Sonjaculation
Change the soundscape of your game - in 10 minutes or less! (results and timeframe not guaranteed. see store for details, not valid in combination with any other sound guides. check with your doctor if you are allergic to sound).
The Sonic Component
An extension to a guide that is itself an extension - this page is a last-minute requested addition. As such, it’s only my personal choices, not mods I have researched specifically for the guide.
As such, they are much more personal and subjective.
Sound Frameworks
This section covers mods that don’t necessarily contain many (or even any) sounds themselves, but instead either add or modify certain events to add sounds.
Bullet Snap Redux - Espless
Changes the way bullets passing nearby can sound. Has a patch for CFWR, which you will want. Please note that this may be redundant if you choose to use Awesome Bullet Sounds below.
Awesome Bullet Sounds - Flybys and Whizzes
Great stuff, even for energy weapons. I use the “no screen shake” version.
Event Sounds
Both a framework and an add-on. Adds alert sounds for headshots, hits, and being detected. Personally I disable the on-hit sounds, leaving only the Alert and Headshot sounds active.
Sound Extender
Not strictly required if not using JSRS below, but not a bad thing to have installed “just in case”, as I have a feeling there will be future weapon mods that take advantage of this.
Aim Down Sites - Backpack Jump Impact sound Effects
Again, mix of framework and sounds - I can’t recommend this one enough.
The End……?
This bonus section is now over - but there are future projects and updates in the works.
Stay tuned!
Sound Add-ons
These add on to, replace, or expand vanilla sounds, rather than add new systems for sound, if that makes any sense at all.
Realistic SFX
May be controversial, since it replaces a lot of vanilla sound effects that a lot of people have a ton of nostalgia for. Personally I wouldn’t play without it.
Lonesome Slide Guitar and Hawk's Cry for Level up
Sort of a silly one, and totally personal preference - but it’s so damn appropriate for leveling sounds.
Wild Wasteland Sound Replacer
As above, mostly a silly replacer that I personally enjoy - but also a nice nod to the original classic games.
Project Reality Footsteps
Consider this to be “at your own risk” for TTW users - the plugin does not officially support current TTW, but I cannot see any issues with it (I am not a modding expert - take from that what you will). Personally I would not play without this - vanilla footstep sounds annoy me to absolutely no end.
Immersive Pickup Sounds Patched
Another one I wouldn’t play without. Does not need a TTW patch for TTW users.
Animal Sounds
Great little addition - highly recommended, does not need a TTW patch that I am aware of.
Honorable Mention for TTW users
Atmos Ambient Sound Overhaul - TTW
THIS IS NOT NV COMPATIBLE.
Amazing ambience added to the entire wasteland. A must have in DC for TTW users.
Thanks to Grulag for obtaining permissions and porting to TTW. Amazing work!
Weapon Sounds
Honestly there are only two good options, listed below. They can be combined, although personally I recommend choosing one or the other.
Please note - DO NOT use the old AWSO (All Weapon Sounds Overhaul) mod - it does everything by hard edits and so requires patching for literally any other mod that touches weapons, whether that’s TTW or YUP or thousands of other mods.
I also do not personally recommend Explosion Sounds Overhaul - it sounds like it was mastered for lower-end audio solutions, which means it tends to have a very boomy higher-frequency bass curve and almost totally lacks subbass. It may sound ok for you, but on good gear it’s almost gratingly unpleasant.
All Weapon Sound Overhaul Modern Edition Redone
This is probably the best replacer for people with more than a small amount of nostalgia.
JSRS Sound Mod 2.0 for Fallout New Vegas
For those who want more of a total and dramatic change to ballistic weapon sounds, this is the way to go. All script-based and highly compatible. Make sure you grab the patches on the mod page for any weapons you use - including base NV and TTW.
Music and Radio
I keep it simple here - I don’t really use the radio ingame very much, and when I do I don’t want to hear Now That’s What I Call Music! Volume 42069 - Dubstep of the Future Wastes! so it’s pretty minimal in the radio department.
Old World Radio
A set of 11 radio stations - not always lore friendly, but a great addition to the game.
TTW Radio Script Runner
For TTW users - has uses outside it’s primary raison d'etre, namely that it allows Old World Radio to work in both wastelands flawlessly.
A Music Addition - Revised
An excellent mod, made better if you want to put some work in yourself.
As it stands, significantly diversifies the musical landscape of NV, especially to the point of using more of the classic Fallout music included in NV’s game files.
Ambitious users who own legal copies of both Fallout Tactics and Fallout 4 can join this guide’s discord server for further assistance!
Even without those extra tracks, I cannot recommend this mod enough.
If you’re not quite happy with this one or just want to try something different, the below mod is a great alternative.
Atomic Audio Overhaul
Not hosted on Nexus for obvious reasons, however this link was created with the author’s full permission (graciously obtained by Shabbster).
Similar to above, it sources tracks from previous Fallout games, as well as the Wasteland series. It also more aggressively changes combat music to something a bit more “epic”, and adds some lore-friendly radio tracks.
Here is a YouTube video demonstrating some of the music on offer.
Choose either this or Music Addition, not both.