Morrowind Sound Overhaul

[Gesshoku]

Okay, after talking to a few people, listening for myself over and over...I Think this is something that needs to be done.

The Morrowind effects are pretty amateurish, to an extent.

I really haven't thought much about all this, but Gez said something that made me go hm:

Getting sounds right is an one of the elements that make the difference between "amateur mod" and "professional quality expansion".

So here is my question to everyone in TR, is it worth it? Is it worth it to put in the time and work to come up with our own set of sounds and effects?

I know on IRC I've heard it said by a few people that "The mod could technically *do* without sound, only music is a must"

Next time you guys fire up MW I want you to listen closely to EVERYTHING thats not music, just for a minute... the Voice? Yeah..a sound designer had to do that, the Deadric sounds? Well..ya see...there is a guy on the crew called a sound designer.. Oh! And you know the sound that it makes when it starts raining? Guess what!? Thats not music!!!!!


Now that I have that out of the way I want you to do something else for me.. Next time you play, start the MW music in the back ground before you start up the game, put it on loop, then when you get in game mute the game sound..ALL of it, so all you here is the music you have in your player... I want everyone to do this, and then tell me the effect it had on your "gaming experience"


So Anyway, if something along the lines of Sounds of Tamriel is doable, say so. If I am completely off the mark here...say so too. I want feedback!

--Dave

[Haplo]

It gives us something we need and gives you something to spend much time on Right on.

[gro-Dhal]

Do you mean sounds for the new creatures? Because surely almost everything else is covered by sounds from the original game.

[Gez]

Do you mean sounds for the new creatures? Because surely almost everything else is covered by sounds from the original game.

Yes, for the creatures. But there might be a use for some snazzy sound effects for the main quest. After all we've got a daedric transformation into a flaming dremora, and it would be sad if that had a sound effect like "fwoop swizz-swizz" such as those the Morrowind spells have.

[Lud]

Personally, I think that it's definitely worth working on. I can think of many ways in which judicious use of sounds could really enhance quests, not to mention all the creature sounds that need work.
Could I give you a list of sound effects that I'd like?

[Theo]

I do play Morrowind without music. Although it is nice it soon gets to my head, it is repetitive and because of only two motives (explore/fight) quite non-atmospheric (like when you explore creepy dark tomb full of undead and the orchestra plays: Da-Da-Daaa - Da-Da-Daaa - Da-da-daaa-da-da-da-daaa! Argh ) So the sounds are really what makes the atmosphere for me.

[Gesshoku]

Glad to see a positive response thus far.

Lud by all means, please hit me up with a list. Goes for everyone, if there is a sound that you hear while playing, that makes you cringe, please post it or PM it too me.

I will construct a full list of all the sounds that need to be redone, and their status of "done-ness" that way we can keep track of it all.

[Bloodthirsty Crustacean]

The problem with many of the creatures is that they're just so bad anyway that the sounds are the last thing on my mind when I encounter one of them. Although bad sounds would bring a good model down, they don't really make a bad model with awful animation any worse, just reinforce the crappiness.

So while good sounds are feasible, and would make some improvement (WTF elephant trolls for starters), the real issue won't have gone away, and will still be infeasible to fix.

I wish there were more creature modellers for Morrowind.




That's my depressing musing for the day done.

[Gez]

(WTF elephant trolls for starters)

See sig.

[aro101]

I wish there were more creature modellers for Morrowind.

That's my depressing musing for the day done.

I wish we could work on creatures for TR, but some poeple want us to do statues and other less complicated and more boring stuff.

[Gez]

I wish we could work on creatures for TR, but some poeple want us to do statues and other less complicated and more boring stuff.

We've got some creatures, but they're as good as statues unless they're animated. And [url=http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=822393]animators are hard to find[/url]. Don't we have a few finished creature models for Oblivion into life has yet to be breathed? A gifter, a desert lizard, a rhino, a camel... We've had them for quite some time now, for longer than the request for statues has been there...

Statues may be boring, but all they require to be usable in the game is a collision box. No rigging, no animating, and -- to bring this back on-topic -- no "sounding."

[aro101]

We've got some creatures, but they're as good as statues unless they're animated. And [url=http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=822393]animators are hard to find[/url]. Don't we have a few finished creature models for Oblivion into life has yet to be breathed? A gifter, a desert lizard, a rhino, a camel... We've had them for quite some time now, for longer than the request for statues has been there...

Statues may be boring, but all they require to be usable in the game is a collision box. No rigging, no animating, and -- to bring this back on-topic -- no "sounding."

We don't have a desert lizard and a camel model, but whatever... That's true that we had those meshes some time before the statue request appeared, but that misses my point. And no, all a statue requires is not a collision box. It's a collision box + tons of boring work. Creatures are completely different. They are fun to model. They are fun and difficult to map and texture. It's true that each next step requires unique skills. And I would be very happy to master them, but there is a lot of easier work that can be done in the same time. That's why no one is working on creatures.

[Gez]

We don't have a desert lizard and a camel model

Correction: we don't have [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=17637]them[/url] anymore... Lost, like the [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=17063]Mad Hoosa[/url]. Dropped somewhere and forgotten because nobody ever actually thought it would be fun to animate them.

By all means, dig a bit in the archives and you'll find plenty of things to do if you want to animate creatures.

[Bloodthirsty Crustacean]

@ Aro: Well, leave the statues then.

If you're suggesting that it's because of the statues that you can't do the creatures, I'd take the creatures over the statues any day.

[aro101]

Correction: we don't have [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=17637]them[/url] anymore... Lost, like the [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=17063]Mad Hoosa[/url]. Dropped somewhere and forgotten because nobody ever actually thought it would be fun to animate them.

By all means, dig a bit in the archives and you'll find plenty of things to do if you want to animate creatures.

I know it, Gez. I was even talking with Warder some months ago about his mesh. He doesn't have it anymore. That again, is not the problem. I know there is plenty of meshes...

Oh, that's nice BC A rumor reached me, that the statues are holding back map 2. That's basically why I started to offtop in this direction. Nevermind then. Keep talking about sounds

[Jedak]

OK guys, lets get back to topic, here we discuss sound!

From the main response here, it seems that the general flow is positive toward making a SoT. So now its time to list the sounds that need replacing ~ then we'll decide if the Idea is feasable. If it isn't, it would be best to fix the sounds most in need before adding new ones.

Everyone post sounds you want replaced!

[Zalzidrax]

On a related note, I think we are probably lacking in static, environmental sounds as well. Though I try to remember, I thoroughly doubt the exteriors/interiors I've done have had sound activators added in all the places they should/could be. Maybe we could pay more attention to this, have it as a more explicit part of doing the exteriors/interiors/detailing.

Also it would be nice to have a larger sound effects palette to work with. That's the other thing I liked more about Neverwinter Nights back in the day when I was making mods for that, too, I had way more sounds to choose from.

[Gesshoku]

Sound effects are being uploaded for claiming. We need to get started on this if anyone is still interested.

[smasher701]

Hi I'll help with the sound effects. I'm really keen on getting involved in this mod. I'll help in any way I can. I've got my equipment and stuff. Just let me know if you're interested.

Thanks =)

[smasher701]

Ok guys, I had a go with a creature sound as a bit of a test. I don't know if u guys will want it, but meh, here it is.

[Gesshoku]

hehe. I like! This sounds in particular aren't anything we could use... maybe.. but you defiantly have the creative talent behind a sound designer ^_^ I'm impressed.

[smasher701]

So I'm in?

Just tell me what other sounds you want me to do. I'll do like anything cause I've got like nearly 2 weeks off.

Thanks =)

[Gesshoku]

Well, technically for me to recommend you for modder status you have to contribute something directly to the project.

You definitely have the talent to do so, so what we should do is have you pick one of the sounds and try to replace it with something better.

You can pick any creature sound you'd like, and that you think needs re doing.

I'm naturally assuming you've played through morrowind and may have a general idea of different sound effects. If you feel uncomfortable doing this let me know and I can get you a list of some good ones to try maybe.

[smasher701]

Sure i'll see what I can do. I haven't completely finished Morrowind but I'm working on it.

I'll PM u if i need a list.

Thanks =)

[smasher701]

Hey here is a footstep sound effect if anyone ever needed one.

Thanks =)

[Chin Music]

Honestly I don't think it's worth the effort unless someone who is willing to work on sounds only presents themselves.

I've liked the music made for Tamriel Rebuilt made so far, but even then I only use a couple of those songs (The TR theme by Dragonfly is amazing), and like mentioned above, music in Morrowind isn't context sensitive beyond combat and not-combat (I think even Daggerfall had music for different weather/times of day/shops).

As for sound effects, I've never had a problem with those in Morrowind. The voice acting is great for the most part, and another problem (and I find this with a lot of games) is that after you get used to a sound effect, it doesn't matter how generic it was initially, replacing it with anything sounds so alien that you find yourself wanting the familiar sound effect back instantly. Part of the reason I like Tamriel Rebuilt is that is doesn't stray from what Morrowind is supposed to look and feel like.

I say replace sound effects only out of necessity, where a sound effect is required that simply isn't available.

[Gez]

See sig.

[smasher701]

Hey I quickly did this on audacity. Feel free to amplify and stuff cause it still does need a bit of work. The sound after the main "explosions" is the sound of the Dremora I think. Dunno just decided to put in together.

[Aiwyn the Breton]

We've got some creatures, but they're as good as statues unless they're animated. And [url=http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=822393]animators are hard to find[/url].

Ah, so animators are needed...
/me Curio mode set on

But, sweeties, what about saiyng it?

/me Curio mode set off

I think I found something to boost a bit my showcase...

...anyway, what are policies about sound effects? Record-by-yourself or find-and-submit copyright-free material? I think I have some of both kind, so I'll wait the list...

[Ayedail]

sounds like a good challenge, improving the sounds! In my oppinion the fighting sounds, and especially the slashing, hacking, poking, swinging, impact and sheating sounds of swords for example could be alot better.. Sorry if I'm wrong, but can't we use some fighting sounds from Oblivion for that? :p

[Thrignar Fraxix]

No, we can't use sounds from oblivion
No, we aren't even going to replace those sounds you mentioned

[MMMowSkwoz]

I belive only the creature sounds are in urgent need of replacement for Morrowind. Other than that, I think it's just a bit of voice acting that would be nice.

Bethesda have said they don't want materials being used across games, so we can't use anything from Oblivion.

[Blighted]

Hell yes it matters! I can't wait to do voicework and music..