Hi.

Mod for: Subnautica - Below Zero

Game version: No idea, it works as of February-June 2022, as I've been using it in a YouTube playthrough, you can see the results for yourself in the Links section below.

This works with the Steam version, and as far as I know should work with any other PC-based version, but I'm not sure.
I also do not know if this will work after all future updates, but it probably will. If not, it could likely be updated for that.

Installation is super easy, but for those less experienced with computers, I made a different document in the same archive called "Detailed Instructions.txt", that explain in greater detail how everything works. It's for your grandma. She also likes Emma's voice.
The further down you go in that file, the more instructions.
I keep this one short.


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================ What does it do? ================
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This is a simple "mod" that replaces specifically the PDA Voice / Assistant Voice / Suit Voice in Subnautica: Below Zero, with Emma's voice.

The new voice clips were generated and edited by me, using a similar engine to what the original voice is based on, and a lot of editing in Audacity.

Be aware that the game by default has some mismatches between some voice clips and on-screen text in certain places. This has not been changed with the mod.

The new voice is better recorded and also is a little bit less inside-a-tube-sounding but still pretty close. It does not have an accent like the original voice, and should be easier to understand.

This mod does not replace the player character's voice, or any other voice clip sounds from other characters. It replaces only the sounds made by your personal PDA, such as "New blueprint discovered" and "Seek fluid intake immediately", etc.

Given how this mod replaces the entire 'Player.bank' file, it is not compatible with other mods that replace the same file, without some custom bank file management. However, mods that don't affect or replace this file should be fine and would normally make no difference with this mod.

If you want to make your own similar mod, there are also instructions for that.


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============ Included in the download ============
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These files are in the file archive:

Readme.txt - I recommend reading this one first. It contains a lot more than just how-to for installation, and is the hub for all other questions.

Detailed Instructions.txt - Unnecessary for 99% of users, as installation is simple. But contains some info and good tips too.

Optional_Voice_Lines.txt - Useful in conjunction with making your own mod; it's an overview of what the voice lines are, per voice file, by default.

Player.bank - The very mod file itself. Behold.

How to make your own mod.txt - Exactly what it sounds like. Recommended even if you think you know how; a few warnings and heads-up included.
Unfortunately, I could not include a bank file management guide in that yet. Maybe if people ask for it.


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================= How to install =================
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Replace the Player.bank file in SubnauticaZero\SubnauticaZero_Data\StreamingAssets with the one in this mod archive.

You're done.


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=============== How to uninstall =================
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Restore the original Player.bank.

..you did make a backup, didn't you?

..oh.


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================ In case of oopsie ===============
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If you're running the game on Steam, you can restore the original "Player.bank" file easily even if you delete the original, so you don't really need a backup.

Just go to Steam's game library, right-click Subnautica, choose "Properties...", then Local Files and click Verify Game Files.
This will restore all the game folder files to default.


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============= Better late than never =============
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Rather than having to use this mod archive for swapping every time, you could just have both files located in the game's "StreamingAssets" directory and rename them to take eachother's places whenever desired.

Renaming the game's default "Player.bank" file to "Player_original.bank" or "Player.bank.original" allows easy swapping. After that, just copy this modded file in, and to swap, you just renamed the modded file to "Player_modded.bank" or whatever.

Verifying game files will also (probably) not delete any additional files you've put in there of different names the game doesn't use by default.


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========= How to make your own voice mod =========
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Oh, you thought this would fit in here. Heh.

Check "How to make your own mod.txt".


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================= Version Notes ==================
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This is the first release, 0.1.

Issue: Voice Volume

I'm having issues getting the mod to be the right volume ingame. Package has been verified by unpacking it and playing it back again, and it all seems to play back fine in external media players. Yet ingame, it appears the volumes are lower, and not even the same across the board on the voice clips. Weird.

Workaround: in the settings menu, set all ingame volumes to 85%, except Voice, which is set to 100%. Yes, ingame Master Volume slider is also set to 85%.
This will compensate for the lower playback volume of the voice mod, however for some people this may come at the slight expense of overall sound volume of the game, and you might have to turn things up elsewhere.

I am not aware of a way to fix this, or what causes it.
If you wanna suggest changes, feedback or anything else, feel free to let me know. I'm not sure I'll work on this or other voices if there's no demand and people are fine with it.


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====================== FAQ =======================
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Q: Will you make new versions of this? Or perhaps other voices?
A: I don't know. If there's demand for me to specifically do it, maybe. I check my youtube comments every now and then.

Q: Can you fix the volume weirdness?
A: I don't know. The thing is, even if I unpack the resulting files from a finished bank file I make, the files appear to be fine when played manually with a media player.
But when they are loaded by the game, they appear to have not only a lower overall volume, but different volumes per file. "New creature discovered" appears lower volume than "Oxygen", if I recall correctly. I have no idea why this happens.
It's possible that maybe just pre-compensating by making very loud volumes on some files, and decently-loud on others, fixes the issue. Not sure.
But I don't have much margin to amplify the sounds more than they are, considering the TTS engines I sampled them from were so low that any more amplification than what's already done, may distort them. I had to balance that line pretty carefully throughout editing.

Q: Wait, so PDA Voices for the Subnautica games were just computer-generated?
A: It appears so. Although I don't know about other voice lines, such as the main character dialogue in Below Zero, or other PDA's found throughout. Raveena's voice, though, seems generated.

Q: I like chicken. Do you like chicken?
A: Chicken is nice. Have some rice with that.


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================== Disclaimers ===================
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These documents, the tools/mods linked or embedded, and all instructions, are flawed and considered innocent guesswork at your own dire dangerous risk. Should usage of either or any of these assets bear the unsightly result of spontaneous personal combustion, untimely defecation, public accusations pertaining to your moddery hermithood, bitter ex PDA voices, or any other sole thing, phenomenon, perspective, idea or somethingness, I shalt not be sought liable by a hair. Unless you cure cancer, in which case it was me.

Happy modding, and happy halloween or whatever. I guess it's July.