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What do you look for in Audio Descriptions? (self.Blind)
submitted by SoundwaveSpectre
Hello everyone, I've been trying to create a gaming YouTube channel of various different types of gaming content. One of the major parts of my channel is the goal to make at least 2 or 3 full game playthroughs that are fully audio described each month, to hopefully make the experience more accessible to those who miss what they once had, or have never been able to experience. The first one I did was Call of Duty Modern Warfare Remastered and I'm currently working on some of the Supermassive narrative games for spooky Halloween stuff.
Not trying to self promote, I have a genuine question. I want to make my content as best as humanly possible, and because I don't know anyone in this community personally, I was hoping to get some feedback.
I've watched plenty of videos on how to make them, and have already made a couple videos but I'm looking for maybe common things audio described videos do that bother you guys, what you're looking for, etc. Like do you prefer male or female voices? Would you prefer to have the choice of male and female voices? Do you prefer extensive descriptions of the screens? Do you prefer a constant string of talking every detail on screen in between the dialogue of characters on screen? Was there any time that an Audio Description just ruined the experience for you?
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Please any feedback would be insanely appreciated. I want to help share my passion of gaming and hopefully raise awareness that Audio Descriptions should be in all games possible.
Not trying to self promote, I have a genuine question. I want to make my content as best as humanly possible, and because I don't know anyone in this community personally, I was hoping to get some feedback.
I've watched plenty of videos on how to make them, and have already made a couple videos but I'm looking for maybe common things audio described videos do that bother you guys, what you're looking for, etc. Like do you prefer male or female voices? Would you prefer to have the choice of male and female voices? Do you prefer extensive descriptions of the screens? Do you prefer a constant string of talking every detail on screen in between the dialogue of characters on screen? Was there any time that an Audio Description just ruined the experience for you?
​
Please any feedback would be insanely appreciated. I want to help share my passion of gaming and hopefully raise awareness that Audio Descriptions should be in all games possible.
CloudyBeep 6 points 1y ago
A better idea might be to provide the link to your channel so we can provide feedback about what you've done.
[deleted] 2 points 1y ago
[deleted]
CloudyBeep 3 points 1y ago
This doesn't appear to be the correct link.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 4 points 1y ago
SightlessKombat 3 points 1y ago
Even having found this link, my willingness to talk through points on these videos still stands.
A couple of things from the linked Modern Warfare video above:
1. your delivery seems to vary between audio description and informal-style delivery (as if you were just talking to me during gameplay for instance). I'd argue a style closer to that seen in movies would fit better here, particularly with the relatively serious nature of the game.
2. Slowing your delivery down can work wonders. It can allow you to make your pronunciations clearer and make sure people know exactly what's going on, where things are (locations etc in the case I'm thinking of), and doesn't make it feel like we're being sent hell for leather from place to place.
3. Do retakes if you have to. This, like points above, could be said to be subjective, but one thing I find can break immersion is AD that doesn't sound clean. If there are pops, mic noise or other things that can take away from the script, I personally try and retake those lines and put them back in to get a take that's as good as I can get it, though it's not always possible. Sometimes even if you think a take is perfect, listening to it on speakers rather than headphones for instance can totally change how a take sounds. Your mic does sound good here and stands out well from the rest of the game even without the below taken into account.
4. Fading and volumes. Always fade the audio you're describing over at a consistent volume and keep your AD voice level at as consistent a volume as possible too. This means that there's no need for people to adjust their sound devices to hear anything, including hearing what you're saying (save for at the start if their video player of choice is too loud or quiet).
There are more in-depth things like whether you want to clarify that text is presented on screen and colours of text etc, but this is honestly a great start. My perspective comes from creating edited footage rather than full game playthroughs with scripts etc, so the elements above might be a little different, but there are ways to make the audio a little more well matched for instance.
Really appreciate the work you're doing, keep it up. Hope that helps and should you have further questions, please feel free to ask.
A couple of things from the linked Modern Warfare video above:
1. your delivery seems to vary between audio description and informal-style delivery (as if you were just talking to me during gameplay for instance). I'd argue a style closer to that seen in movies would fit better here, particularly with the relatively serious nature of the game.
2. Slowing your delivery down can work wonders. It can allow you to make your pronunciations clearer and make sure people know exactly what's going on, where things are (locations etc in the case I'm thinking of), and doesn't make it feel like we're being sent hell for leather from place to place.
3. Do retakes if you have to. This, like points above, could be said to be subjective, but one thing I find can break immersion is AD that doesn't sound clean. If there are pops, mic noise or other things that can take away from the script, I personally try and retake those lines and put them back in to get a take that's as good as I can get it, though it's not always possible. Sometimes even if you think a take is perfect, listening to it on speakers rather than headphones for instance can totally change how a take sounds. Your mic does sound good here and stands out well from the rest of the game even without the below taken into account.
4. Fading and volumes. Always fade the audio you're describing over at a consistent volume and keep your AD voice level at as consistent a volume as possible too. This means that there's no need for people to adjust their sound devices to hear anything, including hearing what you're saying (save for at the start if their video player of choice is too loud or quiet).
There are more in-depth things like whether you want to clarify that text is presented on screen and colours of text etc, but this is honestly a great start. My perspective comes from creating edited footage rather than full game playthroughs with scripts etc, so the elements above might be a little different, but there are ways to make the audio a little more well matched for instance.
Really appreciate the work you're doing, keep it up. Hope that helps and should you have further questions, please feel free to ask.
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
[deleted]
SightlessKombat 3 points 1y ago
I'd love to talk this over with you, I co-founded the #TranscribingGames project along with sighted assistance.
Me and /u/So_Motarded put together AD for the key story beats of God Of War 2018 and we're working on other things behind the scenes as well, but I'd happily have a look at your work and see where you're at right now if you like.
Me and /u/So_Motarded put together AD for the key story beats of God Of War 2018 and we're working on other things behind the scenes as well, but I'd happily have a look at your work and see where you're at right now if you like.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Hey! Thank you for all of your comments and feedback! Trying to go through each comment to make sure I get all the info you dropped on me. It's tremendously helpful.
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I'd love to give them a listen if possible.
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Edit: just found it on youtube and found your channel and subscribed. I'm listening now.
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I'd love to give them a listen if possible.
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Edit: just found it on youtube and found your channel and subscribed. I'm listening now.
DrillInstructorJan 3 points 1y ago
Listen to some of it on Netflix, you'll get the idea. It's not all that complicated really.
What I would say is that a lot of video games are sci fi and fantasy and suchlike, and so there's lots of visual design you can get into. I'm not really the core audience for game content but I care about the design stuff, I don't know about anyone else.
What I would say is that a lot of video games are sci fi and fantasy and suchlike, and so there's lots of visual design you can get into. I'm not really the core audience for game content but I care about the design stuff, I don't know about anyone else.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Great feedback thanks!
Right now I was trying to do like spooky stuff for Halloween but after that I was planning Mass Effect. You're totally right, and Sci to and fantasy would be so much easier for me to do as well. Especially since they go at a slower pace and, with my call of duty video for example, I don't have to say "you shoot another guy from a burned out building" like I had to.
I also have been trying to listen to a lot of the audio described stuff but some of it is so bad, especially on Disney plus. The last thing I watched was star wars visions and felt like their descriptions had so little actual descriptions at times.
Right now I was trying to do like spooky stuff for Halloween but after that I was planning Mass Effect. You're totally right, and Sci to and fantasy would be so much easier for me to do as well. Especially since they go at a slower pace and, with my call of duty video for example, I don't have to say "you shoot another guy from a burned out building" like I had to.
I also have been trying to listen to a lot of the audio described stuff but some of it is so bad, especially on Disney plus. The last thing I watched was star wars visions and felt like their descriptions had so little actual descriptions at times.
SightlessKombat 3 points 1y ago
I'd argue that sometimes having those descriptions (like shooting enemies in a burned out building) definitely lends itself well to the atmosphere. I feel like you'll find your own style of delivery/intonation as well, which is a common thing for AD - if you watch things like the James Bond films or even Star Wars Clone Wars (Season 7 has AD on Disney Plus but other seasons might have it in other places).
Also, be sure in what you're saying (there was a point where you said "into a boiler room of sorts" but the way you said it it seemed like you weren't sure of that).
I really appreciate that you're trying to put the effort in and do some research, it's all a learning process.
Also, be sure in what you're saying (there was a point where you said "into a boiler room of sorts" but the way you said it it seemed like you weren't sure of that).
I really appreciate that you're trying to put the effort in and do some research, it's all a learning process.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Yeah I definitely tried to include as much "Soap Shoots the Soldier" in there, which haha very often left me tongue tied. I just think that was a little too generic shooter at my level. I wasn't very good at differentiating the buildings just yet since to be honest, before audio describing I didn't even notice half of the buildings were seen multiple times and that's with me SEEING the buildings. They're so generic in the game design that I didn't notice until I was trying to actually describe and try and set the scene for people who couldn't. In it's own little odd way it made me appreciate the level design more. Made me stop and like analyze the environment in a way I had never done previously.
DrillInstructorJan 2 points 1y ago
Yeah I'd say don't be scared to cram it in. I used to be able to see so I have some idea what I'm missing, and computer games have come on quite a bit since then. I always say if there's dead air you can probably fill it with description of the atmosphere or surroundings, it's all part of the experience.
bradley22 3 points 1y ago
So I'm stilll listening, if you want to make it more professional then you could listen to AD stuff on youtube, write your own scripts and make them as tight as you can and other things like that.
I like what I'm hearing so far and know you're going to improve in the future, if you choose to continue.
I like what I'm hearing so far and know you're going to improve in the future, if you choose to continue.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Thanks! I listened to some and felt like some were so poorly explained when I closed my eyes I couldn't tell what was going on at all.
I saw that a lot of them said to do scripts, like you said and I should try that. I previously just went into the peak audio files and tried to fill every pocket I could find.
I saw that a lot of them said to do scripts, like you said and I should try that. I previously just went into the peak audio files and tried to fill every pocket I could find.
bradley22 1 points 1y ago
No problem :)
Rokwind 1 points 1y ago
self promoting is cool in my opinion. How else are you spose to get the word out? Wait for someone else to advertise your show for free? Naw that doesnt happen often enough go ahead and self promote.
If you didnt know, this month is Blind Awareness Month. So this is a very good month to help the blind. I personally promote blind awareness with my YT channel 'Blind Prime' where I raise awareness for the blind through action figures and stories.
What is your YT channel called? I will subscribe to it.
Now to the question you had. Oxhorn has done good work in the past describing things well enough for me as a blind person to understand. So I would recommend watching a bit of his stuff specially the videos on fallout 1 and fallout 2. In those videos the guy describes quite alot so if your looking for some ideas on how to describe diffrent things you can watch him. I really appreaciate what you are doing and hope that you can gain some subscribers and help some people out. :)
my mood for the above post has been enthusiastic hopeful happy and helpful.
If you didnt know, this month is Blind Awareness Month. So this is a very good month to help the blind. I personally promote blind awareness with my YT channel 'Blind Prime' where I raise awareness for the blind through action figures and stories.
What is your YT channel called? I will subscribe to it.
Now to the question you had. Oxhorn has done good work in the past describing things well enough for me as a blind person to understand. So I would recommend watching a bit of his stuff specially the videos on fallout 1 and fallout 2. In those videos the guy describes quite alot so if your looking for some ideas on how to describe diffrent things you can watch him. I really appreaciate what you are doing and hope that you can gain some subscribers and help some people out. :)
my mood for the above post has been enthusiastic hopeful happy and helpful.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thanks so much! I was just worried about self promotion because some subreddits are vehemently against it.
My channel is SoundwaveSpectre:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCOa_5NqdkU9EEGWRQI6LdQA
And my first audio described playlist is here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxdL_J3qnnBriarqOmhwX8wCH8wg4TYAd
I've been uploading random videos too, just to get some traction on the algorithm. I do no commentary videos (because I record them for the Audio descriptions anyways) and then the audio described versions of full games.
I didnt know it was Blind Awareness Month, so that is definitely a good time for me to up the postings for everyone. I got 3 horror games I'm about to record and drop, hopefully all by next week. Only reason I haven't yet is my apartment flooded last week which kinda threw a wrench in my recording plans as no one wants to hear audio descriptions with construction in the back haha. And I will totally check out oxhorn for some research!
Thank you so much for your support, I know I would be heartbroken if I lost games in my life and I'm just hoping to give them back, at least a little in my own way, to people who may have lost them.
My channel is SoundwaveSpectre:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCOa_5NqdkU9EEGWRQI6LdQA
And my first audio described playlist is here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxdL_J3qnnBriarqOmhwX8wCH8wg4TYAd
I've been uploading random videos too, just to get some traction on the algorithm. I do no commentary videos (because I record them for the Audio descriptions anyways) and then the audio described versions of full games.
I didnt know it was Blind Awareness Month, so that is definitely a good time for me to up the postings for everyone. I got 3 horror games I'm about to record and drop, hopefully all by next week. Only reason I haven't yet is my apartment flooded last week which kinda threw a wrench in my recording plans as no one wants to hear audio descriptions with construction in the back haha. And I will totally check out oxhorn for some research!
Thank you so much for your support, I know I would be heartbroken if I lost games in my life and I'm just hoping to give them back, at least a little in my own way, to people who may have lost them.
SightlessKombat 2 points 1y ago
You've earned your 30th subscriber. :) Hope the construction goes well and sorry to hear about the flooding. Hope you can get everything back up and running ASAP, keep up the good work.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thank you so much for your support and all of your comments, feedback, and well wishes! I'm reading them all right now and trying to make sure I respond to everything, I don't want to miss anything.
The construction is 95% finished, (we're in a townhouse so we have to move at the landlord's pace) so I'm very excited to get back into it now that I know what I'm doing and have a bit of feedback. I have the footage of 3 games ready just for me to record over and they're more narrative heavy so it'll be much easier. Very eager to dive back in. I'm currently unemployed at the moment since I just moved from NY to NC so life has been hectic but it was actually my wife's idea to double down on this awhile to get my channel started hopefully. I absolutely love video games and the stories you can make and tell with them and want to share them with everyone I can.
The construction is 95% finished, (we're in a townhouse so we have to move at the landlord's pace) so I'm very excited to get back into it now that I know what I'm doing and have a bit of feedback. I have the footage of 3 games ready just for me to record over and they're more narrative heavy so it'll be much easier. Very eager to dive back in. I'm currently unemployed at the moment since I just moved from NY to NC so life has been hectic but it was actually my wife's idea to double down on this awhile to get my channel started hopefully. I absolutely love video games and the stories you can make and tell with them and want to share them with everyone I can.
SightlessKombat 2 points 1y ago
Glad to hear the construction's going well, sorry to hear about your current job situation. Glad to hear you've found something to fill your time with that you enjoythough!
Really glad my feedback could be useful, feel free to PM me here if you feel that would be better rather than de-railing the topic further with tangents and the like.
I apologise if I threw too much feedback your way, just that I kept seeing points that I thought worth replying to. :)
Really glad my feedback could be useful, feel free to PM me here if you feel that would be better rather than de-railing the topic further with tangents and the like.
I apologise if I threw too much feedback your way, just that I kept seeing points that I thought worth replying to. :)
bradley22 1 points 1y ago
I'll listen to this and get back to you in another comment but from what I'm hearing so far this is amazing!
Could you do resident evil 7? I understand it might take a long time but ever since I've heard Markipleir play it, I'd wanted to know more about the Baker family.
Could you do resident evil 7? I understand it might take a long time but ever since I've heard Markipleir play it, I'd wanted to know more about the Baker family.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thanks so much! I got inspired to do this after the Assassin's Creed Valhalla trailer that was audio described. I always knew they existed but was finally felt like not enough was being done since they do Audio descriptions for trailers but not for the games... Which is a half measure in my opinion.
But certainly! It's honestly on my backlog and would fit my horror theme week I've been doing. I got 3 supermassive games hopefully coming out this week a few days after the no commentary playthroughs drop (I post them because I have to record them for the ADs anyways)
Anything you think I should improve on?
But certainly! It's honestly on my backlog and would fit my horror theme week I've been doing. I got 3 supermassive games hopefully coming out this week a few days after the no commentary playthroughs drop (I post them because I have to record them for the ADs anyways)
Anything you think I should improve on?
bradley22 1 points 1y ago
Not really, I like how you explain things, your videos have a very, sit down with a friend touch, I think that's nice, saying things like I'm bad at this game and so on, where as a professional wouldn't do that and would focus only on describing the scene.
SightlessKombat 2 points 1y ago
I get that's subjective, but I'm personally more of a fan of audio description that fits the tone of the game and is more on the professional line. Maybe that's just where I'm so used to hearing professional AD and enjoying action movies etc. If this was a live stream, I could understand and that would be slightly different though.
bradley22 2 points 1y ago
I understand where you’re coming from.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thanks so much. I was nervous if I should've doubled down on professional instead or let my personality bleed through a bit when it wasn't too critical.
SightlessKombat 2 points 1y ago
That's an interesting point to be honest. Personally I'm a bigger fan of the professional style, but then again I'm coming at it form the edited footage side of things.
bradley22 1 points 1y ago
Personality’s great!
ukifrit 1 points 1y ago
do a course on audiodescription, and have a blind consultant to assist you on the making of the audiodescription. Yeah, it's boring, but the results will be way more pleasant to the public.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 3 points 1y ago
I'll have to check them out, new to all of this so thank you!
I figured since the Assassin's Creed Valhalla audio described trailer blew up, people actually wanted this. Hopefully games start coming out with this as a feature but I figured I'd go back and give people some of the older games.
I figured since the Assassin's Creed Valhalla audio described trailer blew up, people actually wanted this. Hopefully games start coming out with this as a feature but I figured I'd go back and give people some of the older games.
ukifrit 3 points 1y ago
np. I can't point you anywhere because I'm not into audiodescription outside Brazil.
SightlessKombat 2 points 1y ago
I did a short talk on the potential for Audio Description at GA Conf a couple of years ago (before the ACV trailer was a thing) and the topic was still discussed this year, so there's definitely demand for it to an extent. I'd be happy to assist where I can as an accessibility consultant and gamer without sight myself and audio description user.
SoundwaveSpectre [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I'd love to be able to hear it if possible and would absolutely love any feedback and consulting you're ever willing to give. I'm really trying to go very hard on this for some time.
I don't think enough people know about or even appreciate audio descriptions since they're beneficial for a lot of people on a lot of fronts. I have my sight but would still personally LOVE to hear audio descriptions of things while I'm driving or working and just can't watch the screen. Audio descriptions can literally be for anyone, they just turn games into audiobooks essentially.
I don't think enough people know about or even appreciate audio descriptions since they're beneficial for a lot of people on a lot of fronts. I have my sight but would still personally LOVE to hear audio descriptions of things while I'm driving or working and just can't watch the screen. Audio descriptions can literally be for anyone, they just turn games into audiobooks essentially.
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