sfm) -

Firstly, you can use WAV sounds in Source Filmmaker (depending on the specific WAV format), and you very likely used WAV sounds in the session while making it.

Secondly... what do you mean by "them" (you're only exporting a single sound; that would be "it", not "them"), and what do you mean by "use"?

Originally posted by CometCrashCinema's:

- I have to put in through an editing software. Then boom I got an animation that has sound.

Yes. Exactly as if you didn't use a different map when exporting the sound.


With that in mind, considering your "enthusiasm" about an animation with sound, please explain your procedure of getting a video from Source Filmmaker.

[CometCrashCinema's]

I'd animate it then render it? After that I'd tweak it in a editing software.

[Zappy]

Originally posted by CometCrashCinema's:

I'd animate it then render it? After that I'd tweak it in a editing software.

Please explain what you mean by "render it" (or rather, what export options you use in Source Filmmaker when rendering it), as well as how you bring it into the editing software,

[CometCrashCinema's]

I'd do a movie render, then I'd put the video file in my editing software.