Issue #8: INSIDE THE VOICE ACTORS' STUDIO

http://www.atlus.com/res/productiondiaries_083108.png (http://www.atlus.com/pd.php)

http://www.atlus.com/res/pcbstudio415.jpg (http://www.atlus.com/pd.php)

EXCERPT:
"Of all the aspects of localization and all the choices a localizer has to make, the most controversial is almost always voice acting. Fans can be very particular and demanding when it comes to the voices in a game-some have even gone so far as to follow in the Japanese tradition of letting casting decisions influence their purchasing habits. But while these voice acting devotees may have heard or read a lot about the acting process from the voice actor's point of view, there's not as much information out there from the angle of the production company. So settle back as we take you through each step of the voice acting process-Atlus style..."

http://www.atlus.com/res/clickhereforproductiondiaries.png (http://www.atlus.com/pd.php)

[unknown]

Wow, fancy place, I never imagined a voice recording studio would look something like that >_>

[RayFoxSith]

I've always found this the interesting part in game localization. I had no idea you guys had your own studio.

[dragonlife29]

Wow, you guys sure top each prior PD! :o

That studio looked amazing...and no kidding with the sink! I have never in my life seen one like that! (More info, plz :P)

Totally different, but I had no idea Japanese consumers thought like that--they really gauge a purchase by the force behind a voice? Pretty shallow, but understandable.

I always thought publishers implemented everything themselves--the voices, specifically. I thought once the developers finished a project, that was it and they wouldn't have/want to touch it again...but they implement the English voices--or did I read that wrong? If true, that is pretty cool.

[Thunder-Slash]

Totally different, but I had no idea Japanese consumers thought like that--they really gauge a purchase by the force behind a voice? Pretty shallow, but understandable.

Same concept with movies and famous actors (even if the movie sucked balls.)

But wow... that studio is not what I expected it to be. I always thought that it would be in an enclosed office space...

[punkrocker_271]

my HOUSE isnt even that nice... :shock:

[CSXLoser]

i want to wash my hands on that sink :cry:

[Chronis]

I've always found this the interesting part in game localization. I had no idea you guys had your own studio.

this

[TheMagicHat]

Very nice and very informative. I've often heard about the recording process for english dubs in anime, but it's also nice to hear about the process for video games. I think the late Working Designs was the only other company that actually talked about it.

And yes, I want that sink. :P

[Skyrocket]

Interesting stuff. I'm glad the acting is happening since the game is due out in 100 days (not counting today).

But what I really want is a full cast list.

[Dr. Chaos]

, or a line was edited in a way that turns out to be difficult to say out loud. (This editor guiltily admits to giving a lot of such lines to Naoto's VA, who handled them all without complaint.)
Heh.

And damn, I was hoping they would let slip one of the main character's VAs.

In any case, an interesting read. I was quite satisfied with Persona 3's voice work so I'm looking forward to more of the same here.

[Constraint]

Having a dog, is awesome.

[ProfessorMurder]

I've always found this the interesting part in game localization. I had no idea you guys had your own studio.

Um...they don't.

"The studio for this particular project being Keith Arem's PCB Productions..."

[2TonDragon]

"Ash, lemon-scented defender of the booth."
I want to dognap that dog. Lemon-sceneted and cute. Possibly secretly vicious. -sneaks into studio- hehehe...

[Fuyukaze]

Here I thought for so long all they did was go grab people off the street and offer em a few bucks to talk into the tape recorder while reading their lines. Looks like voice acting for games has finaly gone serious. Cant wait to see how P4 will sound now.

[TheMagicHat]

We just haven't been privileged enough to know that game dubs are taken seriously (in varying degrees) until now.

Atlus knows how special we are. :D

[ashtonv]

Another excellent article!

However, an admin may want to change the "CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS" link at the bottom of the article to point to the new forum instead of http://www.atlus.com/new_forum/viewtopic.php?p=65091 -- the old one.

[Platyphyllum]

Wow, that's a really nice looking voice-acting studio.

[Luna]

Sexy O.O

[Marlonbr]

WoW, amazing! These diaries are simply amazing! They show the details of a really well done job! Congratulations, Atlus! Keep it up! =D

[Gergoth]

Wow, that was an interesting read (and the studio looks amazing!).

But there has always been one thing that has bothered me about the dubbing. Is there a reason why the dub actors are never credited? Usually I can decipher who it is just by hearing the voice, but you always get that one guy whom you know you've heard before, but can't put your finger on it.

It's just somethings that been bugging me.

[jeffx]

non-union voice actors cannot be credited.

[dragonlife29]

non-union voice actors cannot be credited.So that's why...interesting. *goes to look it up*

tl;dr at bottom

Anyway, I came in here to release my curiosity once more: when does voice recording for a game usually begin? Thinking on P4, the game was announced for the US in Summer, right? I also believe I read somewhere on 1Up that you guys had started work on it just a bit before you announced it...and if translating and the script take a while to complete, that means the actors don't get called in--not booked--somewhere near the end, right? Maybe somewhere during early-to-mid Fall? It makes sense to me since that would make for a tight schedule on the team, I think.

That said, just how long does it usually take to finish every voiced line-- and where along the project does it begin/end? I'll assume P4 was an exception to "usually" since it got to us pretty damn fast (Yay). Maybe it would give us some insight if you could juxtapose P4 and a "normal" project.

So, basically, when does voice acting begin and end in a project? Like in a timeline, I mean (Say "A" is the start and "Z" is the end [of a project]--where does recording fall in?) Also, juxtaposing P4 (an exception) against a "normal" project would help.

EDIT:Just reread this PD and the timeline was never mentioned, just "...after," "before...," and so on. And just to reiterate, I'm only interested in when the voice actors are doing their jobs--not when the studios are doing their job on the recordings to add effects and such.

[Onion of Mystery]

Voice recording takes place after the script is finalized, but (usually) before files are sent to the developer for compilation into a testable ROM. Which means that it's before QA, which is a very important, lengthy step, but after the translation and editing of the game files.

[dragonlife29]

Thanks, Onion!

[JGray]

That's very interesting. I was impressed with the voice acting in Persona 4, even more so than Persona 3. I do wish the actors could be credited, though. At least I can look them up on IMDB.com, thanks to the work of diligent fans.

[ShinnFlowen]

I totally agree with you J., the voice acting in Persona 3 Fes was pretty darn good, it didn't sound stupid or unreasonable so I'm happy with it. Persona 4, I preordered it off eb games, but I still haven't played it since I'm been busy with all the games I bought off NIs America and Atlus (favorites jap translators). THE STUDIO room looks pretty kewl, very comfy looking.

[Gachimayaa]

I always enjoyed the voice work in the Persona games and was always impressed with how the characters mispronounce their own names and places they live. hee hee!

That studio is ACE. I wonder if they can rent it out to some of us fans....

[heyitskeith]

Very cool post. Black leather couches are ESSENTIAL for the studio artists listening to playbacks. Maybe even more important than the recording gear- but nothing tops the mini fridge.

[Willythenilly]

Many people have told me I should do something with my voice. I have wanted to be a voice actor for a while now. :exclaim: