YEAHHH LUA SCRIPTS BEGONE
Couldn't Be Easier to PACK your TRACKS now Babeyy

IF YOU'RE UPDATING AN EXISTING PACK:

No longer requires a stupid Lua script!
Remove the lua script and change your sound directory to match this:
addons/YourCustomModFolder/sound/nextfx/customtracks/
then make folders named layer0 layer1 layer2 etc, and divide your sounds amongst those folders like you did in the lua file
(proper etiquette: add unique tag to the beginning of your sound names for UI cleanliness)
valid path: addons/YourCustomModFolder/sound/nextfx/customtracks/layer1/yourMod-BrainShart.ogg
Done! Toastyy. Update with GMPublisher.
Thanks for doing that, I'll try not to break your packs ever again!



IF YOU'RE NEW TO MAKING PACKS (wow!)

Hey bestie! Example upload if you want something to decompile:
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3539175113
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eQoIyTikSJVMGebuCM5Ua1gqWovA-_ZE?usp=sharing

tracks must be .ogg, with a sample rate of 44100hz, Audacity is free and easy to export anything into .ogg with

IMPORTANT! layer0 Sounds MUST be Mono / single-channel audio (blame gmod for this one (easy fix with Audacity, highlight the whole track, at the top click Tracks, Mix, Mix Stereo down to Mono))
Stereo works for the rest.



1. GAME IS CLOSED, RIGHT? Okay, good job, create a folder with a good name for your custom tracks inside steamapps/common/GarrysMod/garrysmod/addons/

2. now, inside /addons/YourCustomModFolder/, make a folder named sound

3. inside /YourCustomModFolder/sound/, create a folder named nextfx

4. inside /sound/nextfx/, create a folder named customtracks

5. inside /nextfx/customtracks/ is where you will create your layer folders

layer0
layer1
layer2
layer3
layer4

6. place your .ogg's inside of /nextfx/customtracks/layer#, depending on which layer they replace
(proper etiquette: add unique tag to the beginning of your sound names for UI cleanliness)
valid path: addons/YourCustomModFolder/sound/nextfx/customtracks/layer1/yourMod-BrainShart.ogg


7. F#$k yeah! Launch the game and test your tracks, making sure the volume is to your liking. You can disable all defaults in the track config panel (in Spawnmenu Options, or with command nextfx_tracks)

If we're all set, use a tool like gmpublisher to upload your module to the workshop. The addon folder you select for upload will specifically be the one we made, GarrysMod/garrysmod/addons/YourCustomModFolder <<

want to use the PNG created for this mod's icon in YOUR upload? Here you go!
https://i.imgur.com/2ZQQdDU.png


8. You may now remove the folder from your addons and subscribe to it on the Workshop if you're happy with it, or do what I do and put it into addons/unused (make the 'unused' folder which won't load it in-game) just in case you want to update it later. though you can also check your Workshop page's ChangeNotes to download the .gma archive!



Potential Issues (snd_restart in console to update sound files with game open):


)) the volume might seem too low or loud in game

- easy with Audacity, adjust the track's Gain slider (marked with - and +) remember that source engine is sensitive, only adjust a few db then re-export


)) advanced volume troubles (song stuff for layer1)

- In Audacity, the volume meter at the top should be completely filling / passing red but also dipping back under (seems loud, but gmod likes this!)
- - Check out Audacity's filters. Highlight your audio, click Effects, try Volume & Compression - Compressor, once or twice if there are quiet sections.
- - If the audio itself sounds bad at these volume levels, you can try Effects > EQ and Filters > Bass and Treble.. and lower the bass -3.25 db at a time
- - - There's plenty other cool stuff that can be utilized, like Reverb, Reverse, Paulstretch, to get audio sounding creepier.



Take a look at the screenshots in my Silent Hill 2 pack for an example of the structure with different sounds / directories.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3539239202


Having problems? Drop a comment here so I can assist you!