QUICK NOTES:
- Custom music is only available in SMF2 games using Version C. This means that currently only Jungle Edition supports custom music. SMF2: Retro Edition will also support custom music in the future.
- You can now also make custom music loop. On how to do that, check the bottom of the page.
So, in this tutorial you will find out how to use custom music in SMF2 (Ver. C) & SMF3! Since there are only about 8 actual level themes in the original games (and the others are the Starman theme, goal point music, etc...) and there are only so many themes, custom music could come in very handy for more music variety, and is especially useful for when using a Custom Background with a theme that isn't in the actual game. It might be a bit difficult at first, but once you got the hang of it, it's actually pretty easy!
How to import custom music from a direct source
So to start the tutorial, you will obviously first have to look for the custom music you want to use - you can find plenty of custom music all around the internet. From some websites, you can copy the URL that has the sound file. This is often the case in royalty-free music websites.
- Open SMF2/SMF3. Create a new level, and once you get to the editor, set the music to 19.
- Then save and go back to the Level Editor Menu. Go to code and copy it, and then paste the code in a text editor program of your liking (Word or Notepad for example).
- Copy the URL of the music source page.
- Replace "Undefined" (somewhere at the beginning of the code) in the level code with the URL.
- Delete your current level, paste in the new code and press LOAD.
- Enjoy the custom music!
How to import custom music from YouTube
Can't find any music from direct sources on the internet? An alternative - you can find a lot of music on YouTube, that pretty much has over 5000 music videos just from Mario games! Once you have found the music track you wanna use, follow these steps to add them into your level. Now, importing music from YouTube is a bit more complicated, but you'll get the hang of it after 1 or 2 tries!
- Copy the video URL.
- Go to youtube-mp3.org, paste in the URL in the text area and press Convert Video.
- Download the mp3 file, and open it in a sound editing program of your liking. Windows Movie Maker is a pretty good option, and it also pre-installed on most PC's. If you're new to this program, this page will help you a lot!
- Cut the video at the point where the music ends, so the music will loop well.
- Save the music. If you are using a program that doesn't directly save to mp3's but to other sound files, save them as the other sound file and convert them to mp3 using this handy website.
- Upload the music file to a file host website. If you don't have one, I recommend puush.
- Open SMF2/SMF3. Create a new level, and once you get to the editor, set the music to 19.
- Then save and go back to the Level Editor Menu. Go to code and copy it, and then paste the code in a text editor program of your liking (Word or Notepad for example).
- Replace "Undefined" (somewhere at the beginning of the code) with the URL.
- Delete your current level, paste in the new code and press LOAD.
- Enjoy the custom music!
How to make music loop
- This is actually pretty easy to do!
Troubleshoot
You may sometimes run into issues when using Custom Music. One of these solutions may help:
- Make sure you have an (stable) internet connection when starting your level with custom music. The game will remember the music for about ~10 mins if you lose a connection.
- The music may be too long. You should use custom music of max. 2 mins. This causes less lag when starting the level, and users with a slower PC and/or internet connection will also appreciate it!
- When loading the music for the first time or after a while, the level may turn black if the music is longer than around 1 minute. This is normal - right click, press "Quit", and just try again - it should work now!
Have fun using Custom Music! Hope this tutorial helped!