[WIP] Zand Band (Revival WIP) (I need feedback)

[Fabysk]

I've been thinking about reviving Zand Band for a while now. I decided to make a mod that behaves as an editing tool to create songs easier and it works just fine (of course with the addition of knowing how to use the editor)

What songs can be charted?
The songs will most likely be from the original Doom, Doom 2, TNT Evilution, etc..
Anything outside of the original Doom music, consider it to be a custom song.

Is it just guitar and keys still or..?
I am willing to add drums and bass so there's a total of 4 instruments to choose from. With the addition of the editing tool in the works, charting songs will be faster.

So what do I have to showcase at this point?
As of now, I only have an editor for drums. I have posted a video of the editor on the "What are you working on?" thread. In case if you have not seen it, here it is again.

phpBB [media]

I am working on making editors for keys, guitar, and bass.

I would like to see who is interesting in charting songs. It does take a long time to perfect a chart.

I'll be updating this thread when I have something new to show.

I have provided a link to download the editor. The following is included in the .rar file:

• Rhythm Builder (Drums)
• Test Song (to test recorded charts)
• 3 Sample Charts
• Read Me text file

Download Here

[Lollipop]

This mod is and always has been cool.
But for the sake of sanity don't use that atrocious rar format. :/

I look forward to a time when I'll have time to spend on playing this. :)
Btw how do you handle persistency of the charts? The database system? Just curious.

[Fabysk]

Here's an update on the chart creators and the overall progress. I am still thinking if there should be multiple instruments. The problem with that is more work on a single song and there may be people who do not have rock band/guitar hero instruments so the default instrument people have is regular keys and pro keys. I have all rock band instruments and the guitar and drums work as a joystick controller and plays just fine. It would be cool to have multiple instruments for variety for Zand Band, but it takes a long time to chart one song. I am still improving the chart creator(s) so they[it] are[is] easier to use. It would be nice to have a MIDI player when each note is played, a key stroke is simulated which would make charting much faster. I will still work on this and continue updating the chart creator(s).

This mod is and always has been cool.
But for the sake of sanity don't use that atrocious rar format. :/

I look forward to a time when I'll have time to spend on playing this. :)
Btw how do you handle persistency of the charts? The database system? Just curious.

Thanks! I will have future editors uploaded as a .wad file instead of a .rar file. I have grown used to working on charts since I write music myself for drums, synth/keys, and bass. Constantly having to redo parts of a song to make sure it sounds right. If I get more people to chart songs with me would be really great to speed up the process to upload more playable songs. With the songs in Doom 1, there are songs that I am very excited to chart such as E1(M1, M2, M4, M8), E2(M1, M2, M3, M6, M8), and E3(M1, M3, M8). Again, it would be great to have people chart songs with me.

[Fabysk]

Here's a sample chart of one of my songs played on Pro Keys.
System Restore - Vengeance Falls

phpBB [media]

[Fabysk]

Good news! I may have found a way to chart songs faster and easier, but the only down side is that no one will be able to do it unless the utilities are used.

• Bome's MIDI Translator: To Translate MIDI into keystrokes

• MIDI compatible keyboard that can play MIDI songs via USB (Yamaha PSR 1500 is what I have)

After doing testing, it appears that Doom does not recognize the keystrokes, although the keystrokes work with in any program that you can type on and for some reason Doom's chat works.

For now, I am programming something in C++ where it simulates a keystroke for me when a MIDI note is played. Pretty much a keystroke within a keystroke. Pretty bizarre, but I am getting pretty close to finding a way to chart songs faster. I do have all MIDI songs from Doom 1 and 2 so expect there to be a lot of songs.

Also, I would like to know if each song should be downloaded separately or all included in one? What do you prefer?

[Matiu]

Also, I would like to know if each song should be downloaded separately or all included in one? What do you prefer?

I Prefer all included in one the songs in my opinion, also good luck with the mod

[Fabysk]

So I made the program and it does work. After various changes and testing, it isn't the software that's causing the keystroke not to register, it is Doom that is causing the problem. I am not sure as to why the MIDI to keystrokes work in the chat, but not during actual gameplay. Any solutions to this? I would like some help and insight as to why this is happening.

[Ru5tK1ng]

Pretty neat concept. Jason is a big fan of this project.

[jdagenet]

Oh hell yeah I actually think I’ll use this to make music from now on!! Thank you!

[Fabysk]

Update:
I found an alternate way where everything is done within command prompt. The last thing I need to do is make the Doom tic system. I have the general idea down using a while loop, but it is preventing my main function to start. I am looking for another way to get this to work. I am using Flight of the Bulmblebee as my testing song. Again, this program is written in C++. If you'd like to look at the source code, I have provided a pastebin link. If anyone can help me out on fixing this, I'd really appreciate it. This is the last thing I have to do and then I can make a guitar, bass, and drums recorder and then I will be charting songs. Any help with my code is appreciated.

//Arpeggio Capture//
/*This program is used for capturing keystrokes
from the user's keyboard input.
*/
#include <Windows.h>
#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

int Tic = 0;
int Delay = 0;

bool KeyIsListed(int iKey)
{
switch (iKey)
{
case 0x41:
cout << "ACS_Execute(10,0,0,0,0);\n"; //the A Note
cout << "Delay("<<Tic<<");\n"; //Capture the time
Delay = 0;
Tic = 0;
break;
case 0x53:
cout << "ACS_Execute(11,0,0,0,0);\n"; //the S Note
cout << "Delay("<<Tic<<");\n"; //Capture the time
Delay = 0;
Tic = 0;
break;
case 0x44:
cout << "ACS_Execute(12,0,0,0,0);\n"; //the D Note
cout << "Delay("<<Tic<<");\n"; //Capture the time
Delay = 0;
Tic = 0;
break;
case 0x46:
cout << "ACS_Execute(13,0,0,0,0);\n"; //the F Note
cout << "Delay("<<Tic<<");\n"; //Capture the time
Delay = 0;
Tic = 0;
break;
case 0x47:
cout << "ACS_Execute(14,0,0,0,0);\n"; //the G Note
cout << "Delay("<<Tic<<");\n"; //Capture the time
Delay = 0;
Tic = 0;
break;
case 0x48:
cout << "ACS_Execute(15,0,0,0,0);\n"; //the H Note
cout << "Delay("<<Tic<<");\n"; //Capture the time
Delay = 0;
Tic = 0;
break;
case 0x4A:
cout << "ACS_Execute(16,0,0,0,0);\n"; //the J Note
cout << "Delay("<<Tic<<");\n"; //Capture the time
Delay = 0;
Tic = 0;
break;
case 0x4B:
cout << "ACS_Execute(17,0,0,0,0);\n"; //the K Note
cout << "Delay("<<Tic<<");\n"; //Capture the time
Delay = 0;
Tic = 0;
break;
case 0x4C:
cout << "ACS_Execute(18,0,0,0,0);\n"; //the L Note
cout << "Delay("<<Tic<<");\n"; //Capture the time
Delay = 0;
Tic = 0;
break;
}
}

int timer()//Doom Tic timer
{
while(TRUE)
{
if(Delay == 28)//Aprox to 1 tic
{
Delay = 0;//Reset delay to 0
Tic ++;//Increase Tic by 1
}
else
{
Delay ++;//Increase Delay until it is at 28
}
}
}

int main()
{
char key;
timer();//Call timer Function (This is preventing the main function from continuing)
while(TRUE)
{
for(key = 8; key <= 190; key ++)
{
if(GetAsyncKeyState(key) == 1)
{
if(KeyIsListed(key) == FALSE)
{

}
}
}

}
return 0;
}

[Fabysk]

The program is still under development as the timing is off at large intervals for some reason, so I manually adjusted the timing myself.
Machine (Synth Solo) - Born of Osiris

phpBB [media]

Demonstrating the timing/syncing of notes and it fist perfectly. Now it is a matter of time until I can get the program working right with the timer function.
What do you think so far?