Graha Voice Actor Change?

[peachsyder]

Played the 7.5 MSQ today and then rewatched the now patched 7.4 cutscenes—to say the difference was glaring is an understatement. How people can listen to the rerecorded version of 7.4 and still say "it's totally the same guy, he just sounded strained/sick/bad recording setup" is beyond me, but at this point I think I ought to resign myself that some people are just entirely tone deaf when it comes to voices.

Considering they patched it before the credits rolled, it seems like the Bailey replacement for 7.4 may just go entirely uncredited. I wasn't expecting them to have rerecorded the lines already since there was no mention of it in the patch notes (unlike in 7.1, when they *did* make note of the rerecorded Wuk Lamat and Y'shtola lines), but I guess it's not surprising. Whatever the issue was, it's clear Square intends to never acknowledge it was even a thing.

Anyway, end result being what it is, I'm very, very happy to hear Bailey returned. His performance was sorely missed. Whether this was always the plan or happened as a result of backlash, I suppose we'll never really know. One thing I can say for certain is that I pray I never, ever have to argue voice acting with this community again.

All that aside, thank you to all the lovely folks in this thread who shared their own insights among the onslaught of insult-hurling and corporate shilling—I was happy to find some of you in social media, since if I never post in these forums again it'll be too soon. Enjoy the patch and make sure to rewatch the 7.4 cutscenes. It's truly a world of difference.

[ZephyrMenodora]

Played the 7.5 MSQ today and then rewatched the now patched 7.4 cutscenes—to say the difference was glaring is an understatement. How people can listen to the rerecorded version of 7.4 and still say "it's totally the same guy, he just sounded strained/sick/bad recording setup" is beyond me, but at this point I think I ought to resign myself that some people are just entirely tone deaf when it comes to voices.

Considering they patched it before the credits rolled, it seems like the Bailey replacement for 7.4 may just go entirely uncredited. I wasn't expecting them to have rerecorded the lines already since there was no mention of it in the patch notes (unlike in 7.1, when they *did* make note of the rerecorded Wuk Lamat and Y'shtola lines), but I guess it's not surprising. Whatever the issue was, it's clear Square intends to never acknowledge it was even a thing.

Anyway, end result being what it is, I'm very, very happy to hear Bailey returned. His performance was sorely missed. Whether this was always the plan or happened as a result of backlash, I suppose we'll never really know. One thing I can say for certain is that I pray I never, ever have to argue voice acting with this community again.

All that aside, thank you to all the lovely folks in this thread who shared their own insights among the onslaught of insult-hurling and corporate shilling—I was happy to find some of you in social media, since if I never post in these forums again it'll be too soon. Enjoy the patch and make sure to rewatch the 7.4 cutscenes. It's truly a world of difference.

I agree, and said as much on the XIV reddit where apparently based on the massive downvotes no one has ears. lol

[Heroman3003]

How people can listen to the rerecorded version of 7.4 and still say "it's totally the same guy, he just sounded strained/sick/bad recording setup" is beyond me

To me it sounded more like he had bad recording setup (genuinely 'recorded on the phone and sent over the phone' level bad) and someone tried very badly covering for it with audio editing and fucked up to the point of voice sounding different. But using a different VA for such a major character and not crediting it properly is something I don't think they would do so brazenly, hence my doubts about actual replacement. There definitely have been issues with voice editing and direction (no issues with VAs themselves, they do their best with what they're given) since 6.x

[ZephyrMenodora]

To me it sounded more like he had bad recording setup (genuinely 'recorded on the phone and sent over the phone' level bad) and someone tried very badly covering for it with audio editing and fucked up to the point of voice sounding different. But using a different VA for such a major character and not crediting it properly is something I don't think they would do so brazenly, hence my doubts about actual replacement. There definitely have been issues with voice editing and direction (no issues with VAs themselves, they do their best with what they're given) since 6.x

People say that, and then mention the Y'shtola incident. But no one couldn't tell it was Robin despite a bad recording. This isn't the same hting.

[Heroman3003]

People say that, and then mention the Y'shtola incident. But no one couldn't tell it was Robin despite a bad recording. This isn't the same hting.

Y'shtola incident didn't sound edited though. Like, the quality was just bad with not even seemingly an attempt to cover it up. With G'raha, there is clear like. Idk the soundfeel wording for it, but wrongness to the way the voice sounded, and not in a 'different person' way but in a 'someone cut too much while editing out the noise' way.

[ZephyrMenodora]

Y'shtola incident didn't sound edited though. Like, the quality was just bad with not even seemingly an attempt to cover it up. With G'raha, there is clear like. Idk the soundfeel wording for it, but wrongness to the way the voice sounded, and not in a 'different person' way but in a 'someone cut too much while editing out the noise' way.

I mean, if you feel they edited his voice so that their most prominent actor's voice sounded like an entirely different person, and that editing also was able to change the entire manner of speaking...(which for JB isn't too different than his normal speaking voice)...

I don't buy it. I think there is a reason his voice was missing from the 7.4 trailer when it was included in other languages, and a reason there has been no response or mention in patch notes.

Anyway I'm going to follow Peache's lead, and never get involved in further arguments on voice acting unless thea ctor is changed again - and in that situation only to voice my concern. People can believe what they like for whatever reason they like.

[shoebilldreams]

I'm just really glad I set a firm end to my video series on all the uncredited voices, and it'll end at 6.55. I don't think I'd survive having to do Dawntrail as well...

[Bantochan]

They had a line that said "new voices added" with all the expacs and since they didn't just adjust but re-record I guess that was basically it.


On a different note, though - did anyone feel that the sound felt off this patch?
G'raha sounds like JB now, but off on some lines (if that's not him, I can 100% live with the new VA, though haha), but Alphinaud, too.

Aaaaand on a very positive note: Damn, they voiced every cutscene AND most of the voices in the battles this patch. Huge kudos for this!

I thought this too, but I'll reserve judgement for now. I was appreciative that they voiced every cutscene. I want this moving forward, but who knows if we'll ever get it.

[MoonPhaseAlpha]

I'll have to find them on Youtube if anyone ends up sharing them. Or see if any are accessible from the replay feature.

Yeah, the voiced 7.4 cutscenes are updated in the Unending Journey. Much better hearing JB's voice in those. Thrilled he is back! G'raha ain't G'raha without JB.