SFX in your Brawl - Tutorial for absolute beginners

[Jaklub]

I've got quite a few messages regarding this topic and I see a lot of people still having trouble with this thing. I also see some people just ignoring SFX modding, because they think it's so hard to get into even using SFX mods (thankfully, it only looks like that). Those reasons caused me to write this short tutorial, so you all can enjoy your different-sounding Smash.

I assume you have already set up your Wii for using Brawl mods. If you haven't and somehow landed here, check this thread and return when you've finished setting up.

Step 1 - Obtaining the smashbros_sound.brsar
This big file has almost all of the samples that play in Brawl. (almost, because there is also a second one for what I assume is Mr. Resetti's speech, but no-one was interested in editing that so far) To install SFX mods, you'll need it.
Later on, I'll refer to smashbros_sound.brsar as "the brsar".
smashbros_sound.brsar from NTSC-U Brawl
smashbros_sound.brsar from PAL Brawl
NOTE: It is important to have the brsar that matches your version of Brawl.

Step 2 - Installing the SFX packs you want to have
You must assure all of the packs you want to insert are compatible with your brsar.
This is the hardest part, but still easy as hell in certain situations. To insert most of the packs, you need Sawndz. You can obtain the newest version here. If you want to install some older packs, you may also want to get Sawndz 0.072. It's in the same thread.
After you have downloaded Sawndz, unpack it and put the brsar in the same directory.
There is a variety of filetypes you may encounter. Here is how do you deal with them.
Note: If one of the SFX packs you want to get it is either a hex packet or a bunch of .dats and .wavs, you must insert those first. .sawnd and .wav files insertion affects the offsets in your brsar and may make the hex packets and .dats from old Sawndz unusable without deeper intervention.
- .sawnd file. This means good news for you - all you have to do is run Sawndz, click Insert .sawnd, choose that file and voila - it's done. Contrary to a popular belief, you don't need to fill in anything.
- Bunch of .wav files. It's still simple to insert, but requires a bit more hassle from you. Open the readme file that should have came with the waves and fill the blanks using the instructions from there. Then choose the respective .wav file and wait till the inserting is done. Repeat till done for all files.
- Bunch of .wav and .dat files. This is more painful to get working than just .wav files. If one of the packs you want to install is those, you should absolutely insert these first. The same applies to hex packets, which I will talk about later. To get those to work without thinking much, you need an older Sawndz version - I recommend Sawndz 0.072, the last one before program got radically changed. Just like in case of new Sawndz, you need the brsar in the same directory. Run the old Sawndz. From "Saves" field, choose Load button and pick a .dat. Rename the respective .wav to "sound.wav", put it into the directory with Sawndz and click "Convert & Insert". Repeat till done for all of the .dats/.wavs.
- A hex packet. Those are relatively simple to insert, but if you want to get your SFX mods working quickly, you should insert them before .sawnd files and .wavs, so you don't have to struggle with offsets on your own. There are many ways of inserting these, I'll talk about Sawndz 0.072 one. In Offset of beginning field, enter the offset that should have come with the hex packet. Click Insert from Hex packets field, choose the packet you want to get in and wait till it's done.

Step 3 - Getting the smashbros_sound.brsar to work with your modded Brawl
In this point, I have bad news for Gecko OS users. smashbros_sound.brsar can't be replaced with stable File Patch code. You need to use WiiScrubber to swap the original file with the altered brsar.
If you're a Riivolution user, the location of where your brsar should be on your SD card is dependent on the xml you're using. Most common cases:
- If you're using the template, it goes into SD:/ssbb/, like everything.
- If you're using the xml for past Gecko OS users, it goes into SD:/private/wii/app/RSBE/pf/sound/.

And that's all, guys. Enjoy your sounds. If something is unclear, ask away.

[SmashClash]

I love this. :happy:
Thank you.

[SonicBrawler]

>.< great tutorial, but it stinks so much that it cant be used with gecko os. i hate having to edit my iso, and it takes me around 2 hours to, even longer since i didnt know what i was doing >.<

[hypermetalsonic]

Thanks for this! Gonna give this a try with goku ;)

[James]

I recently switched from Gecko OS to Riivolution,so i would use the Gecko OS one which is

SD:/private/wii/app/RSBE/pf/sound/.



I put my smashbros_sound.brsar in there,but when i ran it through. Shadow's voice was still DK's voice,and there was no announcer call...I removed my codes folder from the root cuz idk where to put it now. s that why it's not loading or is something else wrong?

[Jaklub]

So, it didn't load the SFX and announcer call was the old one? The path is right, I've even checked now. Looks like the inserting went wrong somewhere.

Was any error displayed on the console screen when you were inserting the packs?

[James]

Nope,everything went smoothly.. I also tried to replace a tails metaknight one. the one was tails.sawnd,so i inserted that into my sawndz like the way you said. Then i placed it in my sound folder and everything was still metaknight. I have no idea what is going on.

[Jaklub]

I have no idea, it should run. Back when I was using Riivolution, I had no problems with SFX replacing (I used a different xml, tho). Maybe try getting SmashBox 0.57, opening the brsar, opening the Groups branch and testing if the sounds replaced alright.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?awdvg58y0vbd5qj
If you had Shadow over DK in, search for snd_group_chara_dk (if I recall correctly), open it, and then open the Wave branch from every branch that is inside snd_group_chara_dk. In the Wave branch, you'll have a bunch of Waves you have to play. Sounds like DK - replacing went wrong. Sounds like Shadow - looks like you have a problem with Riivolution.

[James]

Thanks,I didnt have smashbox yet.

[BriefCasey795]

If we use the Riivolution for past gecko users, Will the brsar file be automaticly replaced? Will any codes get in the way? :srs:

[Jaklub]

If we use the Riivolution for past gecko users, Will the brsar file be automaticly replaced? Will any codes get in the way? :srs:

When using the Riivolution, you cannot use the File Patch Code, but that information is visible in many places. Riivolution handles the file loading from SD card instead.
brsar will be obviously replaced when using the right xml (so can be any file in the image). Beyond's one supports it.
Also, why so serious.

[That BattleToad PSA Guy]

I just want to add SFX without switching to Riivo. It's too confusing for me, and I don't feel like changing my stuff around!

So here's the deal, for us using Gecko, can the next update in sawndz PLEASE have support for Gecko Users?

[Jaklub]

Sorry, but this is not something that is dependent on me. I can't create new File Patch Code because I don't have a knowledge to do so. Sawndz is only for editing, not actually using brsars.

If you don't want to touch Riivo, WiiScrubber is the way to go.

However, Beyond has made a solution for those who want to move to Riivolution, but don't want to change their files on SD card around. http://forums.kc-mm.com/Gallery/BrawlView.php?Number=16990

[BriefCasey795]

ugh, Whenever i place a announcer call hack, It for some reason, corrupts the brsar, and when i load it up in brawl, i freezes when I Go somewhere with the announcer! :( I got all the collection ids group ids and waves right, but it still happens. and in smash box i can't preview the announcer calls. meaning the collection can't expand into waves and sounds. :( and btw my brsar is in the sound folder in my sd card with sawndz. Do i have to move the files or something? cuz that's what i think is wrong. :/

[Jaklub]

No idea why that happened. Try again with a clean brsar. If doesn't work, send me the .wav file and the data you have in fields.