Sonic Design - Tasks: Audio Fundamentals
Aug 30th, 2022 - Sept 23rd, 2022 (Week 1 - Week 4)
Rusydina Fazlin Athirah Binti Fauzi
Sonic Design
Week 2 [September 6th, 2022]
Task 1: Audio Fundamentals
INSTRUCTIONS
Task 1: Audio Fundamentals
Week 2 - Audio Equalizer Exercise
Working out equalizing audio
September 6th, 2022
The first exercise of our first project involves audio prepared by Mr. Razif for us to understand and identify the pitch to later then be modified to match the original audio (music).
There was a total of 4 audio that were modified, the students in their individual works had to work with an audio effect called 'Parametric Equalizer to modify it once more but to better match, the 'flat' audio prepared by Mr. Razif.
Important notes I kept in mind that assisted me throughout this exercise:
- Db - loudness
- Hz - frequency
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| Figure 1.1 - Parametric Equalizer editor (Audio Adobe), September 10th, 2022 |
As you can see throughout the exercise, we worked with the parametric equalizer where we modified each of these pitches to either be heightened or lowered through the meters of frequency.
- L - Low
- 1 - Audio Bass
- 2-
- 3- Mid-range (Nasal pitch)
- 4-
- 5- Audio sharpness
- H - High
Let's move into the exercise where I display where the pitches fit best that had its similarities in sound from the original audio.
1. Equalizer (1)
2. Equalizer (2)
3. Equalizer (3)
4. Equalizer (4)
Week 3 - Audio Equalizer + Reverb Exercise
Working out equalizing audio, pt2
September 13th, 2022
The next equalizer audio editing exercise that we worked on was to be able to identify and modify the audio to fit the atmosphere better. This is also called reverb, adding a reverb effect to audio modifies it to make it have a surrounding effect to it.
Especially combining both the 'parametric equalizer' along with the 'reverb' sets off much more interesting effects to the audio that can help in fitting its surroundings better too.
There were a couple of settings that Mr. Razif wanted us to attempt to modify the audio which was:
- Bathroom
- Stadium
The first that I worked on was the bathroom setting which was the combination of the 'telephone' equalizer effect along with the reverb, by messing around with the wet & dry modification along with Mr, Razif's assistance I was able to fit the depiction of what audio would sound like coming from a bathroom.
Bathroom:
The second audio modification that I worked on was to fit the audio into the setting that is a stadium, I'd say this one was quite challenging there were multiple adjustments in the effect that is 'Reverb' to better fit this set of choices, another interesting that I wanna emphasize is how my friends' depiction of a stadium is the distance they chose their audio to be in.
-mines feel as if the listener is so much further from the speaker.
Stadium:
Week 4 - Audio Direction
Panning and layering audio manipulation
September 20th, 2022
In the fourth week of the sonic design, Mr. Razif demonstrated the exercises that are meant to be completed as a part of progressing into our upcoming projects.
Mr. Razif elaborated and showed the class how we can manipulate the sound to make it sound as if it were coming from either the left or right and its transition through the left to right of our headphones or even speakers.
This audio manipulation is called: Panning and the first example that was worked on was a 'jet plane' sound effect that depicts a sound visual that travels from the left to the right of our headphones.
Jet Plane (Panning):
Next up on the list was an 'explosion' sound effect, In this part of audio editing/designing, we looked into pitch shifting and audio stretching, along with adding other audio elements like parametric EQ and full reverb to give a much heavier and bigger impact to an explosion sound.
Explosion (gain):
Finally as for homework in the 4th week, Mr. Razif assigned the class to work on the punch sound effects where we design and layer a build-up combo punch audio depiction with all the elements from previous and recent exercises.
Punch Combo:
Week 5 - NO FURTHER EXERCISES WERE ASSIGNED.
[September 27th, 2022] Mr. Razif was on medical leave, therefore we continued with completing week 4's exercise and Task 2.
Week 6 - Sound Recording
Noise Compression/Reduction
October 4th, 2022
In the 6th week, our exercises revolve around the sample voice audio that was given ever since the first week of Sonic design class by Mr. Razif.
But the purpose of this week's exercise is to attempt to eliminate the background noise in the sample audio as best as we can through two different methods.
Methods used to denoise background noise in sample audio:
- Noise Capture Print
- Adaptive Noise Reduction (ANR)
Let's get right into it!
1. Noise Print Capture
The first technique that was used is the noise capture print method, in the waveform of adobe audio, we implemented the sample voice audio and begin by decreasing the spikes of the sample voice.
Usually, there are many kinds of waveform spikes in audio, therefore if a spike in a waveform of audio is immense, we have to dial it down manually.
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| Figure 1.2 - Noise Capture print editor (Audio Adobe), Oct 4th, 2022 |
The exercise in order to apply the noise print capture the first steps are:
- Select a part of the audio where the spikes are not as greater as where vocal audio can be heard (background noise)
- Once the audio clip is captured, go to effects>Noise reduction>Capture Noise print
- Now select the whole audio
- Effect>Noise Reduction>Noise Reduction (Process)
- Once the noise reduction audio tuning shows up (As seen in the figure above)
- Mess around with the frequency to achieve a denoised audio
- Partially edit the audio clip
Technique #1 - Noise Capture Print (Final Outcome):
2. Adaptive Noise Reduction
The second technique that was used is 'Adaptive Noise Reduction', just like the previous method it eliminated the background noise, except it's much more in detail on tuning and adjusting the audio to eliminate the background noise.
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| Figure 1.3 - Implementing Adaptive Noise Reduction (Adobe Audition), September 10th, 2022 |
But the steps are not too far from the first method, firstly:
- Make sure the audio is in the software
- Tap into effects>Noise Reduction>Adaptive Noise Reduction
- let the audio play
- listen int other audio
- mess around with the tuner until background noise removal is achieved
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| Figure 1.4 - Fine-tuning Adaptive Noise Reduction (Adobe Audition), September 10th, 2022 |
Seen above is the tuning and editor of achieving the background noises. By adjusting it according to the audio, the effect will take its place as the parameter shows how much is to be reduced.
Technique #2 - Adaptive Noise Reduction (ANR) (Final Outcome):
Week 7 - Sound Recording
Group Script Recording
October 11th, 2022
For the 7th week's exercise, Mr. Razif had the class form 3 groups to choose a script as seen below to be recorded later in the studio.
The agenda of this exercise is to learn how to sound record along with implementing other sources of audio/sound effects that co-relate to the script that was recorded by one of the team members from each group.
Sample Scripts for Radio Commercials -
For the exercise, my group and I consisted of:
- Athirah (Me)
- Zetie
- Lianne
- Veyhan
- chose one of the scripts with the descriptions of the kind of voice acting that needed to be implemented.
We discussed and decided on the 5th script where Veyhan would be the voice actor. Since we were the first group down the list, we were the first that stepped into the recording studio to begin the script recording.
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| Moral_support_from_teammates |
It was a pretty simple process since Veyhan only took about 2-3 tries to perfect voice acting and had the voice recording all prepped for audio editing.
Once the recording was complete that's when the audio is brought into an audio audition to add in our own choices of audio elements that co-assist the scripted dialogue of the advertisement.
Audio Exercise (progress):
A part of my progress delve into researching the kind of radio commercials that are existent and in attempts to break down the kind of sound effects or direction of audiovisuals in a radio commercial, for examples a few of the videos shown below are great examples and references to use to design the kind of radio commercial with the audio script recorded by one of my team members during this exercise.
Radio commercial (video references):
A lot of what is identified in these video examples above are the zany and wacky kind of sound effects that regard the kind of words from the narration.
I noticed that when the commercial mentions:
- Shower > sound effect of water in the bathroom
- Concert > sound effects of music and crowd cheering
- Kpop > K- pop music
- Emotions (like sadness) > sound effect of sniffing (to indicate crying, runny nose)
So with what I was able to identify in the video examples above, I got to work to try and come up with my own radio commercial with a variety of sound effects.
The first process that I did was getting rid of the mouth clicks that were picked up in the audio during recording. In the waveform panel of adobe audition, I implemented the audio track to apply an effect that helps get rid of the mouth clicks, by entering:
- waveform >select audio
- effects panel > diagnostics >DeClicker (process)
- Diagnostic panel will appear > Presets (default > heavy reduction) >Scan (as seen above)
- amounts of clicks will be identified within the audio recording
After diminishing the mouth clicks during the audio track, I placed the audio track into the multitrack session and continued from then on.
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| Figure 1.5 - Audio multitrack implementation, October 29th, 2022 |
-later on in the process, I just built up the tracks with the kinds of sound effects that would fit the dialogue.
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As seen above I just layered the sound effects according to the dialogue of the initial audio track of the script along with timing the various sound effects to fit the narration better, resulting in a radio commercial.
Once it was completed, I exported the file and upload it onto SoundCloud, the final outcome can be seen and played below.
Radio Commercial exercise - (Final Outcome):
Week 8 - INDEPENDENT LEARNING WEEK.
[Oct 18th, 2022] There were no exercises assigned on this day due to Independent Learning Week.
Week 9 - Home Recording
Microphones and soundproofing
October 25th, 2022
Nine weeks in and we're already working on the 6th exercise for our Sonic Design class, this particular exercise is to assist us in our second project where we are to record audio on our phone or a microphone where we narrate/storytelling.
Why? - The reason why this exercise is done is to be able to work within the space of recording audio to later define and analyze the type of ambiance each student is working with to alter the BG noise during the production of the recorded audio.
Also using the previous exercises' radio commercial script as a sample audio recording script for this exercise.
The first thing that has to be identified in the exercise is the various setups throughout the variety of students, for my setup as seen below, is quite an open space:
1. Study room (Set up - Headset Microphone & iPhone Mic)
As seen on the left of the image, for this setup, I will try to utilize the headset microphone (Razer BlackShark V2 X Microphone) along with the standard iPhone integrated microphone within being in this setup/room.
Raw Audio - (Razer BlackShark V2 X Microphone):
Raw Audio - (Standard iPhone Microphone):
It's well aware to see that both these microphones have distinctive results when recording, although maybe through the headset mic further alternations can be made through recording programs or even the microphone itself.
-but with the standard iPhone microphone, the background noise is very noticeable, although the audio of narration is with clarity which is a good thing.
2. Bedroom
The next setup would be my bedroom, seeing that the room is much more enclosed with a bed and a bunch of pillows with a close range of curtains, it may have a different audio capture when recording within this area.
Raw Audio - (Standard iPhone Microphone):
Comparing the two different rooms that I recorded on my phone microphone, the audio in the bedroom is much louder than the one in my study room setup, which is a good distinction and analysis between the rooms.
It means when recording for the second project, the bedroom would be the best place to record audio tracks for narration and to further tweak the audio track during production.
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