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About this mod
No more muddy compression for the game voices. BSA packed, no plugin. Oldrim / VR compatible. English / French available.
- Permissions and credits
NEW VERSION NOTE
As of 1.1, the voices are now packed in BSA Archives for easier installation, faster loading and better compatibility.
Be sure to check the new install instructions.
English and French are available. However I do not plan to work on other languages. Keep in mind that voices
from this mod are a bit louder than vanilla and may not match with others voiced mods.
If you are playing with another language or if you are not interested with the louder voices, I suggest you to look at
Unofficial High Definition Audio Project, which covers any language and voices loudness same as vanilla.
Audio quality is identical. Thanks !
Introduction
From the original release of Skyrim back in 2011 to Skyrim VR in 2018, the original voices files has always been compressed in a format called XWM (or xWMA). Compression is used to save space by reducing the files size. However, the XWM format is a lossy compression, which means some of the file data is destroyed, impacting the sound quality.
What Bethesda did for Skyrim, is to use XWM's default ratio between file size and sound quality, which is approximately 48kbp/s. The result is, average file size but poor sound quality.
Higher quality
Since the Special Edition release on PS4 (or before if you were playing on PS3), you may have noticed that the sound quality (music and voices) is definitely better than PC and Xbox 360/One versions.
If PS3 and PS4 versions of the game are not affected by this compression issue, it's because they are using Sony's proprietary audio format instead of Microsoft's XWM. This proprietary audio format remain a lossy compression, but is much more efficient, preserving the sound quality.
What this mod do
This mod will replace the vanilla voices files with new ones, in much higher quality (192kbp/s), from the PS4 version. This quality upgrade will make the voices crystal clear compared to canned vanilla compression. The new voices also have slightly higher volume than vanilla, because I've always thought that the vanilla voices were not loud enough.
This mod support all voices of the main game, including Dawnguard, Dragonborn and Hearthfire.
Why ?
Because Skyrim is by far my favorite game and as an audiophile, audio quality is just as important as graphics for a true immersion. To me, the audio compression was a huge disappointment with the "remastered" Special Edition and unacceptable for the VR version. Modders did a bloody superb job on graphics, but like someone told me, better audio quality is the last piece of the puzzle we needed to make the game complete and enjoyable as it was meant to be, for our eyes and for our ears as well.
See also my other mod for the game music : SSE High Quality Music
Here is some vanilla / mod comparison. (Please wear headphones or headset) :
This is not Skyrim, but it's a nice demonstration of audio compression damage :
Remember, Skyrim vanilla voices are 48kbp/s. Mod is 192kbp/s.
Installation
- Download the 2 parts of one language (English or French).
- Install with Nexus Mod Manager (or extract manually and move the BSA archives into your Data directory).
Then, you must tell the game to use those new BSA archives instead of the vanilla one :
- Open Skyrim.ini (Documents/My Games/Skyrim Special Edition). Under the [Archive] section, find "sResourceArchiveList2=".
- Replace the official voices file line "Skyrim - Voices_en0" with the new ones :
voicesen0.bsa, voicesen1.bsa, voicesen2.bsa, voicesen3.bsa, voicesen4.bsa
- It must look like this :
For ENGLISH files
sResourceArchiveList2=voicesen0.bsa, voicesen1.bsa, voicesen2.bsa, voicesen3.bsa, voicesen4.bsa, Skyrim - Textures0.bsa, Skyrim - Textures1.bsa, Skyrim - Textures2.bsa, Skyrim - Textures3.bsa, Skyrim - Textures4.bsa, Skyrim - Textures5.bsa, Skyrim - Textures6.bsa, Skyrim - Textures7.bsa, Skyrim - Textures8.bsa, Skyrim - Patch.bsa
For FRENCH files
sResourceArchiveList2=voicesfr0.bsa, voicesfr1.bsa, voicesfr2.bsa, voicesfr3.bsa, voicesfr4.bsa, Skyrim - Textures0.bsa, Skyrim - Textures1.bsa, Skyrim - Textures2.bsa, Skyrim - Textures3.bsa, Skyrim - Textures4.bsa, Skyrim - Textures5.bsa, Skyrim - Textures6.bsa, Skyrim - Textures7.bsa, Skyrim - Textures8.bsa, Skyrim - Patch.bsa
- Save, Exit, and Enjoy !
Compatibility
The mod should be compatible with everything since there is only BSA packed files. Keep in mind however that the new voices files are a bit louder than vanilla, and may not match with others voiced mods. Any loose files voices will be played instead those from this mod.
Any mod using vanilla dialogues files, even those restoring unused ones (such as Immersive Citizen or Cutting Room Floor for example) is compatible.
It can be used with the original 2011 game (Oldrim) and Skyrim VR.
Enjoy and do not forget to endorse if you like this mod :)
Credits
To Bethesda, for the game and its assets, and all voices actors who made an awesome work on Skyrim.
To all people, friends and a contributor who will recognize himself, for his technical help, who made this mod possible and complete.
To the modding community, for sharing all your awesome work and your support.
This material is not made, guaranteed or supported by ZeniMax or its affiliates.
My work
The Whitefall Manor
SSE High Quality Music