How To Alter X3's Soundtrack (to make it feel less like X2)

[TerrorTrooper]

First things First.

Alexi Zhakarov & Egosoft threw some FANTASTIC new tunes into X3, but decided only to use them either in the plot, or single sectors.
(EG, New Kingdom End, Seizewell, Argon Prime, Home of Light, Xenon sector 101 tunes only play in those sectors, rest of the X universe is the same recycled music from XBTF,XT & X2)

same with the battle music, same old 5 tracks from X2, However, there is some great tracks in the game specifically for the plot..

So i went to the bother of hunting them all out so if you lot want to take advantage of them, you can..

First of all, lets get rid of the boring old battle music..

First things First. Make a new folder on your desktop (or wherever..) and call it X3 tracks or whatever takes your fancy.

assuming you installed it to the standard directory, go to :-

"My Computer", "Local Disk (C:)", "Program Files", "DeepSilver", "X3 Reunion", "Soundtrack" Folder...

right click and Copy Tracks (Dont Cut them!!)

08130
08131
08132
08134
08135

to the new "X3 Tracks" folder on your desktop, Minimise the proper X3 Soundtrack folder, dont close it.

NOTE :- Not track 08133, as it isnt battle music, for some reason.

To rename them, click on the name below it twice, (slowly, dont double click or you will play it) press backspace, and type in new name.

Rename these tracks to :- 01001 01002 01003 01004 01005
(these are the standard battle musics when you enter combat)

now, click and drag to highlight the 5 re-named tracks, right click, select copy, re-maximise the proper X3 soundtrack folder, and Paste the 5 tracks into that folder, (if your PC asks you if you want to overwright the current tracks, click "Yes to All"

your battle music will now play the new X3 Battlemusic from the plot missions rather than the boring old ones that we are all sick to death of.

Now, The new Sector tracks in X3, Namely Argon Prime, Kingdom End, Seizewell, and Getsu Fune. are great new tracks, make visiting these sectors a pleasure.. However, for some reason (like i said earlier) Egosoft chose to limit these tracks to these sectors, rather than spaceing them out a bit.

So here they are :-

08100 - Is the new music for Argon Prime.
08101 - Is the new track for Kingdom End (i love this one..)
08104 - Is the new track for Home of Light.
08105 - Is the new track for Getsu Fune (Also used in the X3 Teaser Video)
08106 - Is the new track for Seizewell.

(also. Track 08103 is quite good, i have no idea where it belongs in the game)

(and track 00031 is one of the start menu tracks, but its awesome! and belongs in your game, not just your start menu)

Copy these into your New Folder on the Desktop like you did before, (Be carefull not to mix them up with the battlemusic..)

As you are bound to have some sector music in X3 you hate! (i had about 4 i didnt like..)
Scroll through them in the proper X3 Soundtrack folder listening to a bit of each one, until you find one you particulary dont like, choose one of the new tracks, Rename it to the name of the track you dont like, and copy it back into the X3 Folder.
As each traditional track covers about 5 or 6 game sectors, all of them will now play the chosen music of your choice.

Rinse & Repeat with any other tracks you dont like..

NOTE:- I have done this purely with the new tracks supplied with X3, for 3 reasons.
1:- To keep the traditional "X" feeling in the game that we all know and love.
2:- So Egosofts & Alexi's hard work doesnt go unrecognized.
3:- Because the New tracks deserve this, and really do add to the game.

Also, Its worth noting that ANY MP3 can be renamed as an X track and stuck in that folder. Some of "Brashi's" Work springs to mind. (i used them in X2)

FINAL NOTE :- just in case you dont like the changes, its worth storing the origional sound files with origional names in a sepperate folder somewhere just in case you want to put them back.

This really Enhanced X3 for me and helped ease the feeling that it was just X2 with better graphics..

Please post if you find this information usefull..

thanks..

TT

[AalaarDB]

What is 08102 (did you forget it)?

[StarChaser]

Thanks a ton, TerrorTrooper! This will save me a good chunk of time. I heavily modified my X2 soundtracks, so it stands to reason that I’ll do the same with X3. No, I don’t have the game yet... two words “Back Ordered.” But, it will supposedly arrive this Tuesday. Hopefully...

[Ryuujin]

Theres a couple other tracks hidden away there I havn't seen before; like 00016.mp3 follows he X2 naming convention but I've never heard it before, even when messing in /soundtrack

[Faulcon deLacy]

Great post! I'll definitely be replacing the battle music as you say. One of the first things I look out for in a new game is the music, and X3 didn't disappoint.

08101 - Is the new track for Kingdom End (i love this one..)

Completey agree! Favourite track so far, love it.