how to create new custom voice type?

[Jazwind]

hello guys,

 

I'm currently somewhat interested in creating a Brand New World-style mod that adds in new generic voice types and revoices numerous NPCs to add more diversity to there voice actors. One thing I've noticed in particular with Oblivion is that unlike the various voice types used by Skyrim, Oblivion seems to have one set of voice actors/files for each race and each sex. The base game has a few races using the same voice actor (such as nords and orcs or khajit and argonians) so I'm thinking of creating new voice sets to some of those to avoid duplicates, but that doesn't explain how the game has a completely unique and functional set of generic and unique voice lines for unique characters like Uriel and Martin.

 

So how exactly should I go about creating a new generic voice type and assigning it and the new voice files associated to it to particular NPCs or races/sexes in place of their current ones? is there anyway I can give a unique voice type to specific NPCs like with Martin or Sheogorath and if so how? And is there any resource or application I can use that lays out all the generic and unique voiced lines of dialogue i can browse thru to get a comprehensive Idea of what I'll need to revoice for my new voice types and NPCs?

[Pellape]

The voice files are each recorded by a voice actor, each and every single one and here is a very good example from the recording of the voice of Abnar Tharn in ESO

 

 

I think there is similar clips on Youtube from making Oblivion 15 years ago. The Tharn familly is a pain in the butt for sure but this voice actor is maybe the best of them all I guess and I seen this a couple of times my self. He is very very good at this.

 

If it is pitching the voices or similar, there is one free tool that can do that and I used it when I made voice files for 2 earlier mods of 1 is no longer availabe at all.

Audacity

 

If it is completely new voice acting you wanna add then I guess it will take you a year or 2 to complete a mod like this and where would you find the voice actors? There is voice actors available to hire for modders for sure but do you really wanna do that in a game that has a poor developed AI where the NPC' you met a couple of times greets you as you are a complete stranger to them, as the greetings and their comments sux and I get irritated listen to them as it spoil the immersions for sure so change that part. Some quest NPC do have a proper greeting, like S'krivva as one example, but even she do use some of those common comments time to time. I really think it is better they shut up then making a comment like:

 

-You look very strong, been training as a blacksmith lately?

 

I mean my own merchants in my home project should know what I am up too... ;)

 

I do like this guard comment in Skyrim.

 

-You looks like a conjurer? Could you conjure me a bed?

 

I did conjure him a bed as I do have just such a spell in Skyrim and the guard did ignore it.... ;) But I did it anyway...

 

The only mod left that has voice acting that I made, contains the voice of my GF, a merchant riding around selling shoes and boots that I made to fit some stuff back then... So many did make cool outfits during that period but they all forgot to add suitable footware so I made a lot during couple of weeks. Making the voice files for the other mod together with a sister of mine took 2 days I guess and it did require many re takes and a lot of work until I felt they where okay.

[Jazwind]

The voice files are each recorded by a voice actor, each and every single one and here is a very good example from the recording of the voice of Abnar Tharn in ESO

 

 

I think there is similar clips on Youtube from making Oblivion 15 years ago. The Tharn familly is a pain in the butt for sure but this voice actor is maybe the best of them all I guess and I seen this a couple of times my self. He is very very good at this.

 

If it is pitching the voices or similar, there is one free tool that can do that and I used it when I made voice files for 2 earlier mods of 1 is no longer availabe at all.

Audacity

 

If it is completely new voice acting you wanna add then I guess it will take you a year or 2 to complete a mod like this and where would you find the voice actors? There is voice actors available to hire for modders for sure but do you really wanna do that in a game that has a poor developed AI where the NPC' you met a couple of times greets you as you are a complete stranger to them, as the greetings and their comments sux and I get irritated listen to them as it spoil the immersions for sure so change that part. Some quest NPC do have a proper greeting, like S'krivva as one example, but even she do use some of those common comments time to time. I really think it is better they shut up then making a comment like:

 

-You look very strong, been training as a blacksmith lately?

 

I mean my own merchants in my home project should know what I am up too... :wink:

 

I do like this guard comment in Skyrim.

 

-You looks like a conjurer? Could you conjure me a bed?

 

I did conjure him a bed as I do have just such a spell in Skyrim and the guard did ignore it.... :wink: But I did it anyway...

 

The only mod left that has voice acting that I made, contains the voice of my GF, a merchant riding around selling shoes and boots that I made to fit some stuff back then... So many did make cool outfits during that period but they all forgot to add suitable footware so I made a lot during couple of weeks. Making the voice files for the other mod together with a sister of mine took 2 days I guess and it did require many re takes and a lot of work until I felt they where okay.

actually getting the VAs together and recording their lines isn't the issue for me even with the time/money it'll likely take. The issue I'm trying to find out is how exactly do I go about implimenting their custom voice lines ingame as a voice type for particular races/sexes or unique NPCs like Martin and Uriel. How exactly does one go about implimenting custom voice acting in Oblivion like this. I've seen lots of mods of Oblivion add new voice acting for particular NPCs, but they still use vanilla voice lines mostly for things like the greetings/rumors and generic lines. I want to create a new unique voice type with all the generic lines implimented for say things like female nords instead of using the same ones as orcs but how exactly should I go about doing that?

[Pellape]

Ahh, well I first thought you wanted to edit the whole game... :wink:

 

I have not done it for 12 years so I have to peek in CS but they are store in the dialogues. What I strongly suggest is that you Read the beginners guide do the tutorial about how to make dialogues in CS

 

Shortly, When you write your dialogue, You have a record button at the bottom of that window and the Path to the file gets genereted by automation like:

Data\Sound\Voice\MyMod.esp\Race\Sex\NameOfTopic...

I couldn't follow he path more than that nit do a testrecording and follow the path that will get generated. You then generate a lipfile from that sound file with a button there as well, next to the recording button.

 

I do think I did like this.

 

I hit record, recorded some noice and then opened the file in Audacity, where I did the real recording. I do not remember why I did it that way but there was a reason... Maybe it was because of all retakes I had to make? So when I finally got a recording that I was pleased with. I saved it over the old one and went back to CS to generate the lip movements and that works surprisingly well really, even when a swede like me talks in Swenglish, so I prefer to do voices for Nords as I am a Nord after all... :wink:

 

I might do it again in my current project or just leave out the voices completely... I have not decided yet

Edited December 18, 2020 by Pellape