Spec Ops: The Line

Spec Ops: The Line

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Extracting Audio Files from Spec Ops
By Yossarian the Assyrian
This guide will show how to locate and extract audio files from Spec Ops: The Line. You will only need the base game and a UPK Extractor to do it yourself.
   
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Getting Started
Spec Ops: The Line uses the .ogg format for its audio files. In theory, this should make it easy to extract and listen to them. However, they are stored within .upk files under a unique file format, so you cannot simply grab them out of the game files.

To extract Spec Ops's audio files, you will need some UPK Modding Tools. The tools I use can be found on the Nexus Forums here[forums.nexusmods.com].

BE WARNED that the Mediafire link has set off my Antivirus alerts both times I have used it, so it might be unsafe. If you would rather use a safer link, I made a mirror download of the original tools on Dropbox[www.dropbox.com].

The tools might say they are for XCOM: Enemy Unknown, but they work just as well for Spec Ops.
Where to Find Audio Files
The audio files for Spec Ops can be found in Steam\steamapps\common\SpecOps_TheLine\SRGame\CookedPCConsole. Voice lines can be specifically found in .upk files ending in "SF_LOC_INT".



Audio files for major characters can be found with the "AI_Feedback" heading. These are general use and are usually divided up into 4 segments, with shared pain/death sounds and some different voice lines. Files with the SP_ heading handle parts of single player levels. This can include unique lines and sounds from players, enemies, and other characters.

To explain some terms used in the files, "Elite" refers to Zulu Squad enemies, "Commando" means Bayonet Runners, "Marine" means the Epilogue soldiers, "MP" means multiplayer-related content, and "Marauder" and "Looter" refer to refugee/insurgent enemies. Lines for 33rd Infantry are listed as "enemy," "soldier," "officer," "radio," and "sniper."
Using the UPK Tools
It's important to note that these .upk files are compressed, so they will need to be decompressed before we extract audio from them. To do this, copy any .upk file you want audio from and paste it into the folder listed as "UPK Decompressor." As an example, I will use one of the files for the Damned Gunner from multiplayer.



Select the file called "AIFeedback_MP_KGunne_s1_SF_LOC_INT.upk" and drag it onto the "decompress.exe" program. A short pause should happen. After that, open up the "unpacked" folder. A larger version of the files should be inside of it. This is the decompressed .upk file.



Copy that decompressed file and paste it into the folder listed as "UPK Extractor".



After that, drag the decompressed file onto "extract.exe" program. After a moment, a folder should appear with the same name as the decompressed file. This folder contains everything within that .upk file.



The audio we need will be in this folder.
Identifying and Converting Audio Files
Each extracted folder will appear differently depending on what its heading is. AI_Feedback headings usually only have 1 or 2 audio files, while SP_ headings have multiple audio files split up among folders.



In this case, we will find what we need in AIFeedback_MP_KGunne_s1_SF_LOC_INT\AIFeedback_MP_KGunne_s1\Generic. Go into the "AIFeedback_MP_KGunne_s1 folder," then go into the "Generic" folder.



Files with the format of .YFMODResource_VSB or .YFMODResource_FSB are actually .ogg audio files. All it takes to make them accessible is to change their extension from .YFMODResource_VSB to .ogg. Confirm that you want to rename it when prompted.



After you rename it, you should be able to listen to it on music players like Groove Music. Video editors like Shotcut should also be able to recognize and use it...though that is not always the case. I will go over that inconsistency in the "Issues & Workarounds" section.



An extracted single player level's .upk file looks like this:



In this case, the audio files are located in the Mission01A folder. They are divided up among 4 segments of the level, each one containing its own collection of voice lines for Walker, Adams, and Lugo. Konrad's distress signal can also be extracted here.



Again, the files with the .YFMODResource_VSB extension are the ones you are looking for. Convert them to .ogg just like before to make them accessible.



Some single player level files will have folders for ambient noises and battle chatter. These have the prefix of AM_, and can contain files for both allies and enemies.



As mentioned before, enemies can have different names and number listings in these folders. Here, you will find that the refugee/insurgent enemies are called "Looter" and "Marauder", along with numbers to set different voice actors apart.

Converting Multiple Audio Files at Once
Thank you to Ramenoodles for explaining how to do this.

1. When extracted, you can search all sound files by simply searching "YFMODResource_VSB".
2. Then you can copy all the sounds to one same folder (it will ask if you would like to overwrite files, because some sounds have same names, you need to copy all of them without any overwriting).
3. Then you create a text file with rename *.YFMODResource_VSB *.ogg, save it and turn it into a .bat file.
4. Then you simply run the batch file, and all of .YFMODResource_VSB files will become .ogg.

Issues and Workarounds
AUDIO FILES NOT LOADING PROPERLY

The converted ogg files will usually work with video editors. However, they do not always load. I have not found a pattern or reason for this, but some files work perfectly while others are rejected by the programs. The buggy files may sometimes have their opening/closing audio cut off, too.

To get around this, I play the audio through Groove Music and record it in Audacity. I then export the recorded audio as a .wav file, which makes it usable by most audio and video editing programs. The sound quality may change a little, but it is not a significant downgrade from the original audio.


In the above example, the Marauder's last line was slightly cut off. You may have to re-record endings or introductions to get all of the audio from a file.


TROUBLE FINDING A SPECIFIC LEVEL

The SP_ files names don't match up with the chapters in-game. Here is a close approximation of what each file name refers to:
  • SP_Desert = Initial chapters where you fight Insurgents (chapters 1 and 2).
  • SP_Atrium = Last battles with Insurgents, encounter with Agent Kastavin, first fights with 33rd (chapters 3 and 4).
  • SP_Gorge = Search for Agent Daniels, meeting Agent Gould (chapters 5 and 6).
  • SP_CityGate = Saving Gould, White Phosphorus level (chapters 7 and 8).
  • SP_Road = First talk with Konrad, sniper choice (chapter 9).
  • SP_StealingWater = Working with Agent Riggs (chapter 10).
  • SP_DollsHouse = The Mall (chapter 11).
  • SP_RadioMan = Tower battles, confrontation with Radioman (chapter 12).
  • SP_ShipsGraveyard = Post-crash, Walker reunites with Adams, civilian choice (chapter 13).
  • SP_Bridge = The Bridge (chapter 14).
  • SP_BurjDubai = Final level and choices (chapter 15).
  • SP_Epilogue = Epilogue chapter and choices.
Closing Notes
I have already uploaded some voice line compilations from Spec Ops onto YouTube. You can find a playlist of them here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_WJf9Uk7YWERwuIjCMWdYnfbXE7ikAV5

You can also extract music and sound effects from the game with these methods. Sound effects will be located in the files ending in "K", "FX", or "sfx". Music is usually referred to as such in the file names. Cutscene audio can be found in files ending with "SEQ".

If any other issues come up when using this guide, please let me know. Thank you for reading, and I hope you find this to be useful!
18 Comments
Yossarian the Assyrian  [author] 18 Nov, 2024 @ 4:05pm 
@SniperSamir

The YFMODResource_VSB files have all sounds, including gun sounds.
SniperSamir 18 Nov, 2024 @ 2:32pm 
What files are the gun sounds?
Yossarian the Assyrian  [author] 29 Jul, 2024 @ 4:06pm 
devildwarf pulled it off with the music, but I'm not sure about how he did that (or if the sounds are possible).
iZak 29 Jul, 2024 @ 3:20pm 
Can I replace sounds or music in the files?
Мартин Уокер 14 Jul, 2024 @ 7:21am 
Thanks for the advice. I've already figured it out myself using VLC
Yossarian the Assyrian  [author] 14 Jul, 2024 @ 7:17am 
Sure. Just record them in an audio-editing software like Audacity and export them as MP3s.
Мартин Уокер 14 Jul, 2024 @ 5:39am 
And the files that turned out, can they somehow be converted to Mp3 format?
Мартин Уокер 15 May, 2024 @ 8:03am 
Фишки, работают! Теперь я могу сделать видео по всем звукам смерти из игры в русском дубляже! Спасибо тебе, бро!
Yossarian the Assyrian  [author] 25 Jun, 2023 @ 11:06am 
You can also use the UPK Decompressor & Extractor to get level/texture files out.
Malotru Technocrate 25 Jun, 2023 @ 11:02am 
Hmmm, good. What about level map + textures extraction?
I tried to rip through ninjaripper, looks messy