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A community for the dragon language of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

"Warrior Priest" Dramatic Audio Reading

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Zinrahzul
January 30, 2017

I've been practicing spoken Dovahzul a lot lately, and decided to up the ante:

 

I'm doing a dramatic reading of "Tey Do Kendov-Sonaak" ("Tale of the Warrior Priest") by Paarthurnax (found in the Library).  I've taken the translation of the story, made a script, and plan on doing recordings.  I'll post my progress here, as well as my Sound Cloud page (https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150)

 

Here's a rough draft preview: 

https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150/kendov-sonaak-1-draft-1-30-17

Any feedback is appreciated.
by Zinrahzul
January 30, 2017

I've been practicing spoken Dovahzul a lot lately, and decided to up the ante:

 

I'm doing a dramatic reading of "Tey Do Kendov-Sonaak" ("Tale of the Warrior Priest") by Paarthurnax (found in the Library).  I've taken the translation of the story, made a script, and plan on doing recordings.  I'll post my progress here, as well as my Sound Cloud page (https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150)

 

Here's a rough draft preview: 

https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150/kendov-sonaak-1-draft-1-30-17

Any feedback is appreciated.

Zinrahzul
February 6, 2017

Update:  I'm currently trying out various voices for the Narrator and Gronehliiv, and working on getting the meaning down so I can put properly convey the action/emotions/etc. going on in the story...

by Zinrahzul
February 6, 2017

Update:  I'm currently trying out various voices for the Narrator and Gronehliiv, and working on getting the meaning down so I can put properly convey the action/emotions/etc. going on in the story...


Ruvgein
February 6, 2017
This is pretty neat!

The only thing I can think of that it might need may be a little ambient music/sound for the background.
by Ruvgein
February 6, 2017
This is pretty neat!



The only thing I can think of that it might need may be a little ambient music/sound for the background.

Frinmulaar
February 6, 2017

Or if not music or even simple ambience like fire or wind, then maybe a very mild reverb effect to simulate a stone hall.

by Frinmulaar
February 6, 2017

Or if not music or even simple ambience like fire or wind, then maybe a very mild reverb effect to simulate a stone hall.


Zinrahzul
February 6, 2017
Ruvgein
This is pretty neat! The only thing I can think of that it might need may be a little ambient music/sound for the background.

Yes!  I definitely plan on having ambient music in the background in the final product.

by Zinrahzul
February 6, 2017
Ruvgein
This is pretty neat! The only thing I can think of that it might need may be a little ambient music/sound for the background.

Yes!  I definitely plan on having ambient music in the background in the final product.


Zinrahzul
February 22, 2017

Quick update.  I refined the script to account for syllable stress, and to make sentences interesting as they follow the storyline.  I'm in the middle of making general notes about the mood, the tension, the build-up, and climax, and the resolution.  After that, I'll record a draft, probably paragraph by paragraph (we'll see)...

by Zinrahzul
February 22, 2017

Quick update.  I refined the script to account for syllable stress, and to make sentences interesting as they follow the storyline.  I'm in the middle of making general notes about the mood, the tension, the build-up, and climax, and the resolution.  After that, I'll record a draft, probably paragraph by paragraph (we'll see)...


Zinrahzul
April 19, 2017

Update!

I'm currently experimenting with the type of voice that I want for the narrator.  Since this story is narrated by someone in the Dragon Cult and after the move from Atmora to Skyrim, I wanted to try a mixture of Nord and Skaal (from Solstheim) to give a kind of old-age voice that you -may- come across in Skyrim before the Nord accents you come across in Skyrim.  The Sound Cloud sample link is below:

https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150/kendov-sonaak-1-draft-4-19-17-nord-skaal-little-inflection/s-Zsc2j

The inflection isn't very varied, and my Gronehliiv voice is poort and needing of refinement, but I'll be able to work on that later.  I was also speaking the story to a metronome with a 3/4 beat, in order to give a sort of cadence to my story.  I am not strict with being on-beat, though -- it's more of a way to pace out my words and prevent rambling.

Currently I've been traying to practice some of the speaking at least 3 times a week, so this is actually going along quite nicely, I think.

What's next:

- Get accent/inflection right

- Get variation of voice right, in time with the story arc

-Find suitable background music

-Record some "more professional" drafts!

by Zinrahzul
April 19, 2017

Update!

I'm currently experimenting with the type of voice that I want for the narrator.  Since this story is narrated by someone in the Dragon Cult and after the move from Atmora to Skyrim, I wanted to try a mixture of Nord and Skaal (from Solstheim) to give a kind of old-age voice that you -may- come across in Skyrim before the Nord accents you come across in Skyrim.  The Sound Cloud sample link is below:

https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150/kendov-sonaak-1-draft-4-19-17-nord-skaal-little-inflection/s-Zsc2j

The inflection isn't very varied, and my Gronehliiv voice is poort and needing of refinement, but I'll be able to work on that later.  I was also speaking the story to a metronome with a 3/4 beat, in order to give a sort of cadence to my story.  I am not strict with being on-beat, though -- it's more of a way to pace out my words and prevent rambling.

Currently I've been traying to practice some of the speaking at least 3 times a week, so this is actually going along quite nicely, I think.

What's next:

- Get accent/inflection right

- Get variation of voice right, in time with the story arc

-Find suitable background music

-Record some "more professional" drafts!


Ruvgein
April 19, 2017
So I've listened to it, and I like it. I do like the rhythm you have, and it flows well.

I would say what it could use is more emotion, though that could just be me. (Who did a dramatic reading of Shakespeare while realistically crying, so take that how you want.)
by Ruvgein
April 19, 2017
So I've listened to it, and I like it. I do like the rhythm you have, and it flows well.



I would say what it could use is more emotion, though that could just be me. (Who did a dramatic reading of Shakespeare while realistically crying, so take that how you want.)

Zinrahzul
April 19, 2017
Ruvgein, you're absolutely right. My next main goal is to picture how the story teller would say each part and how that would sound. My tone is also too even for the most of the telling. My next recording Will hopefully fix or address that.

Thanks for the feedback.
by Zinrahzul
April 19, 2017
Ruvgein, you're absolutely right. My next main goal is to picture how the story teller would say each part and how that would sound. My tone is also too even for the most of the telling. My next recording Will hopefully fix or address that.



Thanks for the feedback.

Frinmulaar
April 20, 2017

As a rough adjustment, I actually suggest putting less emphasis on every syllable overall. Computers only have a vague idea of content and you can hear it in their delivery: almost everything except small grammar words is emphasized. This is a pitfall you should be aware of.

by Frinmulaar
April 20, 2017

As a rough adjustment, I actually suggest putting less emphasis on every syllable overall. Computers only have a vague idea of content and you can hear it in their delivery: almost everything except small grammar words is emphasized. This is a pitfall you should be aware of.


Zinrahzul
April 20, 2017
"Computers"? Maybe I don't understand the reference? Are you referring to text to speech programs that sound choppy?

Any such qualities in the last recording are because of the "Skaal accent" I was trying to blend in. I'll definitely tone that down...

Thanks for the feedback!
by Zinrahzul
April 20, 2017
"Computers"? Maybe I don't understand the reference? Are you referring to text to speech programs that sound choppy?



Any such qualities in the last recording are because of the "Skaal accent" I was trying to blend in. I'll definitely tone that down...



Thanks for the feedback!

Frinmulaar
April 20, 2017
Yes, that's what I am invoking. Not even the cheap robotic ones - rather, state-of-the-art ones that sound natural otherwise.

They SOMETIMES PUT an EQUAL AMOUNT of EMPHASIS on EVERY CONTENT WORD as if they were GIVING them all EQUAL IMPORTANCE.

You can quickly tell they have no clue about the message within. Ideally, a non-dovahzulaan should be able to pick the pivotal word of each sentence on delivery alone.
by Frinmulaar
April 20, 2017
Yes, that's what I am invoking. Not even the cheap robotic ones - rather, state-of-the-art ones that sound natural otherwise.



They SOMETIMES PUT an EQUAL AMOUNT of EMPHASIS on EVERY CONTENT WORD as if they were GIVING them all EQUAL IMPORTANCE.



You can quickly tell they have no clue about the message within. Ideally, a non-dovahzulaan should be able to pick the pivotal word of each sentence on delivery alone.

Zinrahzul
May 30, 2017

Some new recordings:

I want the final product to be between these two recordings.  The second one really puts a lot of emphasis on the [ah] breathiness:

https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150/kendov-sonaak-draft-5917

https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150/kendov-sonaak-breathy-5-23-17 (Breathy)

recording the breathy version, I realized I needed to find a way to avoid losing too much breath, getting the rough [ah] sound with the least amount possible...

by Zinrahzul
May 30, 2017

Some new recordings:

I want the final product to be between these two recordings.  The second one really puts a lot of emphasis on the [ah] breathiness:

https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150/kendov-sonaak-draft-5917

https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150/kendov-sonaak-breathy-5-23-17 (Breathy)

recording the breathy version, I realized I needed to find a way to avoid losing too much breath, getting the rough [ah] sound with the least amount possible...


paarthurnax
Administrator
June 1, 2017

That's very impressive! I can tell how much practice you've put into this. I am a big fan of the breathy [ah]'s, I think the challenge is knowing where and how to use it, not necessarily with a robotic consistency but in a way that feels natural to hear and speak. Heavily emphasized syllables, where [ah] often appears anyhow, feel like good candidates.

by paarthurnax
June 1, 2017

That's very impressive! I can tell how much practice you've put into this. I am a big fan of the breathy [ah]'s, I think the challenge is knowing where and how to use it, not necessarily with a robotic consistency but in a way that feels natural to hear and speak. Heavily emphasized syllables, where [ah] often appears anyhow, feel like good candidates.


Zinrahzul
June 28, 2017
https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150/kendov-sonaak-rough-draft-final

This is the last rough draft for me. Moving forward, I'll record in segments and refine it for the final product.
by Zinrahzul
June 28, 2017
https://soundcloud.com/user-870884150/kendov-sonaak-rough-draft-final



This is the last rough draft for me. Moving forward, I'll record in segments and refine it for the final product.
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