Wonky Sound Glitches

[MaXiMiUS]

Most of the time, sound plays fine in Oblivion for me.

 

Sometimes, though, it just cuts out, and no sound plays, despite the fact that I know the NPC is present in Vanilla Oblivion, essentially unmodified. They just don't have anything to say.

 

One example in particular, Mephala.

 

"Well done, little webspinner. Is there a prettier sight than friends at war? Take pleasure in the strife you have caused, mortal. Savor the divine essence of a well-spun plot. And here's a little needle to help you stitch your own tangled tapestries."

 

That's the line I was expecting her to say. Instead, I get:

 

"Well done, little webspinner. Is there a prettier sight than friends at war? Take pleasure in the strife you have caused, mortal."

 

This is a fairly widespread problem for me, I've noticed several NPCs "talk" to me (lips flapping away), but no sound.

 

I have Elys Universal Silent Voice, which is the reason I'm able to see their mouths flapping even though no sound is playing.

 

Removing Elys USV does not fix the missing/cut-off sound files.

 

My Oblivion.ini is set to allow up to 64 sound channels, which should be more than enough (default is 32).

 

I also have ArchiveInvalidationInvalidated!.bsa installed (added it to my .ini by hand).

 

My mod list (FYI: the bottom 4 mods are completely my own work, and I don't really want them loading any earlier):

 

Active Mod Files:

00 Oblivion.esm

01 You Are Here.esm

02 Francesco's Leveled Creatures-Items Mod.esm

03 Francesco's Optional New Items Add-On.esm

04 Cobl Main.esm [Version 1.72]

05 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm [Version 1.34]

06 Mart's Monster Mod.esm [Version 3.7b3p3]

07 Enhanced Daedric Invasion.esm

08 FCOM_Convergence.esm [Version 0.9.9a7]

09 Armamentarium.esm [Version 1.35]

0A Artifacts.esm [Version 1.1]

0B Better Cities Resources.esm

0C Progress.esm [Version 2.2]

0D Unofficial Oblivion Patch.esp [Version 3.2.0]

0E UOP Vampire Aging & Face Fix.esp [Version 1.0.0]

0F Oblivion Citadel Door Fix.esp

10 DLCShiveringIsles.esp

11 Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch.esp [Version 1.4.0]

12 Better Cities .esp

13 Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Bosses.esp

14 Francesco's Optional Chance of Stronger Enemies.esp

15 Francesco's Optional Chance of More Enemies.esp

16 Francesco's Optional Leveled Guards.esp

++ Francesco's Dark Seducer Weapons Patch.esp

++ FCOM_Francescos.esp [Version 0.9.9]

++ FCOM_FrancescosItemsAddOn.esp [Version 0.9.9]

17 FCOM_FrancescosNamedBosses.esp [Version 0.9.9]

18 Natural_Weather_HDR_by_Max_Tael.esp

19 Natural_Habitat_by_Max_Tael.esp

1A Enhanced Water v2.0 HD.esp

++ Enhanced Water v2.0 HD - SI Addon.esp [Version 0.1]

++ Symphony of Violence.esp

1B MIS Low Wind.esp

1C MIS New Sounds Optional Part.esp

1D Atmospheric Oblivion.esp

1E Storms & Sound.esp

1F AmbientDungeons.esp [Version 1.3]

20 Book Jackets Oblivion.esp

++ Item interchange - Extraction.esp [Version 0.76]

21 Crowded Roads Revisited.esp [Version 1.1]

22 DLCHorseArmor.esp

23 DLCHorseArmor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]

24 DLCOrrery.esp

25 DLCOrrery - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.3]

26 DLCVileLair.esp

27 DLCVileLair - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]

28 DLCMehrunesRazor.esp

29 DLCMehrunesRazor - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.4]

2A DLCSpellTomes.esp

++ DLCSpellTomes - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.1]

** Book Jackets DLC.esp

** GrimbotsSpellTomes.esp

** RustyItems.esp

2B DLCThievesDen.esp

2C DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.5]

2D DLCThievesDen - Unofficial Patch - SSSB.esp [Version 1.0.4]

2E Cobl Glue.esp [Version 1.72]

2F Cobl Si.esp [Version 1.63]

30 OOO 1.32-Cobl.esp [Version 1.72]

++ FCOM_Cobl.esp [Version 0.9.9]

31 Bob's Armory Oblivion.esp

32 FCOM_BobsArmory.esp [Version 0.9.9]

33 Oblivion WarCry EV.esp

34 FCOM_WarCry.esp [Version 0.9.9]

35 Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esp [Version 1.34]

++ ArmamentariumLLVendors.esp [Version 1.35]

36 ArmamentariumArtifacts.esp [Version 1.35]

37 Mart's Monster Mod - Additional Enemy NPC Vars.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

38 FCOM_Convergence.esp [Version 0.9.9]

++ FCOM_EntropicOrderRebalance.esp [Version 0.9.9beta2]

39 FCOM_RealSwords.esp [Version 0.9.9]

3A Mart's Monster Mod - More Wilderness Life No Gates.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

++ Mart's Monster Mod - More Passive Wildlife.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

++ FCOM_SaferRoads.esp [Version 0.9.9]

3B Mart's Monster Mod - Extra Wounding.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

++ Mart's Monster Mod - Looting NPCs & Creatures.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

++ Mart's Monster Mod - Less Bone Loot.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

3C Mart's Monster Mod - Zombies for Body Meshes.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

3D Mart's Monster Mod - Safer Quest Locations.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

3E Mart's Monster Mod - Dungeons of MMM.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

3F Mart's Monster Mod - Hunting & Crafting.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

40 Mart's Monster Mod - Farm Animals.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

++ Mart's Monster Mod - Diverse Runeskulls Loot OOO.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

++ FCOM_DiverseGuardUnity.esp [Version 0.9.9]

++ FCOM_BobsGuardUnity.esp [Version 0.9.9]

++ FCOM_HungersUnitySI.esp [Version 0.9.9]

** FCOM_FriendlierFactions.esp [Version 0.9.9]

41 FCOM_MoreRandomSpawns.esp [Version 0.9.9]

42 FCOM_MoreRandomItems.esp [Version 0.9.9]

++ Mart's Monster Mod - Shivering Isles.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

++ ArmamentariumLL4OOO.esp [Version 2.01]

++ ArmamentariumLLMagicOOO.esp [Version 1.35]

43 OOO-WaterFish.esp [Version 1.34]

++ MMM-Cobl.esp [Version 1.69]

44 Artifacts.esp [Version 1.1]

++ Artifacts - ArmaCompleteAddon.esp [Version 1.0]

45 DLCBattlehornCastle.esp

46 DLCBattlehornCastle - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.4]

47 DLCFrostcrag.esp

48 DLCFrostcrag - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.4]

49 Knights.esp

4A Knights - Unofficial Patch.esp [Version 1.0.9]

4B RTT.esp

4C The Lost Spires.esp

4D Mighty Umbra.esp

++ FCOM_MightyUmbra.esp [Version 0.9.9]

++ FCOM_Knights.esp [Version 0.9.9]

++ FCOM_Ruin.esp [Version 0.9.9]

4E Enhanced Daedric Invasion.esp

++ FCOM_EnhancedDaedricInvasion.esp [Version 0.9.9]

4F Natural_Vegetation_by_Max_Tael.esp

++ ScriptIcon_Replacer.esp

50 Storms & Sound - The Lost Spires.esp

51 Storms & Sound - Better Cities.esp

** SRJIrresponsibleHorses.esp

52 Quest Award Leveller.esp

++ Quest Award Leveller - Battlehorn Castle.esp

++ Quest Award Leveller - Vile Lair.esp

++ Quest Award Leveller - Mehrunes Razor.esp

++ Quest Award Leveller - Knights of the Nine.esp

53 Alternate Start Revamped.esp

54 RealisticFatigue.esp

55 RealisticHealth.esp

56 Disenchant.esp

57 RefScope.esp [Version 2.0.2]

58 SupremeMagicka.esp [Version 0.90]

59 SM_ShiveringIsles.esp [Version 0.86]

++ SM_DLCSpellTome.esp [Version 0.80]

++ SM_OOO.esp [Version 0.89]

++ SM_MMM.esp [Version 0.89]

++ SM_COBL.esp [Version 0.86]

5A SM_EnchantStaff.esp [Version 0.80]

++ SM_UnlockSpells.esp [Version 0.70]

++ SM_Scrolls.esp [Version 0.84]

++ SM_SigilStone.esp [Version 0.83]

5B EnchantmentRestore.esp

++ EnchantmentRestore_Wells.esp

5C MerchantFriendsBuysStolen.esp [Version 2.0]

5D RenGuardOverhaul.esp

5E Enhanced Mercantile Progress.esp [Version 2.0]

5F ProgressGSD.esp [Version 2.0]

60 ProgressMBSP.esp [Version 2.0]

61 ProgressSBSP.esp [Version 1.0]

62 ProgressRBSP.esp [Version 1.0]

63 ProgressRacial.esp

64 ProgressArmorer.esp [Version 1.0]

65 RealisticLeveling.esp

++ Item interchange - Placement.esp [Version 0.76]

++ Item interchange - Placement for FCOM.esp [Version 0.76]

++ Item interchange - Placement for Frostcrag.esp [Version 0.76]

++ Item interchange - Option, Ingredients in Bulk, reduced.esp [Version 0.76]

++ Mart's Monster Mod - Resized Races.esp [Version 3.7b3p3]

66 Cobl Races.esp [Version 1.52]

** Cobl Races TNR.esp [Version 1.53]

** Cobl Races TNR SI.esp [Version 1.53]

++ Cobl Races - Balanced.esp [Version 1.52]

67 Better Cities Full.esp

68 Better Cities - Ruined Tail's Tale.esp

69 Better Imperial City.esp

6A Better Imperial City FPS Patch.esp

6B Better Cities - COBL.esp [Version 2]

6C Better Cities Full FPS Patch.esp

++ KoldornsImprovedLava2.esp

6D Visually Enchanted.esp

6E Cobl Silent Equip Misc.esp [Version 01]

6F Bashed Patch, 0.esp

70 Oblivion Graphics Extender Support.esp [Version 0.2]

71 Streamline 3.1.esp

72 PrimesHealthRegen.esp

73 DistantVanillaFollowers.esp

74 Feed Your Vampire.esp

75 ShadowmereEnhanced.esp

76 FrostcragBetterFamiliars.esp

 

 

 

Is there any way I can verify that my Oblivion - Voices1.bsa and Oblivion - Voices2.bsa files aren't corrupted?

 

I generated hashes for my copies of those files, if anyone could do the same and compare, I'd appreciate it :)

 

File: Oblivion - Voices1.bsa

CRC-32: 80cd528b

MD4: 07d50f2ad125a56e6adbaaf20a552f91

MD5: bb6e998dcea77954e3e547a56ed11240

SHA-1: de31c6282faaf3df4493d30f4ab9f88c1d8cd91d

 

File: Oblivion - Voices2.bsa

CRC-32: ad15f822

MD4: 021670b75ef46072d8cc3333de0da7c5

MD5: a5a4ac74d56a52d95f3c71bb07725661

SHA-1: 273404d08921b5a44f2f39739c16604b577bfebd

[yeldarb]

Use the CS to open Oblivion.esm and see what voice belongs to each race. Open Bashed Patch and see what is different. Make a new esp to reset the vanilla voices and put it after the Bashed Patch in your load order.

[MaXiMiUS]

Use the CS to open Oblivion.esm and see what voice belongs to each race. Open Bashed Patch and see what is different. Make a new esp to reset the vanilla voices and put it after the Bashed Patch in your load order.

 

Alright.. after some digging, I found the dialog FormIDs:

 

000579DB: "Well done, little webspinner. Is there a prettier sight than friends at war? Take pleasure in the strife you have caused, mortal."

 

000579DC: "Savor the divine essence of a well-spun plot. And here's a little needle to help you stitch your own tangled tapestries."

 

000579DB behaves perfectly normally, the sound plays and everything. 000579DC, which (to my understanding) should play IMMEDIATELY after 000579DB, does not. I've tried half a dozen times, it never plays, it just skips this and gives me the Ebony Blade.

 

According to TES4Edit, none of my mods edit these dialog entries. My Bashed Patch does edit some sound entries, but only two, and those are simply bow sounds, nothing to do with voices.

 

I use Wyre Bash 284, Tes4Edit 2.5.3 and BOSS to sort my mods. All mergable mods are merged into my Bashed Patch.

 

I have absolutely no idea where to even begin with your suggestion "Make a new esp to reset the vanilla voices," -- I'm no stranger to the CS, but this sounds like a horrendous amount of work for something that should be much MUCH simpler to resolve :(

[yeldarb]

The races have specific voices. Nords and Orcs use the same voices for male and female.Breton males use a Breton male voice,but a breton female uses an Imperial female voice. The comments they make are changed by thier reaction to your race/fame/infamy/factions. Your Character might not be "evil" enough for you to recieve the added dialogue from Mephala. I have found that certain mods change the default voices and this does cause an Npc's lips moving,no sound problem.

[MaXiMiUS]

The races have specific voices. Nords and Orcs use the same voices for male and female.Breton males use a Breton male voice,but a breton female uses an Imperial female voice. The comments they make are changed by thier reaction to your race/fame/infamy/factions. Your Character might not be "evil" enough for you to recieve the added dialogue from Mephala. I have found that certain mods change the default voices and this does cause an Npc's lips moving,no sound problem.

 

I'm definitely playing an evil character -- I'm the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood and the Gray Fox of the Thieves Guild. Not to mention, I'm a Vampire. Not sure how much more evil I could get, really.

 

Telling me I'm not "evil" enough to get this line of dialog (yet still get the Ebony Blade) confuses me. I've murdered hundreds.

 

"Savor the divine essence of a well-spun plot. And here's a little needle to help you stitch your own tangled tapestries."

 

I got the Ebony Blade, that dialog never played though.

[yeldarb]

I ran a few characters thruogh Mephala's quest and I never got the last dialogue either. I tried adjusting race/fame/infamy. I will try and do this quest with vanilla only,but I won't know if it is a Betheda glitch until tomorrow afternoon.EDIT I played with vanilla GOTY disc 1. I did not get the dialogue again.