Sonic Design / Exercises

September 26, 2024 - / (Week 1 - 14)

Anandya Dewi Saputra / 0354651

 Bachelor of Design (Hons)in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Sonic Design / Exercises


LECTURES


Week 1:

In the first week, Mr. Razif briefed us through this module on what we were going to learn, the grading system, and the assignments that would be given in the future. Our lecturer showed us some of our senior's previous designs, and how we could hear the dynamics from the sound effects to let us feel how the environment is. We will have three projects and one final project (not including exercise) that we will finish in 14 weeks. Only on a certain project are we allowed to use an existing sound effect, but for narration and project 2 onwards, it is compulsory for us to record our own sound effects. 


INSTRUCTIONS




AUDIO EQUALIZER

For our first week, we received our first exercise which is equalizer. In this exercise, we are given a flat voice example to match with the file given by our lecturer. 


Fig 1.0 Samples given

Equalized Track Screenshot:



Fig 1.1 EQ 1



Fig 1.2 EQ 2



Fig 1.3 EQ 3



Fig 1.4 EQ 4



Fig 1.5 EQ 5



Fig 1.6 EQ 6



Fig 1.7 Filter 1



Fig 1.8 Filter 2



SOUND SHAPING

For the next assignment, we are given a sample to then match it as if  it sounds like:
1) telephone
2) cupboard muffled
3) walkie talkie
4) toilet/ bathroom
5) stadium

For the first voice, I have to match it with the telephone. The easiest way to do it is to duplicate/copy the sample voice, and then click on the copied sample voice, go to favorite on the top bar, and click telephone voice.


Fig 2.0 Telephone Sound Effect

The second way is to click on Effects on the top bar, choose filter and eq, and click FFT filter. Then change the custom preset to either telephone - receiver or telephone - voicemail. We can also play around with the equalizer but for me, it already sounds perfect. 



Fig 2.1 Telephone Sound Effect



Fig 2.2 Final Telephone Sound Effect Outcome


For the next assignment, we need to create a cupboard muffled sound effect. This one is a bit tricky compared on how to the the telephone sound effect. Same step as the first one, we need to create a new copy of the sample voice. On the new copy, select effects, filter and EQ, and then select parametric equalizer. 



Fig 2.3 Cupboard Muffled Sound Effect


And then we can play around with the diagram, highpass, and lowpass filter. For me, I added the highpass filter first to get a bit of the boxy sound and then changed the Q / Width numbers 3 and 4 to 16 from 3. Last, I added and adjusted a lowpass filter. 



Fig 2.4 Final Cupboard Muffled Sound Effect Outcome


The next one is to create the sample voice onto a walkie-talkie. I feel like it's a bit similar to the telephone. Same like the others, in the new copied sample voice, I chose effect, filter and EQ, and then parametric equalizer. Change the custom to old-time radio and click apply. 



Fig 2.5 Walkie-Talkie Sound Effect

The next step is to go to multitrack and insert the file. I also downloaded a radio static sound and the start of a walkie-talkie, I then added it to the multitrack and adjusted it with the sample voice given.
 


Fig 2.6 Walkie-Talkie Sound Effect



Fig 2.7 Walkie Talkie Sound Effect Outcome


The fourth sound effect we have to make is the toilet/bathroom which in my opinion it's gonna be full of echo. I copied a new sample sound and began editing it by adding a noise reduction, and then proceeded to click on reverb and convolution reverb. I then changed the setting to this:



Fig 2.8 Bathroom Sound Effect

After playing it back and forth I began realizing that the effect was too much and it felt more like an announcement at the mall, so I toned it down a bit to this setting: 



Fig 2.9 Bathroom Sound Effect



Fig 2.10 Bathroom Sound Effect Outcome

Last is the stadium. 


SOUND EFFECT SHAPING

In the third week, we got an in-class exercise and that is to edit the given sample sound into an explosion. The sample sound given is flat and we needed to layer and add effects to make it work better.



Fig 3.0 Flat Explosion Sample Voice


I began by adjusting the parametric equalizer and stretching the pitch out, I then created a multitrack to later layer it and add effects in each track. On the first layer, I added another equalizer and pitch shifter, on the second layer I focused on the reverb which is not too much for an explosion, and on the third layer I added an FFT Filter, I then added another track on the fourth layer and moved layer 3 and 4 a bit to the front so the sound would double by a bit.



Fig 3.1 Explosion Sound Effect 



Fig 3.2 Explosion Sound Effect Outcome



The second sound for us to do is a firecracker, this one is quite tricky to do since I already have the vision that I'm gonna have to layer a lot of the sound to make it work. We also use the same flat voice given as the explosion. For this particular sound effect I main focus on the pitch shifter.





Fig 3.3 Firecracker layering


Fig 3.4 Firecracker Sound Effect Outcome


The last voice editing that we have to use is to make a triple-punch sound effect. We are given one sound effect and we have to create it like a combo skill. For this one, I mostly only play with the pitch and equalizer.



Fig 3.5 Triple punch layering 


Fig 3.6 Triple punch Sound Effect Outcome


ENVIRONTMENT SOUNDSCAPE

In this week, we are given an exercise to edit a plane effect sound panning from left to right/right to left. We also have to edit it however we want (adding the noise/reverb) from the flat sound effect given. 



Fig 4.0 Flat Jet Plane Sound Effect

For this one, I feel like the flat sound given already has a strong base so I didn't add much. For this one, I added panning from left to right and played a bit with the equalizer and amplifier



Fig 4.1 Flat Jet Plane Sound Effect Outcome


After we finished doing the plane sound effects, our lecturer Mr. Razif took us to the recording/studio room owned by Masscom in Taylor's. He briefed us that we could book the room through him to record sound effects for our final project later. 

x

He explained how typically recording studio has 2 layer barrier to absorb sound well. There is also some furniture to reflect sound so the wall can later absorb it. Then we were introduced to the equipment that we can connect to adobe audition. After trying to record sound in the studio, we receive another exercise which is to create a soundscape for an environtment.



Fig 4.2 First environtment

This first environment gives me a nature sci-fi vibe, I thought about adding machine noises since there are computers and some guard hanging around. And the tree in the middle gives a sense to me like it was being monitored.

Some of the key elements are:
  1. Footsteps of the guard
  2. Scanning sound (for the tree)
  3. Beeping from the computer
  4. Noise
  5. Program noises

Fig 4.3 First environment soundscape


After I was finished I rendered the whole audio into a mixdown .



Fig 4.4 First environment soundscape


For the second environment I feel like its a bit similar to the first one except that the first one feels like it's a room that was made to monitor work while this one works on creating energy source or a weapon.

Some of the key elements are:
  1. Machinery
  2. Laser beams
  3. Electric
  4. Footsteps of the scientist


Fig 4.5 Second environment soundscape


I then rendered the whole track into a mixdown.



Fig 4.6 Second environment soundscape


NOISE REDUCTION

In today's exercise, we are given the task of reducing noises from a given sample voice in order for us to understand and prepare for the second project which we have to record our own voice and since we are not recording in a studio, this exercise is needed.



Fig 5.0 Noise reduction exercise


The given sample voice has a lot of breathing and lip-smacking, in order for us to get a crisp clean sound, we have to cut some parts of the unnecessary sound and reduce the volume. Some of the words are also louder than the rest of the recording in which we have to match the pitch and the volume of it.



Fig 5.1 Noise reduction exercise


After I was done muting some of the breathing and lip-smacking, I started to analyze the soundwave and determine which wave was bigger than the other so that the volume of each word sounded roughly the same.

RADIO ADVERTISEMENT

In this week, we got an exercise to create a radio advertisement based on the sample script given. For this exercise I chose to do the cat event advertisement.


Fig 6.0 Sample script given



Fig 6.1 Radio advertisement

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