XACT XWB XSB XGS Audio

General Info

XACT is Microsoft Cross-Platform Audio Creation Tool shared first with Xbox SDK and then with DirectX SDK. It uses XAP file format (XACT project file).
The .xap files are processed at compile-time by the XACT program to xwb, xsb and xgs files:

XWB = XACT Wave Bank - a file format containing a collection of waves. Waves are the raw wave data in wav, aiff or xma format.
XSB = XACT Sound Bank - a collection of sounds and cues.
XGS = XACT General Settings - defines rules and settings for sounds.

The original release of XACT was in 2002 and shipped as part of the Xbox SDK only and was originally called the "Xbox Audio Creation Tool".
Later it was modified to work with Microsoft Windows.

XWB

Format Type : Audio
Endian Order : Little Endian / Big Endian
Signature : WBND / DNBW

XWB Format Specifications

// XWB file format
// Based on XWBTool source code (March 2022)
// Compatible with XACT from DirectX SDK (June 2010)


//header
{
   4 bytes (char) - signature // "WBND" or "DNBW"
   4 bytes (uint32) - tool version (dwVersion / XACT_CONTENT_VERSION) // e.g. 46 for DirectX SDK (June 2010)
   4 bytes (uint32) - file format version (dwHeaderVersion)  // e.g. 44


   // segments list (segment lookup table)
   // 5 segments in total for version 46/44
   num_of_segments *
   {
      4 bytes (uint32) - region offset
      4 bytes (uint32) - region length
   }
}

// segment1 - bank data
{
   4 bytes (uint32) - bank flags (dwFlags)  // FLAGS_ENTRYNAMES = 0x00010000
                                            // FLAGS_COMPACT = 0x00020000
                                            // FLAGS_SYNC_DISABLED = 0x00040000
                                            // FLAGS_SEEKTABLES = 0x00080000
                                            // FLAGS_MASK = 0x000F0000
   4 bytes (uint32) - number of entries in the bank (dwEntryCount)
   64 bytes (char) - bank name (szBankName)  // e.g. "PinkPanther60", it's generated from wav name 
   4 bytes (uint32) - size of each entry meta-data element, in bytes (dwEntryMetaDataElementSize)  // e.g. 4
   4 bytes (uint32) - size of each entry name element, in bytes (dwEntryNameElementSize)  // e.g. 0 or 64
   4 bytes (uint32) - entry alignment, in bytes (dwAlignment)  // e.g. 4

   // format data for compact bank (MINIWAVEFORMAT)
   4 bytes (uint32) - dwValue   //  2 bits - format tag
                                //  3 bits - channel count (1 - 6)
                                //  18 bits - sampling rate
                                //  8 bits - block alignment
                                //  1 bit - bits per sample
   
   // build timestamp
   4 bytes (uint32) - dwLowDateTime
   4 bytes (uint32) - dwHighDateTime
}


// segment2 - entry metadata
{
   num_of_wav_files *
   {
      if entry = ENTRYCOMPACT:
      {
         4 bytes (uint32) - entry meta-data element   // 21 bits - dwOffset (data offset)
                                                      // 11 bits - dwLengthDeviation (data length deviation)
      }
      else:
      {
          x bytes - entry meta-data element
      }  
   }
}


// segment3 - seek tables
// This segment is not used for PCM Audio
// But it's used by any other audio type supported by XWB file format
{
	x bytes - seek tables data
}


// segment4 - entry names
// This segment is skipped if flag OPT_FRIENDLY_NAMES is not set in XWBTool
// Flag is set when "-f" option is passed to XWBTool,
// this is equivalent to checking "Friendly names" checkbox in XACT
{
   num_of_entries *
   {
      64 bytes (char) - entry name + padding  // e.g. "PinkPanther60"
   }
}


// segment5 - wave data
// Basically each entry is WAV file without RIFF header
{
   num_of_wav_files *
   {
       x bytes - wave data
   }
}

XWB Format Specifications (older version from XBOX SDK)

// ARCHIVE HEADER

char {4} - Signature (WBND) uint32 {4} - Tool Version (1, 2 or 3) // DIRECTORIES // Strictly speaking you can seek past this section, it (always?) refers to 4 directories // DIR 1 - WAVE BANK INFO uint32 {4} - Offset uint32 {4} - Length // DIR 2 - FILE RECORDS uint32 {4} - Offset uint32 {4} - Length // DIR 3 - ALWAYS EMPTY? uint32 {4} - Offset uint32 {4} - Length // DIR 4 - FILE DATA uint32 {4} - Offset uint32 {4} - Length // DIR 1 - WAVE BANK INFO uint32 {4} - Flags uint32 {4} - Number of files byte {16} - Wavebank name (Padded with 0's) uint32 {4} - Size of each file record (in dir 2) uint32 {4} - Size of each entry name block uint32 {4} - Offset of file data uint32 {4} - Always null? // DIR 2 - FILE RECORDS // FOR EACH FILE uint16 {2} - Number of channels uint16 {2} - Format tag (0=normal pcm) (1=xbox adpcm) uint32 {4} - Magic value uint32 {4} - File offset (Relative to start of DIR 4) uint32 {4} - File size uint32 {4} - Loop region offset (not sure what this does) uint32 {4} - Loop region length (not sure what this does)

Notes and Comments

XWB files (XACT Wavebanks) contain the audio data and are used in some XBOX and PC games.
XWB files contain following types of audio:

PCM - Standard Wave PCM

Xbox ADPCM - As used by many Xbox games

AIFF

WMA

xWMA

XMA

The PCM audio can be played easily, to play the Xbox ADPCM however you either need to pass it through a decoder (there's one in Psychonauts Explorer) or install the Xbox ADPCM codec.

The Wavebank may not contain any file names. This is because these may be stored in a seperate file - the SoundBank file (.xsb).

XWB audio files may occur along with XNB Archives.

XGS

Format Type : Misc
Endian Order : Little Endian / Big Endian
Signature : XGSF / FSGX

XGS Format Specifications

// Based on XGS file created by XACT from DirectX SDK (June 2010)


// header
4 bytes (char) - signature // "XGSF" or "FSGX"
2 bytes (uint16) - tool version  // e.g. 46
2 bytes (uint16) - file format version  // e.g. 42

// info
2 bytes (uint16) - CRC?
4 bytes (uint32) - last modification date (low value)
4 bytes (uint32) - last modification date (high value)
1 byte (uint8) - platform?   // 3 - PC
                             // 7 - XBOX
2 bytes (uint16) - number of categories
2 bytes (uint16) - number of variables
2 bytes (uint16) - unknown  // 16
2 bytes (uint16) - unknown  // 16
2 bytes (uint16) - number of run-time parameter controls
2 bytes (uint16) - number of DSP presets
2 bytes (uint16) - number of DSP params
4 bytes (uint32) - categories offset
4 bytes (uint32) - variables offset
4 bytes (uint32) - unknown offset   // points to "1"
4 bytes (uint32) - category name index offset
4 bytes (uint32) - unknown offset   // points to "2" and "3"
4 bytes (uint32) - variable name index offset
4 bytes (uint32) - category names offset
4 bytes (uint32) - variable names offset
4 bytes (uint32) - RPC offset  // "FF FF FF FF" if there are no RPCs
4 bytes (uint32) - DSP presets offset  // "FF FF FF FF" if there are no DSP presets
4 bytes (uint32) - DSP params offset  // "FF FF FF FF" if there are no DSP params

// data
x bytes - categories
x bytes - variables
x bytes - categories names
x bytes - variable names

XSB

Format Type : Misc
Endian Order : Little Endian / Big Endian
Signature : SDBK / KBDS

XSB Format Specifications

// Based on XSB file created by XACT from DirectX SDK (June 2010)


// header
4 bytes (char) - signature  // "SDBK" or "KBDS"
2 bytes (uint16) - tool version // e.g. 46
2 bytes (uint16) - file format version  // e.g. 43

// info
2 bytes (uint16) - CRC (FCS16 checksum)
4 bytes (uint32) - last modification date (low value)
4 bytes (uint32) - last modification date (high value)
1 byte (uint8) - platform??  // 0 - PC
                             // 2 - XBOX
2 bytes (uint16) - number of simple cues
2 bytes (uint16) - number of complex cues
2 bytes (uint16) - unknown
2 bytes (uint16) - total number of cues
1 byte (uin8) - number of wavebanks
2 bytes (uint16) - number of sounds
4 bytes (uint32) - cue name table size


// TODO

Notes and Comments

XBox Soundbanks contain the file names for the files in their corresponding Wavebank, along with other, unknown data.

The name of the SoundBank corresponds to the WaveBank usually, eg ASMusic.xwb and ASMusic.xsb. If in doubt though, the SoundBank referrs to its WaveBank internally, so you can check.

Some WaveBanks do not have a corresponding SoundBank.

XAP

Format Type : Misc
Endian Order : Little Endian
Signature : XACT3

Example

// Example project file created by XACT from DirectX SDK (June 2010)

Signature = XACT3;
Version = 18;
Content Version = 46;
Release = June 2010;

Options
{
    Verbose Report = 0;
    Generate C/C++ Headers = 1;
}

Global Settings
{
    Xbox File = Xbox\2010 June_NEW.xgs;
    Windows File = Win\2010 June_NEW.xgs;
    Header File = 2010 June_NEW.h;
    Exclude Category Names = 0;
    Exclude Variable Names = 0;
    Last Modified Low = 3822374669;
    Last Modified High = 30954062;

    Category
    {
        Name = Global;
        Public = 1;
        Background Music = 0;
        Volume = 0;

        Category Entry
        {
        }

        Instance Limit
        {
            Max Instances = 255;
            Behavior = 0;

            Crossfade
            {
                Fade In = 0;
                Fade Out = 0;
                Crossfade Type = 0;
            }
        }
    }

...

SDK Compatibility Table

XACT program was shared with Xbox SDK from 2002 to 2005.
Then it was shared with DirectX SDK from 2006 to 2010.
Below table represents version compatibility for each SDK version.
Whole list of different DirectX SDK executables can be found on web archive.

SDK Version	XWB Tool Version	XWB File Format Version	Example Games Using This SDK
Xbox SDK (unknown)	1	n/a	unknown
Xbox SDK (unknown)	2	n/a	Brute Force (Xbox)
Xbox SDK v5849.15	3	n/a	Jumper: Griffin's Story (X360) ObsCure (XBOX)
Xbox SDK (unknown)	34	n/a	Ninety-Nine Nights (X360)
2006, April	38	n/a	unknown
2006, June	39	n/a	unknown
2006, August	40	n/a	unknown
2006, December 2007, February 2007, April	42	42	unknown
2007, August	43	42	unknown
2008, March 2008, August	44	42	Bully: Scholarship Edition v1.2 (PC) Saints Row 2
2009, March	45	43	The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition v1.0 (PC)
2009, August 2010, February 2010, June	46	44	BlazBlue: Chronophantasma Extend (PC) Bleed v1.7.0 (PC) Nitroplus Blasterz (PC) Skulls of the Shogun Terraria (X360) TowerFall Ascension (PC)

Other Info

quickBMS Script

Not written yet.

Compatible Programs

EkszBox-ABX
foobar2000 + vgmstream plugin (+ source code)
Game Extractor
MonoGame.Framework
Psychonauts Explorer
QuickWaveBank (+ source code)
towav
unxwb (supports version 46/44 and maybe others)
- Example extraction: "unxwb.exe file1.xwb"
xactxtract (supports only version 45/43)
xact360extract
XACT (Xbox Audio Creation Tool)

DirectX SDK default location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft DirectX SDK (<version>)\Utilities\bin\x86\Xact3.exe

XBOX SDK default location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Xbox SDK\xbox\bin\xact.exe

Games

These games use this file format

007 Goldeneye (X360) (*.XWB / *.XGS / *.XSB)
Alan Wake (Bonus Disc)
Bard's Tale (PC)
BlazBlue: Chronophantasma Extend (PC) (*.XWB / *.XSB)
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII (PC)
Bleed (PC) (*.XWB / *.XGS / *.XSB)
Brute Force (Xbox) (*.XWB / *.XSB) (version 2)
Bully: Scholarship Edition
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood (PS3)
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
Crackdown 1 (X360) (*.XWB)
Conker: Live & Reloaded (Xbox)
Darkwatch (XBox) *.xwb
Drakensang
Enchanted Arms (X360)
Full Spectrum Warrior *.xwb
Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers (PC) *.xwb
Ghost Recon 2 (XBox) *.xwb
Gray Matter (*.XWB / *.XSB)
I Maed A Gam3 W1th Z0mb1es 1n It!!!1
Jumper: Griffin's Story (X360) (*.XWB / *.XSB) (version 3)
Just Cause (X360) (*.XWB / *.XSB)
Kameo: Elements of Power (X360)
Kung Fu Strike
Magicka
Minecraft
Ms. Splosion Man (X360)
Ninja Blade (X360)
Nitroplus Blasterz (PC) (no-extension)
Operation Darkness (X360)
Perfect Dark Zero (X360) (*.XWB)
Powerdrome (PC) *.xwb
Psychonauts *.xwb
Return To Castle Wolfenstein: Tide Of War (XBox) *.xwb
Saint Row 2
SBK 08 Superbike World Championship (PC)
Skulls of the Shogun
Star Trek Shattered Universe (XBox) *.xwb
Sudeki (PC) *.xwb
Supreme Commander (PC)
Terraria
The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (PC) (*.XWB / *.XGS / *.XSB)
Trials HD (Xbox) *.xwb
Top Spin 2 (PC)
TowerFall Ascension (PC) (*.XWB / *.XGS / *.XSB)
Two Worlds (PC)
Unreal Championship 2 (XBox) *.xwb
Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict (XBox) *.xwb
Worms Reloaded (*.XWB / *.XGS / *.XSB)
Xblaze Code: Embryo
Yager (PC)

Gallery

Quick Wave Bank
XACT v3.0 (from DirectX SDK June 2010)
XACT from Xbox SDK v5849.15
Help file for XACT

XACT XWB XSB XGS Audio

Contents

General Info

XWB

XWB Format Specifications

XWB Format Specifications (older version from XBOX SDK)

Notes and Comments

XGS

XGS Format Specifications

XSB

XSB Format Specifications

Notes and Comments

XAP

Example

SDK Compatibility Table

Other Info

quickBMS Script

Compatible Programs

Games

See Also

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