Sonic Design - Lectures & Exercises

30 Aug 2022 - 20 Sept 2022 (Week 1 - Week 4)

Zetie Binti Bahaman / 0351297 / BDCM

Sonic Design

Exercises

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LECTURES

Week 1 - Lecture 1

Our instructor, Mr Razif, gave us a briefing on the module overview, which included the expected outcomes for each of the projects and sample students' work from previous semesters. He also gave us some recommendations of headphones to buy in order to ease our audio editing process. We were also given a 'tour' of the recording studio, and a quick run-through of how the equipment functions. For example, the condenser mic and pop filter.

Week 2 - Lecture 2: Sound Fundamentals

Notes:

Nature of Sound

- A vibration of air molecules that stimulates our eardrums.

Properties of Sound

• Pitch

• Loudness
  Bit depth

• Timbre
  
  Timbre = Quality of Sound
  For example, 2 different guitars with the same type of strings will produce different sounds due to the properties of the guitar, which play a role.
  
  
• Perceived Duration
  Perception = when we receive the sound to our ears.
  It's all about speed, whether it's fast paced or lower paced. The reason behind us signifying something as fast/slow depends on our biological metronome. Hence, we feel like heavy metal may be found fast paced because it is not syncing with our heartbeat. 
  
  
• Envelope
  
  -Determines the shape/makeup of the sound
  For example, as Person A speaks, a bullet comes out and that bullet represents a shape.
  
  
• Spatialization
  
  -Where the sound is coming from
  -Sense of location, distance, left or right of a microphone
  For example, the louder the sound = the closer the source is to us

Week 3 - Lecture 3 

No lectures this week as we continue to work on the equaliser to shape sounds.

Notes:

In audio editing, spikes in the waveform = bad. The waves need to be consistent.

To create distortion (Sound 'pecah') - E.g. Walkie Talkie
->Boost the audio level (gain on lhs) - make it louder than it should.

In the levels panel, observe the audio levels and avoid getting red. If it does, can try:-

Effects Rack>Amplitude and Compression - Hard Limiter (Ceiling)

Muffled Sounds Characteristics

-> Not clear/crisp, Less treble, More bass 

Reverb
-> create an environment of the sound.

Week 4 - Lecture 4: Automation

Automation

-Automate the direction of the sounds and audio manipulation. 

Basic Multitrack Tools/Interface

Fig 1 Volume and Stereo Balance in Adobe Audition

Volume (left icon)

- Maximum loudness a digital audio (db/dbfs) can have. Click and drag to adjust volume track.

Stereo Balance or 'Panning' (right icon) 

- Balances the audio track direction from left to right or vice versa.

Fig 2 M,S,R,I - Tools

M - Mute

S - Solo the track so that all the other tracks muted

R - Arming the track for recording but must click the record button (red dot) to start recording

I - To hear yourself while recording

-> Default Stereo Input = Input Source E.g. Mic

To edit the waveform:
- Switch between waveform and multitrack view.

To automate the volume of an audio track:

Fig 3 Automation Tool

>Read

>Show Envelopes>Volume + Pan>

I can adjust by clicking the lines to add a keyframe. *Note: The keyframes position will stay in place and can't be moved together with the track.

To create fade in/fade out in a track:

- Pull out grey box


Following up the previous lectures, we have learned more tools to help us in our ongoing/upcoming projects.

1. Parametric Equaliser

Fig 4 Parametric Equaliser in Multitrack

2. Pitch Shifting

- Can create sound variations (e.g. gaming)
-Select the section of audio to edit

-Time & Pitch > Pitch Shifting

3. Reverse
- Reverse the original audio track.

4. Layering
- Stacking the tracks and creating an audio mix.

5. Working with Effects:

- Time & Pitch

>Stretch & Pitch

>Pitch Bender (Time stretch/Create curvy type of sounds.)

-Modulation
>Flanger/Phaser


Week 5 

No class this week as the lecturer is on medical leave.


Week 6 - Lecture 6: Noise Compression/Reduction

This week we learned new tricks to help us for Project 2: Audio Storytelling, which involves voice acting + narration.

*Extra tips:
- Use your own device to record.

- Always take a few seconds before recording.

Noise Compression/Reduction

- compress/reduce as much as possible without changing too much of the audio quality

Steps:

1. Look at the waveform.

Fig 5 Waveform spikes

The waveform spikes are inconsistent with highs and lows.

2. Eliminate the spikes.

- If there are serious spikes, dial it down manually.

- If it doesn't sound right (even if it looks right), bring it back up.

Fig 6 Waveform Spikes

3. Noise Reduction: (Noise Print vs Adaptive Noise Reduction)

Activity 1 (Using Noise Print)

• Select the section of the audio
• Effects>Noise Reduction>Capture Noise Print

• Select the whole audio
• Effects>Noise Reduction>Noise Reduction (Process)
  

Fig 7 Noise Reduction (Process)

*Extra Steps:

-Play around with the frequency

-Do partial editing

*Notes:

Sometimes even if it's in the same room, different quality of noise gives out different sounds. If different, break it apart. We can't keep using the same audio.

Activity 2 (Using ANR)

• Using the original sample voice
• Effects>Noise Reduction>Adaptive Noise Reduction
• First few secs - noise and then effect takes place. The parameter shows how much I want to reduce.

4. Dynamics/Processing (Apply sparingly)

Fig 8 Rack Effects: Dynamics

• Effects Rack>AQ>Dynamics

Fig 9 Settings in Dynamics

Settings:

Threshold - Limit

Attack - how fast (turn quickly/slowly)

Ratio - the amount of turns

Release - how long does it take after turning it down to turn it back up again

5. Normalisation

- Bring back the audio to an optimum level

Fig 10 Normalisation 

6. EQ/Multiband Compressor to taste:-

Fig 11 Multiband Compressor Settings

The settings in Dynamics also function the same way here.

Parametric EQ: 

- Shape and control the sounds
- Move up and down (treble + bass) to adjust

the frequency

Multiband Compressor (suggested for voice):

- Compress the high/lows to a certain limit

- To ensure sound quality is consistent

Autogate 
- Allows audio to come in.

- E.g. At a certain loudness, we want to hear something

(Don't apply in the project, for knowledge only)

*Extra Notes:*

-Always go back to listen to the audio, whether in between words or syllables,

-Noise is part of the recorded voice.

-Avoid a robotic (when removed totally) audio output.


Week 7 - Lecture 7: Using Audio Pro Tools

This week, we were hands-on in the process to record voice actors using the software Audio Pro Tools. We are to apply this in our Voice Recording exercise, as well as, Project 2.

Fig 12 Voice Recording Exercise in class

Here are snippets of the step-by-step process:

Link to Google Drive


Week 8
No lectures during Independent Learning Week


Week 9 - Lecture 9: Microphones, Basic Sound Design and Editing Tools

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INSTRUCTIONS

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EXERCISES

Week 2: Audio Equalization

Equalization is all about audio correction, making sound nicer, as well as, matching an audio to the original. In this exercise, we are to match several audio clips to the original audio using Adobe Audition. This is my first time using this software but thankfully, the steps to do this exercise are not too complex. 

Steps: Import Audio>Track Effects>Filter and EQ>Parametric Equalizer


EQ 1

Fig 13

Fig 14

EQ 2

Fig 15

Fig 16

EQ 3

Fig 17

Fig 18

EQ 4

Fig 19 

Fig 20

Based on this exercise, audio editing is super hard!! But I suppose this means my headphones are working as I am able to detect the sound difference of each file.


Week 3: Equaliser as Sound Shaping Tool

This week we learned to edit audio to match a certain environment.

Original Audio:

Fig 21

Activity 1 - Using Parametric Equalisation

Telephone Call

Fig 22

Fig 23

Muffled

Fig 24

Fig 25

Activity 2 - Using Parametric Equalisation and Reverb

Stadium

Fig 26

Fig 27

Bathroom

Fig 28

Fig 29

Steps: Effects Rack>Reverb>Reverb


Week 4: Audio Automation/Panning

1. Jetplane

We are to manipulate the jetplane audio as it travels from left to right of our headphones.

Original Jetplane

Fig 30

Jetplane Panning

Fig 31

Steps:
Pan Envelope Tools (Multitrack View)
>Read>Show Envelopes>Volume + Pan

2. Explosion

The original audio explosion is flat so we are to create an explosion effect with a bigger impact. We learned to apply more tools/effects at this point.

Fig 32

The explosion I wanted to visualize is as if I'm hearing it from far away so I tried to produce a ringing effect of the boom sound.


3. Punch

We are to create a build-up of three punches in audio, applying the tools that we have learned in the previous exercises.

Original Punch

Fig 33

For this audio, I manipulated and produced three different sounds based on the original punch audio.

Punch 1 - Pitch shifting of the original punch

I forgot to take screenshots of the settings but I wanted it to sound not as flat from the original.

Punch 2 - Reverb

Fig 34 Punch 2 - Effects

Fig 35 Punch 2 - EQ Settings

Fig 36 Punch 2 - Effects Settings

I used a lot of effects for this one as I wanted to create a quick punch effect, since its the second punch before the final blow.

Punch 3 (Final Blow) - Modulate

Fig 37 Punch 3 (Final Blow) - Effects 

Fig 38 Punch 3 (Final Blow) - Effects Settings

The reverb and phaser effects helped to create like a heavy impact compared to the first two punches.

In multitrack view, I then layered all three sounds and layer them accordingly to create the final punch effect.

Fig 39 Layering

Final Outcome

Fig 40

Week 6

We are to remove the background noise from the original sample voice below.

Fig 41

Method 1 - Using Noise Capture Print

We are to listen and select a section from the sample voice that only contains the background noise without the audio.

Fig 42 Selecting the section of the noise capture

Whole audio is then selected, followed with Effects>Noise Reduction>Noise Reduction (Process)

We can tweak the graph according to our preference.

Fig 43 Noise Reduction Process

Then, we can start with editing the audio. This process can also be vice versa (Edit first and then Noise Reduction)

Fig 44 EQ 

Waveform before editing:

Fig 45 Waveform up to Normalisation stage

Waveform after editing:
- Adding EQ + Multiband Compressor

Fig 46 Waveform after adding EQ + Multiband

Final Outcome

Fig 47

Method 2 - Using Adaptive Noise Reduction (ANR)

Using the same steps, which is to select a section, and click Effects>Noise Reduction>ANR instead.

After noise reduction, the audio is then edited. My first attempt was inconsistent so I edited it further. The image below shows how the waveform spikes turn out after being normalized and added with EQ and Multiband.

Fig 48 Normalized Waveform

Final Outcome

Fig 49

Week 7
Voice Recording Exercise

This week, we were introduced to the software Audio Pro Tools and we were grouped together to work on different voice scripts.

The narrator for my group was Ng Veyhan. We chose to work on the travel script.

Fig 50 Voice Script

Here is the original sample script:

Fig 51

Editing Progression

Now we are to add music/sound effects in the background for the final audio commercial. The sample script was fast-paced and energetic, so I decided to source upbeat jingles to match the tone. Since it's also a travel theme commercial, I plan to include airplane swoosh.

Fig 52 Multitrack WIP

Final Outcome

Fig 53

Week 9
Recording Exercise

We are to try out recording our own voice (without post-processing) using the previous radio commercial scripts. This is a way of practising for Project 2 in order to analyze our best recording setup and get the best recording.

Selected Script

Fig 54 Voice Script

Recording Setup

Fig 55 Recording Test Setup

I don't know... if it helped sitting behind the curtain. I was just trying..something.  

Final Output
This is the outcome of my recording using an iPhone 14. 

Fig 56 

Review - There's the white noise of course and perhaps I recorded it too close to my mouth. There are also weird parts when I say words that end with the 's' letter.

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FEEDBACK

Week 3

Specific Feedback:
My first attempts for the exercise was ok. However, my muffled and bathroom environment had to be revised. At first, my bathroom audio doesn't exactly sound like coming from inside a bathroom. It sounded like in a kitchen or a hallway. 

Week 4

Specific Feedback:
Good attempt on the explosion, Mr Razif quite likes the ringing effect I produced.

Week 5

Specific Feedback:
No feedback due to no class.

Week 6
General Feedback:

Always go back to listen to the audio, whether in between words or syllables,

Noise is part of the recorded voice. Avoid a robotic (when removed totally)audio output.

Specific Feedback:
There's inconsistency, I should use Equalizer or Multiband Compressor.

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REFLECTIONS

The start of this module was quite overwhelming for me. I have zero musical talent and I was afraid that it would affect my execution of this module. I was also confused when I couldn't hear the difference in the audio output before/after editing the sounds. It took me a while to finally get the hang of it.

The weekly exercises have helped to keep me on my toes and practice being familiar with the software Adobe Audition. I also feel that I am sensitive to sound now when I am outside and as I come across muffled effects in a song - I'm like "ha, i know how to do that!"