sound2wem

Converts audio files to Wwise Audio (.wem)

• What is this?

sound2wem is a script to automatically convert any audio file type (.mp3, .wav, .ogg, ...) to Wwise Audio formats.

This script is both the most convenient, complete, and fastest tool for this job right now. And there are no existing online converters yet.

Installation

Simply download zSound2wem.cmd and place it into a folder of your choice. (Desktop is not recommended, all dependencies will be installed into the script folder)

Or if you're a terminal hacker.

1. Create a folder for the script in your desired location and enter it

   md sound2wem
   cd sound2wem
   

2. Install using curl

   curl -O -# "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/EternalLeo/sound2wem/main/zSound2wem.cmd"
   

Now you're set! It is recommended to right-click then edit to read the informative comments within the script. It is also where you'll find the script configs.

Usage

Simply drag n' drop your audio files onto the script!

Or if you're a terminal hacker, pass them as arguments.

Information about installation

Upon running the script for the first time, you'll be prompted to install Wwise, and FFmpeg, unless you already have them. If installing FFmpeg is required, the script will temporarily install 7zip if not found to unzip it. The script has automatic updates straight from this github (which can be turned off in the configs).

Features

Easy configuration achieved with ffmpeg, all accessible in the configuration section of the script.
Set samplerate, audio channels, volume, and custom flags.

Intuitive drag 'n drop conversion process – converts any audio format to .wav which is then converted to .wem

Script updates, very rare, will require manual configuration migration, due to the choice of not creating a config file for superior portability.

The following command line arguments are available for running the script. Script configs are used by default, but arguments will be preferentially used.

  --ffmpeg      | Path to ffmpeg.exe
  --wwise       | Path to WwiseConsole.exe
  --samplerate  | Audio samplerate, e.g. 48000 (Hz)
  --channels    | Audio channels, e.g. 1, 2
  --volume      | Audio volume, (1.5 = 150%, 0.5 = 50%), or (10dB, -5dB)
  --extra       | Extra flags for ffmpeg
  --conversion  | WWise conversion output e.g. "Vorbis Quality Medium"
  --out         | Output directory

Instead of the typical --flag value convention, the script requires --flag:value. If the flag contains spaces, enclose it in quotes, like so "--flag:long value". This means no files starting with "--", but if you need this to work you can specify the full path (not an issue with drag 'n drop, which does so by default).

Example usage: zSound2wem.cmd --volume:6dB "--conversion:Vorbis Quality Low" "cool music.mp3"

Extra

Internally, it uses both FFmpeg and Wwise for conversion. I documented the script as much as I had patience to.

I use foobar2000 with vgmstream extension to listen to Wwise format audio files.

I use Wwiseutil-gui or BNKReplacer to replace the desired audio files in Wwise sound banks (.bnk). The output format differs a bit I believe, since in some applications one will work but not the other.

Future Development

• Increasing support for customizable automated workflows, or even external config files.
• There are multiple possible methods to implement conversion despite a script update, and albeit it works at the moment, it is possible one of these will be considered:
  1. Complete the conversion first, then update (most safe, conversion will not be most up-to-date — albeit typically updates are only bugfixes anyway)
  2. Pass the conversion arguments through the environment with the start command (may help with tricky characters and related errors)

Changelog

- Version 5

Fixed the out configuration option. Fixed argument parsing where it would incorrectly set the value in key:value if value contained a column. Multiple columns in-between will still get ignored. Added passing of temporary arguments after script updates to complete conversion.

- Version 4

Quality of life, i.e. renamed bitrate to samplerate in order to convey the correct meaning, dB is no longer case-sensitive.

Added support for command line flags to configure conversion settings.

- Version 3

Made automatic updates true by default instead of forced.
Including handling errors better. Does not try to re-run the conversion task by storing arguments in a temp file anymore.

Bug fixes:
- fixed errors that occured if paths to ffmpeg or audio files had special characters like spaces (still, don't try to break it too hard)

Deprecated wmic for a niche part of installation and replaced with a better alternative.

Fixed a few typos, perhaps added more, renamed the default wwise project it creates for conversion.

- Version 2 (Release)

ffmpeg and wwise conversion features, automatic installation and updates,

- Version 1 (Pre-release)

Development proof of concept.

Special thanks

veksha, MST246