What's in a voice?

[Natsuno]

Now that most people have had a play around with the benchmark and no doubt had a listen to some or all of the voice options, it got me wondering. What do you look for when choosing your own characters voice? Is it anything in specific, or just one that feels right?

Back when I used the ARR benchmark to create my mains original appearance, I chose a voice because it matched the animations of the yes and no emotes, and wasn't too high or low pitched to be confused with what might be a lalafell or roe/highlander (atleast to me). At the time I chose the one that sounded like a cheerful, energetic miqo'te.

With the Heavensward benchmark, I've chosen my Au Ra's voice based on the way she screams. The other emotes don't seem to match, but they're passable. I think the scream sounds the least fake out of all of them. She screams good.

So, what do you look for when choosing a voice for your character(s)?

[StrejdaTom]

Well I just wanted the voice to fit the look and personality of my character and I am kinda satisfied with that except for the laugh emote which seems to be a bit off the hook.

[Cyrus-Wallace]

I look for a voice that primarily could fit my character's face or physical build. I also look for a "legit sounding" voice, with a laugh that doesn't sound neither forced or fake. I wish I had more voice samples though... that trait is truly hard for me to pick and I gotta replay it over and over...

[Shougun]

The voice..

Yes, Yes, Alright!, Wha-.. I.. No.

I just want something that matches my character's look. Trying to find a middle of the road, leaning a bit gruffer because highlander- but not a death growl when you're just nodding yes.

[CGMidlander]

Step one: Check the laugh
Step two: Make character and start the game
Step three: Pray the combat noises aren't horrid

[Slirith]

Step one: Check the laugh
Step two: Make character and start the game
Step three: Pray the combat noises aren't horrid

this /10chars

[KaijinRhada]

Step one: Check the laugh
Step two: Make character and start the game
Step three: Pray the combat noises aren't horrid

This is pretty much how it goes with me.

The yes and no mannerisms should also (for me) match well with the tone. I really wish there were some sample combat noises, because that is what we tend to hear most often. I can go with great combat voices and okay emote voices, but if the combat noises are unbearable, I'll remake a character. Luckily the voice I have on my current Miqo'te has both, and I'm hoping I will be equally fortunate with Au Ra.

[Lilyarel]

Step one: Check the laugh
Step two: Make character and start the game
Step three: Pray the combat noises aren't horrid

*Average emote voice*
*gets into combat*
"RRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGG"

[DracotheDragon]

Step one: Check the laugh
Step two: Make character and start the game
Step three: Pray the combat noises aren't horrid

oh god tell me about it my male miqote has a nice voice a nice /laugh nice /cheer then i started the game with him and then i heard /happy

/cheer "Yea-he ha"


/happy " "

The horrors

[Lillia]

Step one: Check the laugh
Step two: Make character and start the game
Step three: Pray the combat noises aren't horrid

Hidden Step four: Find that the fall noise is horrid and fantasia x amount of times to fix it until realization of alt voice testing kicks in. ;o