Sorry for the long-winded title, but I'm not sure how else to describe it.

I want to include a .wav in my map using an ambient_generic, to make some music in the background.

I check play everywhere, and the volume remains constant throughout the map, however, when you turn around, you can tell which direction the actual entity is, so it sounds like the sound is being played from somewhere inside the play area, which is not what I want a music track to sound like.

Is there any way around that directional effect? Or is there any workaround I could use to include music in my map through other means?

Your problem:Your solution:Four of the same ambient_generic entities spread out, think surround sound. I've never actually tried this with music...but it works for sound effects. It's worth a shot.

You don't need to work around it if you're using a mod directory, all you have to do is rename your music file to be the same as one of the game's originals, then put it in the required directory (I think It's Media or something, not sure.) That'll make it play just like original music, so you just have to select the track number you want to play.

If this isn't single player though, this won't help.

Don't EVER do thisI tried this in the past, and it causes screeching plus they are usually out of sync with the others.Not to mention, you can still hear the sounds spinning around you quite clearly when you turn, unfortunately.

If its for CS or HLDM or something, then the workaround I'd recommend is to put a hollow box either at the very top or very bottom of the mapping grid (center it, though), and place your sound in there. There's no way to get rid of this without using Spirit's FMOD, but you can put it far away enough so that it sounds like it never changes.

meh i never had any problems with it...although I do see were some problems could arise.

Maybe checking the Play Everywhere flag fixes it, as the sound will now play throughout the entire map. Not sure if this actually terminates the sound_from_one_direction issue though. Best to try it out.

weird i never had this type of problem with ambients in goldsourse...

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Thanks for the help 3mil, but unfortunatley, I tried that and it didn't help at all, indeed, it was worse, as worldcrafter warned.

As for srry's solution, I'm mapping using my WON installation, so I'll have to wait until I switch to steam before I can do your solution. (there is no media folder in WON half life to my knowledge)

Muzzleflash, My current set up has the ambient_generic with the play everywhere tag. The sound still changes directionally, even though the volume remains constant.

I guess there's nothing to do about it, unless you make changes to the code, or go for fmod, which might not be a solution anyway.

there is no media folder in WON half life to my knowledge

To my knowledge the logo.avi file and all half-life music files are in the media folder in WON (in the PAK file). Create one yourself and look at the names of the music files in the PAK file.

uhm...in the WON version the music files were on the CD.

Besides ATDestroy, using a .wav file to play music would be a bad idea. For one thing, your talking a pretty hefty file size and then obviously theres the directional issue you're having (as I have noticed myself in the past)

I personally have a problem with downloading a load of custom content to my valve folder for a small map.

There's always spirit and the mini-mod format. Then you can use mp3's.

Sorry, i just like mini-mods.

Right... forgot about that. There is a media folder tho.

How does one go about using FMOD, anyway?

I believe its essentially an mp3 player, but don't quote me on that.

You can copy the music files from the CD and have them play from your HD though, so it should work. And the first time I saw this done was with WON.

I'll try this after I get home from school today, I was too bogged down in papers last night. I'll let you know how it goes