A Legend of Zelda audiobook Project - Saria's Song- An Ocarina of Time Short Story- Narrator
Project Overview
I am looking for one narrator to record an audiobook adaptation of Saria's Song, a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time fanfiction novella.
Saria's Song is a five-chapter fantasy story of approximately 35,000 words, following Saria's story from Link's adoptive parent to the Sage of the Forest.
This will be a single-narrator production. The narrator will read all prose and perform all character dialogue; I am not casting the characters separately.
If you would like an idea of the sort of audiobook production I'm aiming for, you can check out my YouTube channel, DragonRand100 Audiobooks.
Rules
Use a clear and expressive voice.
Vary your pitch, pace and tone according to what is happening in the story. Character voices should be distinguishable, but they don't need to be exaggerated or exact impressions of the characters from the games.Record somewhere where you won't be interrupted.
Please make sure pets, phones, and people aren't likely to interrupt your recording, even if the cat insists on being inside your recording booth.Please watch out for mouth noises.
Clicks, lip smacks, and anything that sounds like you're chewing gum can become extremely noticeable in an audiobook. I've heard it in professionally produced audiobooks - thanks, Audible - and it's the worst.Record somewhere quiet.
Please minimise background noise as much as possible. Knowing how to use basic noise reduction in software such as Audacity will be useful, but try not to rely on heavy noise reduction to fix a noisy recording.Please use a decent microphone.
I hate to be strict about this one, but I also hate having to reject a good performance because the recording contains loud popping, crackling, distortion or the narrator can barely be heard.Please edit your recordings before submitting them.
Remove obvious mistakes, repeated lines, long pauses, and major audio problems. The occasional small mistake can slip through - we're all human - but the cleaner the recording is when submitted, the easier the final editing process will be.
One method I've found useful is to stop after making a mistake, repeat the line correctly, and remove the mistake during editing.
Please meet the agreed deadlines.
Because Saria's Song is approximately 35,000 words, I don't expect the entire audiobook to be recorded at once. We can work chapter by chapter and agree on reasonable deadlines for each part of the project.
Generally, I aim to allow around 2–4 weeks per agreed section, depending on its length and the narrator's availability.
If something comes up and you need more time, please let me know. Communication is much better than disappearing.
A complete profile is recommended.
This isn't strictly a rule, but I will look at applicants' profiles and previous work when choosing the narrator. Having samples available makes it much easier for me to get an idea of your range and recording quality.Most importantly: have fun!
This project is meant to be enjoyable and, at the very least, useful practice for anyone interested in narration or voice acting.
You do not need years of professional audiobook experience to audition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the final project?
Saria's Song is approximately 35,000 words across five chapters.
This is therefore a considerably larger commitment than a short voice-acting role. The finished audiobook will likely be several hours long.
You will not be expected to record the entire novella in one sitting or submit everything at once. Recording will be divided into manageable sections.
Is this a single role or are you casting different characters?
This is a single-narrator audiobook.
The narrator will read everything: narration as well as dialogue for Saria, Link, Mido, Fora, Mori, Sheik, the Great Deku Tree and the other characters who appear throughout the story.
I am not looking for perfect impressions of the characters from the Zelda games. I would much rather hear natural characterisation and voices that remain comfortable and consistent over a long recording. You don't need to sound similar to the voice actor's from the remake.
Do I have to sound like Saria from the games?
No. At this stage, we've only heard a couple of her voiced lines.
Interpretation is welcome.
Saria is the central character, so I am particularly interested in a narrator who can capture her warmth, humour, compassion and emotional maturity. Although she looks young, she is considerably older than her appearance suggests, so I don't necessarily imagine her sounding like a small child.
The ability to tell the story convincingly is more important than perfectly recreating a game voice.
How quickly do I need to record everything?
Generally, I allow around 2–4 weeks for each agreed recording section.
We can establish a schedule once the narrator has been cast. I would prefer steady progress and good-quality recordings over somebody exhausting their voice trying to record enormous amounts at once.
When will I know whether my audition has been accepted?
I aim to choose the narrator by the audition deadline or within a few days afterwards. Please check the project details for the current deadline.
The successful narrator will also receive an invitation to the project's Discord server.
How the heck do I pronounce that character's name?
Don't worry about it, but that said, Mido and Saria's names were both mentioned in the recent direct. The remake might help as well (and it will most likely be out by the time we launch the first one or two chapters).
There will be a pronunciation thread on the project's Discord server. If you're unsure how I want a name or Zelda term pronounced, tell me and I can send you an audio example and pin it to the thread for future reference.
I'd much rather you ask than spend three chapters confidently pronouncing something differently from the rest of the production.
How am I supposed to record 35,000 words without my voice dying?
Please don't try to do it all at once. I'll aim to release one chapter at a time, but you don't have to record the entire chapter in one go, unless you really want to, and you think you can do it.
Consistency matters more than speed.
Which parts do I read?
Everything.
As the narrator, you will read all narrative prose and all character dialogue.
This means you will need to perform several different characters. They should be recognisable from one another, but you do not need to turn the audiobook into a one-person radio play. Small differences in pitch, rhythm, attitude and delivery can work perfectly well.
What happens if I can't continue with the project?
Please tell me as soon as you can.
I understand that circumstances change, particularly with a project of this length. I'd much rather know that you're unable to continue than have you feel obligated to keep going or simply disappear.
Submission - for the selected narrator
Recordings to be submitted using Google Drive.
Once you have been cast, you will be given access to the appropriate project folder through Discord.
If you have any trouble uploading files or accessing the folder, let me know through Discord.
Voice Actor
I am looking for a narrator with a natural, immersive storytelling style who can handle both quieter character-driven scenes and darker fantasy/action sequences.
Saria is the emotional heart of the story. Although she looks young, she is far older and more experienced than her appearance suggests. Her voice should therefore feel warm, compassionate and youthful without sounding childish. She can also be stubborn, frightened, grieving, playful, and quietly authoritative.
The narrator will also portray characters including Link, Mido, Fora, Mori, Sheik, the Great Deku Tree and several antagonists. Character voices should be clearly distinguishable but natural. I am not looking for exaggerated impressions or exact imitations of the voices used in the Zelda games.
Of particular importance are:
Strong emotional delivery without overacting.
Good vocal differentiation between characters
Clean, consistent recording quality.
You do not need to adopt a particular accent for the production.
Please submit two of the excerpts below. Three is optional.
Please record without music or sound effects. Light noise reduction is fine.
Audition Excerpt 1: Saria and Young Link.
What I'm looking for- A distinct voice for Saria and Link (Link is 6 in this scene). Good delivery of humour and Saria's warm personality.
Audition Excerpt 2: Forest Temple
What I'm looking for- focus on suspense, fear, and action
Audition Excerpt 3: Larisa and Saria
Having trouble reading the excerpts?
Try here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-yR2hsJe7idRDh9xR_hHELpu8Dr4z9PdjfV_kp024lE/edit?usp=sharing
"I want to go inside," he said, jumping off the stump and tugging at Saria's sleeve. "Can we?" "Someday I'll show you," Saria said gently, unable to help but feel a little disturbed by the boy's insistence. "But not today." He pouted, but Saria didn't relent. "I mean it," she said firmly. She didn't want to deliberately upset Link by letting him sense the worry that nagged at her, nor did she think he would understand. He was still too young. Something still called to her, and Saria repressed a shiver. It was getting more insistent. She would need to speak to the Great Deku Tree, but that wasn't a promising option. The last time Saria had mentioned any misgivings about the temple, he'd been unusually vague. Her powers, as he called them, were simply maturing, and as they did, she was becoming more sensitive to the power within the woods. It was like he was trying not to frighten her, which worried Saria, because whatever he wasn't saying, it must be bad. She could recall countless years, much of it a blur, so she wasn't exactly young. Entire peoples had come and gone, few of them ever daring to come near the forest's edge. Villages and towns had sprung up amidst the verdant fields, only to vanish again as time flowed on. The ancient forest spirits, of which the Great Deku Tree was one of the oldest, protected the woods fiercely, letting the Kokiri live undisturbed by the troubles beyond their sacred abode. Saria's charge - the little boy, proudly attired in his green tunic - pulled a face, disappointed by her words. "Nice try, but that's not going to help!" she told him. "Now you better stop asking me, or you'll have to pick all of Saria's herbs by yourself." "What? No!" Link exclaimed, looking suddenly horrified. Saria laughed, giving him a gentle nudge. "You know I'm not that mean." "Meanie," Link repeated, but he wasn't serious. They both knew he was too young to go harvesting herbs by himself. He'd probably come back with a few pet insects again, having forgotten whatever it was she'd sent him to fetch... That floppy green hat that he loved to wear so much was sitting lopsided again, making him look truly goofy, but he didn't care. Nor did Saria mind. Right now he was the happiest boy in the world, and it was a sight that made Saria's fears melt away.
And that was when Saria heard it. The distinct scampering of an animal moving somewhere in the maze. Whatever it was, it was big. And then, from beyond the tree, appearing between the dense foliage, a tall human-like figure emerged from the mist, flanked by three enormous Wolfos. It was him. He had them trapped, lured like helpless animals to a hunter's trap. They were right where he wanted them. His cold, glowing eyes settled on Saria first; he didn't seem all that interested in Mido. Frozen like hares before a wolf, the two Kokiri just stared, trying to back away towards the oak. Saria felt the cold, hard stone of one of the statues behind her and tried to swallow, but her throat felt dry. "Who are you?" she demanded, willing her voice to work. The wolves growled in answer, hackles raised, crouching, but the man just regarded them, silent and still, almost as if he had turned to stone. "Run!" Mido cried, and suddenly the two Kokiri were running back the way they had come, unsure of exactly which way to go. To their right, a shape, a blur of fur and fangs, exploded through the underbrush. It leapt over the low wall and landed with a heavy thud straight between the two Kokiri. Saria shrank back from the Wolfos and ran towards the nearest opening in the maze. A scamper of paws and a ferocious growl that seemed to come from the darkest depths told her that her pursuers were close behind. It was only when she was halfway back to the corridor, trying to decide which way to go, that she realised Mido was no longer behind her. The mist was getting thicker, and there was nothing she could see except the dense foliage. She twisted around, trying to spot him, trying to hear him, but all she could hear was the sound of the hounds crashing through the bushes, leaping atop the low walls and coming right for her. "Mido!" she cried out, but there was no answer. "Fora, can you see him?" Fora zipped into the air, but it was useless. The fog was getting thicker, as if the Soulless One were somehow controlling it. Shadows moved, dark and huge, but there was no sign of her friend. No sign at all. The Wolfos that had been chasing her emerged from the mist, lips curled in a feral snarl. Just behind it, the tall man in black armour appeared. He stood just behind the hound. Waiting. And then the hound was tearing after her, the sounds of its packmates ringing loud in Saria's ears, getting louder. Terrified, she bolted into the corridor that they'd come through earlier. The barrier that had corralled her into the garden was gone, but that was of little significance now. Spotting another door up ahead, Saria fled towards it. This led her into yet another vast courtyard, but nothing that Saria could see looked remotely like a good hiding spot. She leapt over a balcony, not bothering with the stairs, and then sprinted into the garden. Another glance at her surroundings revealed that there was nowhere to hide. No trees, no dense foliage that might resist being torn to shreds by a hungry wolf. Nothing. Nothing except the well.
"Great Father! This woman asks that you take her son," Fora said aloud, so all could hear. "She was hunted by assassins who believe her son to be a child of destiny, spoken of in prophecy. They sought to destroy him. She has heard of your great mercy and compassion, and asks that you take him into your care. It's the only hope she has. If you do not help her, her son will surely die." The woman was crying as she held her child aloft, the blankets falling away so that all that protected him from winter's cruel grasp was his blue tunic. The effort seemed to sap Larisa's remaining strength, but she was determined. Saria swallowed, trying to push down her own emotions — the growing pity she felt for this woman and her child. She came to the Hylian's side, placing a hand on her shoulder. She already knew the Great Deku Tree's answer. She already knew hers as well. The woman looked up into her eyes, and Saria held her gaze, offering a gentle smile and then nodding in acceptance. She would take this boy as she asked and care for him as if he were her own. "Do not fear for your son. He will be safe here, I promise," Saria said. She held her arms out to accept the still squalling bundle. Slowly, the woman placed the child in Saria's arms, and Saria didn't need the gift of language to hear the gratitude in the woman's words. She accepted the squirming infant, holding him close and peering into his bright blue eyes. "Hush," Saria soothed him. "I'll try and help your mum, okay? It'll be okay. You'll be okay..." She looked up at the mother, who had slumped against her horse, exhaustion plain on her face. "What is his name?" "Link." Larisa's voice was laboured, and Fora had to fly closer to hear the name. "His name is Link."
Comments
Public Submissions
