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Valenwood Skull Blocks

Leighlaa
Leighlaa
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Silly question that someone at zos or someone good with music may be able to answer: what was used to make the sounds for the Valenwood Skull Blocks emote? It is SUCH A SATISFYING SOUND.

It doesn't sound like wood, it doesn't sound like plastic (but sorta does?) .... maybe just a digitally invented sound? PLEASE SATISFY MY CURIOSITY and tell me or find out. I don't even know which dev to tag... according to an old article it's Brad Derrick (all the soundtracks for ESO are on spotify if you search his name!! FUN FACT), Bill Mueller, Brian Brockett, Josh Smith, Matt Conway, and Becky Ichnoski (though she's dialog so probably no?). That interview is from 2017 and I know staff.... isn't the same anymore.

WHAT DID THEY SMACK TO MAKE THESE LOVELY SOUNDS?! (please, and thank you!)
PCNA - Changuita
  • spartaxoxo
    spartaxoxo
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    I don't know but maybe @ZOS_BeckyIchnoski would?
  • scrappy1342
    scrappy1342
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    real skulls, of course
    pcna
  • ZOS_SoundMaster
    ZOS_SoundMaster
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    Hello! Glad you enjoy the smacky smacky skull block sounds. That one was a lot of fun to make. :)

    The source sounds are a collection of muted wood blocks, stick clacks & breaks, bongos, and bass thumps, all mixed together to form a single "skull block". Then five versions of that single block were created by pitch-shifting and remixing those elements. It took a *lot* of iteration to get something I was happy with...something that sounded a bit like beating on a skull with a leg bone, but also somewhat musical.

    Once those existed, the rhythm was performed and then run through a number of effects (stereo doublers, delays, reverb, etc.) to give it a bit of an otherworldly sound to match the visuals.

    And that's pretty much it!
    Brad Derrick
    Audio Director / Composer
    Staff Post
  • Leighlaa
    Leighlaa
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    Hello! Glad you enjoy the smacky smacky skull block sounds. That one was a lot of fun to make. :)
    And that's pretty much it!

    THANK YOU SO MUCH for such a detailed response! "...And that's pretty much it!" That seems like a LOT of effort for an emote... and know this: WE LOVE IT. It is one that I absolutely had to have when I saw it... and one that brings life to a lot of my afk times waiting for things like BG and delve boss spawns :)

    Thank you for putting so much effort into a "small" thing- the small things are some of the best parts of this game!!!!
    PCNA - Changuita
  • peacenote
    peacenote
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    I love the Valenwood Skull Blocks. :)
    My #1 wish for ESO Today: Decouple achievements from character progress and tracking.
    • Advocate for this HERE.
    • Want the history of this issue? It's HERE.
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