Sounds of Skyrim is an audio project split in three parts that, in the end, adds around 460+ sound effects to the game world. It affects almost every cell and region in the game. The project's main goal is to not have one environment that is soundless to enhance immersion. The sounds are affected by the time of day, weather and location. So when walking in the city streets during the day, you'll hear the echo of doors opening and closing, children playing and workers sawing things. While at night, cats fight for territory and dogs bark.

The other audio improvement is being able to hear the outside from the inside, including weather-related sound effects like thunder. If you get close to windows inside buildings, you’ll hear what’s going on outside. If there If you’re in a wilderness cabin on a rainy day, you’ll hear the rain’s impact on the wooden roof. If you’re in the entrance of a cave and look outside, you’ll hear the birds and other animals outside going about their lives.

All sounds can be heard from inside if you’re in a building where you can hear them. For instance, if you’re in a farm in the wilderness at night, you’ll hear the farm animals present, wolves howling, owls, crickets and other nightlife animals.

This mod would never have been possible without the contribution of many sound recorders and artists from Freesound.org. A HUGE thanks to them, otherwise the sounds would not have been as high quality as they are.

As mentioned above, Sounds of Skyrim is split in three parts. Here they are:

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The Dungeons
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The Dungeons includes 115+ sound effects to add life to the dungeons. There's a standard sound set for each type of dungeon: Cave, Dwemer Ruins, Forts and Sewers. These sounds play in these dungeons regardless of who or what lives in it. To spice it up, dungeons inhabited by Falmer or the Undead have their own sound sets in addition to the standard ones. Undead dungeons have zombies and wraiths screaming or moaning. In Falmer dungeons, you'll hear their occasional screams; a way of communicating with each other since they are nearly blind.

Some dungeons also have weather-related sound effects that can be heard near the entrances. In forts, if there’s a thunderstorm raging outside, you’ll hear the thunder rumbling around the walls.

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The Wilds
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The Wilds focuses on adding sound effects in Skyrim's wilderness. With the 115 new sound effects, the purpose of The Wilds is to audibly enlarge Skyrim's fauna with the addition of various animals, birds and insects that play according to weather, time of day and region. In the forests, for example, you'll hear the sounds of foxes, deers and ravens. At night, you'll hear wolves howling from far away or common loons calling each other. In The Reach, you might hear the occasional mountain goat or hawk.

In addition to animals, The Wilds also adds rain-impact sounds on tents and wooden structures, sounds of rustling bushes to simulate the movements of small mammals that scatter away as you approach and sounds of calm water waves hitting wood on tree logs or structures that are partially submerged in water.

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Civilization
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Civilization focuses on adding 223 new sound effects to cities, villages, farms and remote locations where civilization is present. In cities, you can hear the sound of a hammer being used by a villager repairing something, children playing, dogs barking or cats fighting. As you get closer to a tavern doorstep, the sounds of patron chatting from behind the door are played. When you get in, some patron may laugh out loud, yell or break something.

On farms or near them, you can hear the sounds of their animals, if they have any. Most of those sound effects can be heard inside buildings too, linking the interior cells with the exterior. If I take the farm example, you may hear the hen if you sit close to the window. If it’s raining, you’ll hear the rain hitting the windows; if there’s a snowstorm, you’ll hear the cold wind whistling by the windows.


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Technical Information
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All three modules have been developped to work together. Please make sure you read through the description of each module on their Workshop page to be aware of the latest developments and mod compatibilities.

Do not hesitate to ask questions, post bug/mod conflicts reports and feedback on their Discussion board.


Thank you and I hope you will enjoy Sounds of Skyrim as much as I had fun developping it!

Cliff