[Stirk] Please participate! Were the silent voices too long?

[Sload]

Because of the way Oblivion is set up, the location of the voice file for each line of dialogue is hardcoded. This means that even if the voice files are the same, each line needs to have its own file.

Because of this difficulty, even though there are only 3 files of silent voices which total about 200 kilobytes, they have to be copied so many times that the sounds for version 0.85 take up almost 20 megabytes of space.

We are looking into every way possible to cut down this filesize. One possible way would be to shorten the length of the silent files. This is the reason for the poll above. Please also post if there was a specific length which you found lasted especially long.

In addition, if you know of any other method, feel free to post it and I will see if it works.

[Noirgrim]

I don't know much about sound files, but is there a way to compress the sound file to almost nothing, since the file is just silence.

Also, how is the silence being generated? Because if it is just a recording of nothing, then my guess is that it would not compress, but if the silence was generated through a program, such as 'CoolEdit' (what I have), my guess is that the file could be comprssed to almost nothing.

Just some suggestions.

[Haplo]

The silent files were created by me hitting 'record' for 1, 3, 5, and 8 seconds without plugging a microphone in. They were created as .wma files and I converted them to .mp3 and uploaded them. I didn't try and compress them at all.

[Morden]

I noticed that the sound files weren't long enough for Morihatha Stirk's quest dialogue. Seemed as though the sound files were missing from her.

[Sload]

Unless they were missing from all of them they shouldn't've been missing from her. I'll check it, but it may be that I used some 5 seconds when I should have used 8.

[ko2fan]

2 suggestions. Although 1 is XP only.

1) Use hard links, this will mean only the original files needed and then the hard links all point to those original files. (NTFS only)

2) Use a script (bat file perhaps) that copies the original files to all the other files needed, thereby not requiring downloading 20mb of the same files.

You can reduce the bitrate (unless the game requires a specific bitrate) to make the original files smaller.
--
garfield

[Orix]

I think Oblivion requires a specific bitrate (mp3, 44KHz, 16 bit), although I cant say I've tried other bitrates as I assumed they wouldn't work.

The only problem with intsalling the sound files is they can't have the same name, they all have a specific registered file name that links it to the line of dialogue afaik. Unless you could script it so the file name is changed from the original as its installed I cant see any other way of it working.

Personally, the only problem I see with it being 20mb is the bandwidth it would cost the TR site. In that case, could we not simply upload the file onto PlanetElderscrolls or something of the like when its done?

[Guest]

hi
I just installed the mod, I think the silent voice files are too short!! (english is not my native language but I usually get along).

[Morden]

I went back for a second look at stirk. Pretty much every NPC needs a longer silence. I read quick, but I can't keep up. Was OoT updated in the public downloads thread? I'm using the download that was available last night.

[Sload]

I'm taking this to mean that the silent voices aren't working. Orix, would you be able to look into it?

[CleverClothe]

Yea, all of the custom dialog was lasting at most 1.5 seconds (maybe 2).

I also saw the topic "TR07Stirk" a lot.

[ko2fan]

Personally, the only problem I see with it being 20mb is the bandwidth it would cost the TR site. In that case, could we not simply upload the file onto PlanetElderscrolls or something of the like when its done?

I doubt an extra 20mb would be a huge problem, but not everyone has 10mbps broadband, the extra 20mb would make for longer downloads, theres even people out there on dialup *shock* *horror*

It should be pretty simple to have the script do a copy of the original files to the names of all the files needed.

--
garfield

[Sload]

It only took up about 200 kilobytes when compressed into the .rar.

But this is not going to be 20 megabytes forever. It will probably be 30 or 40 by the time Stirk is done. Then Hammerfell will be well over 100.

[Vernon]

As Noir already said, you can compress these files properly - what format are they in? I can do this for you if you like, but it's probably too late now, as the news has been posted at ESF and moddb.

You could use an app like RazorLame to compress them properly. Again, you should use proper silence - because what Haplo made is not actually silence, but in fact just very quiet 'noise.'

[Breedonian]

too short on most of them, not by much however

[Sload]

As Noir already said, you can compress these files properly - what format are they in? I can do this for you if you like, but it's probably too late now, as the news has been posted at ESF and moddb.

You could use an app like RazorLame to compress them properly. Again, you should use proper silence - because what Haplo made is not actually silence, but in fact just very quiet 'noise.'

The files are in the READ THIS OR THE KITTY GETS IT thread in Internal Discussion.

I have a feeling, though, that 8 seconds is longer than anyone reads to need even the longest line. I'm thinking about trying with 2, 4, 6 seconds instead.

[Lady Nerevar]

the files are WAY too short, or arent working at all. i barly had time to skim the dialogue before it moves on.

[Sload]

They're not working. We need to figure out why.

[Slitherazki]

Was my posts moved?

[Noirgrim]

Because even though we sympathize with your internet situation, we need to keep threads organized and focused on the title or direction of the thread. Talk about Lore in a post designated for Stirk voice files is stretching it a bit far.

[dalen]

Personally, the only problem I see with it being 20mb is the bandwidth it would cost the TR site. In that case, could we not simply upload the file onto PlanetElderscrolls or something of the like when its done?

How about using Bittorrent?

[Orix]

Bandwidth doesn't seem to be an issue anymore.

Has anyone here tried the "300 lore dialogue mod" for Oblivion? It adds dialogue similar to that from Morrowind, and uses some sort of .bat installer to place a silent file at each the required places.

It used to be 200mb to download, now with the installer it about 200kb. However (!) I am having the same problem in that mod, the text seems to move on too quickly when reading it.

I think its hard to judge the transition between reading dialogue and having spoken sound files, so my original allocation of times may have been a bit skewed (I don't know if you guys kept the original allocation, or re-did them).

[Slitherazki]

Where can I access it?

[Haplo]

Access what? Stirk? You can't. Not until May when we release it.

[theviking]

I played a few other quest mods and what I noticed that these mods use very long silent voices. This works perfect. You only need one file, you can read at your own speed, when you are done reading you just can click it away, it has many advantages. I think we should introduce this to all the dialogue we are making and then try to replace it with actual voice-acting.

[Haplo]

That's actually what we want, but we just can't get a working silent voice file.

[Lady Nerevar]

astion helped me out with it the other day -- ill have a try at adding them in the next version (the file name needs to not have a version number)

[Saji]

I played a few other quest mods and what I noticed that these mods use very long silent voices. This works perfect. You only need one file, you can read at your own speed, when you are done reading you just can click it away, it has many advantages. I think we should introduce this to all the dialogue we are making and then try to replace it with actual voice-acting.

I agree. When playing the stirk mod I always find myself frustrated because I have no idea what is going on due to the text that literally flies by.

[Destiny1773]

The seconds of dialogue were 2-5 seconds long. This didn't bother me too much, as there is always the Esc key. Anyways, there are plenty of spelling errors, which have to do with the
cave with the goblins(I think) and the mine. I'll post again when I find the problems.

[theviking]

The solution: TESGecko can generate silent mp3s with the right names automatically, they#re 10 seconds long. That's enough, I think.
Just click on "Generate Responses", choose the plugin and Gecko will do the rest.
credits go to Rung.

[Knight of the Sacred Word]

Unfortoenetly, when the Silent voices played, they were way too short, only about 2-3 seconds at the most. Making it very hard to comprehensibly read and understand the dialouge.

[Lady Nerevar]

meh, this thread should have been unpined ages ago.

archiving, since we know 1000 times already.