[TrojanNemo]

Knock knock bitches, I’m back. ” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_biggrin.gif” />

 

Let’s try to make this long story short:

– finished my graduate degree and had to start studying for a big exam = my semi-retirement in December

– took and passed the big exam, was preparing to begin career working for government and could not be a part of customs scene = my retirement a couple of months ago

– life said “fuck you, change of plans” and now I’m working for the private sector instead = I’m back bitches.

 

Career is still going on, just in a different (good) direction that means I can continue to be a part of C3.

However, as you may have noticed I no longer have any admin or mod powers. That’s fine, I think that will work out better. So I’m just another member now. I have very limited free time during the week, so I will not be authoring anything, but at least I’ll be around and can continue to provide support for the tools.

 

As you may have noticed I have been posting here and there because I have been “back” for a few weeks but was waiting to finish this mammoth update to C3 CON Tools before announcing it. All along I’ve been working with the PS3 guys to make their lives a little bit less painful (PS3 customs are a pain) and while I’ve been doing that I started adding a couple of things here and there and making fixes to the tools. It’s probably still going to have bugs here and there (this thing is up to 39,000 lines of code already), but after working on it for like 6 weeks I think it’s time to put it out and then make any further necessary fixes as we go along.

 

So without further ado, here’s your bribe into welcoming me back to the group:

 

v3.4.6

EVENT MANAGER (NEW!)

- Ported code from the VB.NET project and integrated with the rest of the tools

- Includes huge improvements to old code for stability and better performance

- Communicates with your .Setlist file from Setlist Manager to give you song information and auto-populate upcoming acts

- Some small redesigns to make it look a little nicer (but only a little)

- Every event has a log saved that can be reviewed using the included Log Viewer - can also export the log to CSV

- Can be launched directly by adding the argument -event to the shortcut



UPGRADE BUNDLER (PREVIOUSLY PRO UPGRADE BUNDLER)

- Completely redesigned and re-envisioned to now work with more than just pro guitar upgrades - RBHP upgrade files can be used as well! - you can now combine an existing CON or MIDI file with a pro upgrade CON file, or a loose pro upgrade MIDI and upgrade DTA file, as well as all MIDI files from RBHP and their corresponding DTA files

- Just drag and drop the files, click Bundle, bam - but please do read the help documentation included!



VIDEO PREPARER

- One of the restricted tools only available to C3 Authors before is now available to the public!

- You can use this to package songs that you will be recording - you get one pack, with all artists changed to 'Video Recording' so they're all grouped together in game, with unique song ids and track numbers to avoid in-game conflicts AND with custom songs.dta editing that makes multitrack audio not mute, so you can record a multitrack song without worrying about audio dropping out

- This is only really useful to those who record videos of songs often - if you do, it's an essential tool - every single Friday preview video has been made possible using this tool



MIDI ANALYZER

- Added ability to export lyrics for Lead Vocals or Lead Vocals + Harmonies



PS3 CONVERTER

- Some adjustments to the MIDI to EDAT encryption Type 2 process to hopefully fix the 'unable to load song, skipping' errors: updated TrueAncestor EDAT Rebuilder to 1.45c, changed time waited between commands to 500ms (up from 100ms), added option to choose how much time to allow TrueAncestor EDAT Rebuilder to build the EDAT file = can choose from 2, 5 or 10 seconds, other refinements to the code

- Added option to encrypt replacement mogg files used in the few cases where the PS3 doesn't like a normal Xbox mogg file (see Tutorial thread for more info on this) - either click Encryption Options -> Encrypt replacement mogg file or drag/drop the new mogg file to the program

- Added option to encrypt replacement MIDI files used in the few cases where the PS3 doesn't like a normal Xbox mogg file and has to be replaced (see above), which in turn means the Drum Mix Events in the MIDI file need to be changed - either click Encryption Options -> Encrypt replacement MIDI file or drag/drop the new MIDI file to the program



QUICK PACK EDITOR

- Added option to batch dePACK files - just click on the 'Batch dePACK' button and point it to the folder with all the packs, and watch it work

- Added option to sort songs in pack by DTA Entry #, Artist - Song, and Song - Artist. Choose by right-clicking on the list of songs

- Added workaround for the broken Oasis - Rock 'n Roll Star modified file that was breaking packs for many users



RBA TO CON CONVERTER

- Added option to change the format of the Display Title (what you see on the Xbox dashboard) between three styles

- Added option (enabled by default) to use the song's album art for the Package Thumbnail (what you see on the Xbox dashboard)

- Added Help documentation



VISUALIZER

- Fixed bug that would show songs with harmonies as only having one part vocals if the songs.dta was formatted in a specific way

- Fixed bug that would refuse to visualize a select few songs because it would mistake them for packs



CON EXPLORER

- Fixed bug that would refuse to visualize a select few songs because it would mistake them for packs



GENERAL

- Several adjustments when saving changes to CON files throughout the Tools to hopefully reduce the amount of 'corrupted' files when you put them on your Xbox

- Re-arranged the location of buttons to create (I think) a better work flow

- Several other improvements throughout the entire Tools

 

A couple of notes that are not in the Change Log:

– jumped from v3.3.0 to v3.4.6 because there were lots and lots of betas throughout the development process that various people got access to and I just wanted to make sure we were on a different number. you didn’t miss anything if you’re going from v3.3.0 to v3.4.6.

– no more installer. just extract the winrar archive somewhere that is NOT your Program Files directory and run from there.

 

Thanks to columbo, C16 and the PS3 guys for all their testing and support.

[drummerockband]

Welcome back bud! ” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_smile.gif” /> NOW GET BACK TO WORK! ” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_cheeky.001.gif” />

[Spindoctor]

Welcome back bud! ” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_smile.gif” /> NOW GET BACK TO WORK! ” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_cheeky.001.gif” />

+100

 

Good to hear Nemo

[questionmark]

New features sound great. Unfortunately as soon as I try to open it I get a dialogue box that says “C3 Con Tools Has Stopped Working.” I ran the previous version all right, which means I had the right Windows add-ons. Any thoughts?

[TrojanNemo]

There’s nothing new that would break compatibility of the program if it worked before. Make sure you’re on a new folder, not using old settings. If it’s still not working, do you get any kind of notification? I have ran this in three computers myself and they all work, so I’d need specifics.

[questionmark]

There’s nothing new that would break compatibility of the program if it worked before. Make sure you’re on a new folder, not using old settings. If it’s still not working, do you get any kind of notification? I have ran this in three computers myself and they all work, so I’d need specifics.

 

Welp, looks like the error was between keyboard and chair. ” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_smile.gif” /> I got it going, thanks.

[questionmark]

So I just re-read the change documentation:

 

UPGRADE BUNDLER (PREVIOUSLY PRO UPGRADE BUNDLER)

– Completely redesigned and re-envisioned to now work with more than just pro guitar upgrades – RBHP upgrade files can be used as well! – you can now combine an existing CON or MIDI file with a pro upgrade CON file, or a loose pro upgrade MIDI and upgrade DTA file, as well as all MIDI files from RBHP and their corresponding DTA files

– Just drag and drop the files, click Bundle, bam – but please do read the help documentation included!

 

Am I interpreting this correctly? Is this a way to get around the convoluted RBHP process? I guess you would need to covert those files to con, though? At any rate, that is awesome.

[TrojanNemo]

Am I interpreting this correctly? Is this a way to get around the convoluted RBHP process? I guess you would need to covert those files to con, though? At any rate, that is awesome.

 

To some degree yes, but it will NOT replace the RBHP method, simply because this is designed to work one song at a time and as you pointed out, you’d need to turn each song (including those in packs/exports) into individual CON files. So that means no more playing online even with DLC you bought, which is kind of the whole point of the “convoluted” RBHP process = allows you to play online without modifying your files.

 

But some people had asked for this, and it’s just an extension of Pro Upgrade Bundler. Now you can combine pro upgrades as well as any other kind of MIDI into a file, not just RBHP. The point is I unlocked it, so you put a CON or a MIDI on the left, and any amount of MIDI files on the right, whether they’re pro upgrades, rbhp files, or let’s say drums chart for a song you charted guitar and bass, and you can bundle that.

 

But I really don’t recommend this as an alternative to RBHP, as you’d be in for lots and lots of hours of bundling (as columbo can attest to) and then you can’t play online at all.

 

As with most every tool in C3 CON Tools, it’s a feature added for those few that know they want it and know what they want it for. There’s plenty of things like that added. A few will find it extremely useful, most will find it useless

[Gigakoops]

Hey, I know it may be a bit much to ask, but is there a chance in the future for Linux or Mac support? I try to load the program with Wine on Ubuntu 14.04, but all I get is a window with all black in it. This was an issue with the last version as well; I would have someone else make visualizer images for the songs I author. Below is a screenshot of what I’m talking about.

 

 

Would you have any form of advice on this? Thanks in advance.

[TrojanNemo]

As far as support for anything other than Windows = not from me. I have no experience with nor time to learn to work with other OS.

As far as getting it to work on a virtual Windows environment, I also have no recommendations other than to make sure (if it’s even possible) that you have all .NET frameworks installed.

[Nightmare Lyra]

Hey, good to see you back on working with this, loving the new RBHP bundler

 

Though I wondered, would it be possible to find a way to allow bundling upgrades to packs down the line? I am having the hardest time using the “workaround” method in the RBHP manual and I would much prefer to just use CON Tools as I never play online anyways so anything involving them not working online is not a concern for me

[TrojanNemo]

Columbo would love for that to happen, but not something I have plans to take on now. It’s a headache as it is, having to deal with the complexities of a pack would suck. Not to mention that everytime you would bundle an upgrade to a song in a pack, you’d be waiting from a few seconds to a few minutes for it to rebuild, which can add up if you’re doing upgrades for all songs in a pack.

 

In short, it’s too complex of an idea for me to entertain doing at the moment. That doesn’t mean no, but definitely means “not for a least a few months, if ever.” That’s the best I can do.

[columbo777]

Yeah, I had that as an idea also. But now that I have spent 20 hours or so breaking packs down to cons and bundling the PRO in and then building Uber-packs, I realize that its the longer but better way to go. I found so many issue with my files as I went: missing CON, missing PRO, wrong PRO, etc.

 

TM really delivered on this one and the burden of usage is on the user. Cant get much easier, but you have to invest the time to do the tracks you care about.

 

But there is a Batch pack deconstruction, so you can get to all cons in one fell swoop!

[Deadly Robots]

So I have a technical issue that I’m hoping someone can walk me through. It’s probably really easy to resolve, but a nice beat-by-beat walkthrough would be great for those of us who don’t always understand this stuff or how it works (read: me).

 

Owing to a break-up and a console change I have some XBL track packs I need to convert to CONs so I can continue using them. However in doing so I am no longer able to use the RBHP upgrades for these songs (as bundled using the normal RBHP bundler) as they don’t seem to work with the CON’d versions. So how specifically would I go about injecting the RBHP upgrades into the CON’d version of the XBL pack?

[TrojanNemo]

First you use Quick Pack Editor to create the CONs. Then you follow instructions for Upgrade Bundler. I really can’t put it in any other way than how it is in the Help doc for it.

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