How to install custom music in Morrowind and make sure it works!

So you've recently installed Morrowind just for the hell of it and you have a broader taste in music, and you can't help but notice that SOME of the custom music files you placed in their designated folders crash the game!


Fear not you N'wah, for this guide will show you the way!

PICKING YOUR MUSIC

The picture sampled is me picking "Endless Legends" for my "Explore" tracks.

The music path for the game is as follows:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Morrowind\Data Files\Music

Simply copy/paste the tracks you want on either the "Explore" or "Battle" folders to hear for specific moments and it'll play while you either explore or fight.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

The next step is going to teach you how to make the custom music you drop in play 100% of the time

MAKING THE MUSIC WORK AND NOT CRASH THE GAME

Despite putting in the best tracks and playing, the game somehow manages to crash by not being able to play the sound files. Excluding corruption as the culprit, it maybe due to two reasons:

1.THE MUSIC FILE IS LOCKED DUE TO SECURITY REASONS
Windows sometimes locks music files downloaded from other sites. Even though MP3 files are VERY HIGHLY UNLIKELY capable of releasing viruses, Windows does this "just to be safe".

2. BIT RATE IS TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW
The vanilla Morrowind soundtrack plays flawlessly due to ALL tracks having a bit rate of 128kbps. Even though the game can still play "some" tracks at 320kbps, the game is still somewhat very, VERY picky and may crash if you add any sound file several kbps higher. Remember that Morrowind, although considered a masterpiece, is still a technically dated game.


The solutions are quite simple, but people seem to forget or the thought just completely went over their heads:

1. UNBLOCK THE AUDIO FILE
Right click and select properties, and in the general tab in the audio file it will show this:




Click unblock and apply. If you're still afraid it might "infect" your computer, give it a virus scan with whatever antivirus/malware program you have.

The next step will require you to download a free audio program called Audacity. It's great for editing stuff and is highly recommended.

USING AUDACITY TO CHANGE THE BIT RATE

Download Audacity below
https://www.audacityteam.org/download/


After installing audacity, pick your audio file and check it's bit rate. In this tutorial I'm using a random MP3 which happens to be 320kbps and I'll be converting it in audacity:



Once you have selected your track, go to the top left corner of audacity and select File, and then EXPORT AUDIO, it will then show you this screen:


Make sure it's saved as an MP3, but before you save, you must select the Bit Rate Mode on the bottom and pick CONSTANT and select quality at 128kbps. After doing so, save the file on any folder (preferably in the music folders you want) and ensure that it's in the right folder. The audio files are saved at 128kbps for maximum compatibility, there will be no decreases in audio quality when played.

NOW HAVE FUN

Select your music, individually do all that per track, and put them in the right folders. Although time consuming, it's to make sure that any new track you put in doesn't randomly crash the game. After all, you don't want your immersion broken, do you? Have fun now!

[Joltario]

You are a saint. Thank you for the guide!

[Fgyjt]

It works! Thank you!

[Fgyjt]

Ok i try.

[Fang from Snoot Game]

Ay carumba. Don't delete the BACKUP Vanilla files you made. If you plan to change change the Death and Level Up Sounds, rename them to MW_Death and MW_Triumph. Just in case those sounds don't work (if they're too long for one example), you'll have the backups. Replacing the vanilla music files "might" have different results, even if you follow this guide.

[Fgyjt]

Wait, you confused me. Do i NOT have to delete any vanilla files? Even from the Special folder?

I do not know how the hell does that work, but i trush you, i still will change the name of then and see if it works.

[Fang from Snoot Game]

Yes, you have to change the names. Don't delete the vanilla files.

[Fgyjt]

yay thank you.

But you did not awnsered my other question: Do i have to CHANGE THE NAMES of the custom new sounds for MW_Death and MW_Triumph so the game can detect those new files?

Also, if you do not mind, do i have to delete the original vanilla files too? I have made a backup of then just in case, but i want a confirmation.

[Fang from Snoot Game]

You don't have to rename the files for non-vanilla music files. As for vanilla files, you'll have to keep the name the same. You can replace the death and level up themes, but you'll have to make sure they have the same bitrate and unblock the audio file.

[Fgyjt]

Do i have to rename the flies or does it work if i just put then with any name?

Also, can i change the title, death and level up themes from the "Special" folder?

[Valar Morghulis]

Is this loss?