Raphael Sbarge (Kaidan, Mass Effect) chats with Kimberly D. Brooks (Ashley, Mass Effect) about the technology behind videogame voice work. (Catch up with part one and part two.)
Raphael: Are there any sort of noticeable differences in the characters that you voice for videogames, versus the characters, you know, screen roles, or other stuff you do on camera?
Kimberly: Well, I feel like you can have a lot … well, obviously because, there’s so many, you know, characters can go in so many different directions, and you have to record alternate endings, and different paths that the way the character can go. So it gives you an opportunity to stretch your acting, because you have so many different choices. But I have noticed that the technology in recording has gotten a lot better. I don’t know if you … I just feel like when I’m recording alone, which we do most of the time in games – all the time in games…
Raphael: Yeah.
Kimberly: It’s just a little bit more challenging. And you don’t exactly know what the other character’s reaction is going to be, and the proximity of the person next to you and the way you talk … But now with the technology being that, if you, or let’s say Jennifer Hale, for instance (female Shapard) has already recorded a scene, that scene will be played for me in my recording session, so I’m actually acting against her.
Raphael: Right.
Kimberly: And I love that – I really, really appreciate that technology.
Raphael: So what I understand – because we record at Technicolor – is that this is, I think, maybe even a proprietary software, I guess.
Kimberly: Yeah.
Raphael: That BioWare has created, called Veda, I guess. You know, for anyone who doesn’t know, essentially, when we walk into these rooms, we’re there, you know, essentially locked in a room with double-paned, bullet-proof glass…
Kimberly: For four hours, by yourself.
Raphael: For four hours, all alone, you and your bottle of water and your imagination.
Kimberly: With your bottle of water, or in Jennifer Hale’s case, her hot water.
Raphael: Right, right, right. Running to the bathroom, because you keep trying to keep your voice, you know …
Kimberly: Lubricated.
Raphael: So it doesn’t get too dry, because you’re talking, talking, talking, constantly. And there’s, with this new technology, the, David, who’s at the board for us, essentially, he’s the mission control, man at the controls, who does the recording and ships it to Edmonton. He’s able to play in cues, set up and record it, and so, that’s what you’re talking about. It makes it a lot easier, doesn’t it?
Kimberly: Oh my goodness. It just, it really does. I think game three is going to be … the performances are going to be even better than the first two games, because of that technology. I really think so.
Raphael: It’s great. It’s great.
Kimberly: Yeah, it’s incredible.
Raphael: Well, I know it’s coming March 6. And we’re all really, we’re excited to see it. I’ve gotta start playing one and two, so I can get up to speed, so I can enjoy three.
Kimberly: I know, yes, please. You can play the version with me, you know. You could just…
Raphael: Oh, that would be so fun!
Kimberly: And I’ll play the version with you.
Raphael: Sweet. I love that. Well, what can you tell us, for the fans who want to find you, what your Twitter name is, and what your Facebook address is, in case they…
Kimberly: OK, well, I’m just – you know how I am, with the, the whole social media thing. I’m just kinda catching up with that. But I guess if you wanna email me, you can do it at …
Raphael: No, not your email, but your, what’s your Twitter name?
Kimberly: Oh, the Twitter name. So that would be twitter.com/kimberlydbrooks.
Raphael: OK, great. Great. And then on Facebook, do you have a fanpage on Facebook?
Kimberly: Yeah, I do. [Editor's note: http://facebook.com/officialkimberlydbrooks.]
Raphael: OK, great, well people will find you then that way, for sure.
Kimberly: Excellent. Cool! I wanna be found.
Raphael: [laugh] That’s awesome. Kimberly, thank you so much.
Kimberly: Thank you, Raphael.
Raphael: You’re great, and we loved your letter, everyone did. And more to come. We’ll find more chances to chat some more. But thank you, for taking the time.
Kimberly: Thanks, so much. Your letter was the inspiration for me, so, thank you.
Raphael: All right, thanks everyone, and we’ll all talk soon. OK.
Raphael Sbarge Audioblog
Ashley Williams, Kaidan Alenko, Kimberly Brooks, Mass Effect, Raphael Sbarge