Video and Sound Production/ Project 1: Audio Editing Exercises

26/04/2024 - 30/06/2024 / Week 1 - Week 10

Lim En Yu / 0354452

Video and Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor’s University 

Project 1: Audio Editing Exercises

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Instructions

2. Lectures

3. Project 1 Exercise 1: Audio Editing Exercises

4. Project 1 Exercise 2: Sound Shaping

5. Feedback

6. Reflection

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Instructions

Fig 1.1 Module Information

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Lectures

Week 4 Asynchronouse class materials

Reading material: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/stages-of-film-production/

This week we are going to learn about production in filmmaking and there are 3 stages of it which are:

• Pre-production
• Production
• Post-production

Pre-production

This is the planning stage of filmmaking, where all the necessary preparations are made before filming begins. This includes tasks such as writing the script, creating storyboards, casting actors, scouting locations, designing sets and costumes, and hiring crew members. Three major things that will happened in this stage:

• Budgeting
• Getting the team together
• Pre-visualizing

Production

This is the stage where the actual filming takes place. The production team will work together to capture all the footage needed for the film, using the plans and preparations made during pre-production as a guide. This stage can be physically and logistically challenging, as it involves coordinating a large team of people and managing a complex schedule.

• The call sheet
• The set up
• Shooting

Post-production

This is the stage where the footage is edited and assembled into a final product. This includes tasks such as cutting and arranging scenes, adding music and sound effects, color grading, and visual effects. Post-production can be a time-consuming process, as it requires careful attention to detail and a keen eye for storytelling.

• Picture editing
• Sound editing
• Additional visuals

After understand about production of filmmaking, we have been given a quiz to test out our knowledge on it.

Fig 2.1 Quiz for Production, Week 4 (19/5/2024)

Other than that, we have also learned about production crew which are a team of experts collaborates to produce a film or video. Each crew member has distinct roles and duties, all of which are crucial to the production's overall success.

Reading materials:

• Beginner: https://www.govtech.com/education/news/the-roles-of-the-production-team.html 
• Advance: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/film-crew-positions/ 

Key production crew members:

• Director: They are involved in every stage of the production process and have the final say on the vast majority of creative decisions, though the studio or Producer can sometimes veto certain choices.
• Producer: A Producer may have the initial concept for a film and bring a Screenwriter in to bring that idea to life. Producers are involved in securing financing for the film, hiring cast and crew, and making all above the line decisions.
• Cinematographer: Oversees both the camera team and the grip and electric department, and is responsible for everything having to do with the camera and lighting techniques.
• Production designer: They are responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of sets as well as ensuring that sets and locations are properly dressed for shooting.
• Sound designer: The sound designer is responsible for the audio aspects of the film, including recording and editing dialogue, sound effects, and music. They work closely with the director and editor to ensure that the sound and picture are seamlessly integrated.
• Editor: The editor is responsible for assembling the footage into a coherent and compelling story. They work closely with the director and sound designer to shape the pacing, tone, and structure of the film.

All crew positions involved in filmmaking:

• Camera & Lighting Department
• Directorial Department
• Hair and Makeup Department
• Sound Department
• Stunts Department
• Special Effects Department
• Locations Department
• Food Department
• Production Department
• Art Department
• Script Department
• Editorial Department

After understand about production crews, we have been given a quiz to test out our knowledge on it.

Fig 2.2 Quiz for Production Crew, Week 4 (19/5/2024)

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Project 1 Exercise 1: Audio Editing Exercises

Fig 3.1 Slides with instructions for Project 1 Exercise 1 Audio Dubbing, Week 3 (10/5/2024)

In this week, we are introduced to our first exercise of Porject 1 which is Audio Dubbing. We are instructed to sync the required audios in Premiere Pro (Speech & Sound effects only, no music) and we have been provided with a folder that contains an audio dubbing subtitle and its 35 seconds clip from "Evereything, everywhere, all at once" that is muted and does not contain any voice over or sound effects.

Folder link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Af7xN8eOxQJLpR3N9T6tTdHI9UyxKL41?usp=sharing

As it takes longer time for us to individually complete the script breakdown spreasheet of the 35 seconds audio dubbing video, Mr Martin has divided us into 5 per group to work together on finalizing the script breakdown spreadsheet so it takes lesser time.

Here is the finalized version of script breakdown after I have done my own changes afterwards.

Fig 3.2 Script Breakdown for Project 1 Exercise 1 Audio Dubbing, Week 3 (10/5/2024)

Speech: Record with phone

Sound effects:

• https://freesound.org/
• https://99sounds.org/
• Can be record by your own

Music: Not required for this exercise

After having the script breakdown spreadsheet, I started to work on the dialogue recordings accoring tot he audio dubbing subtitle provided. Here are all the recordings I have recorded:

Fig 3.3 Dialogue recordings, Week 4 (16/5/2024)

Also, here is the compilation of downloaded and recorded sound effects. I have tried to recordedd quite a lot of sound effects by myself for example the knocking door sound, clothes sound, Deirdre holding Waymond's clothes sound and more. While for those sound effects that are hard for me to record such as pipe removing sound, door crack sound and head crack sound are downloaded online.

Fig 3.4 Downloaded and recorded sound effects, Week 4 (16/5/2024)

After I have recorded all the clips required, I imported all of them into Adobe Premiere Pro. First, I started with syncing the dialogue recordings. I have trim the recording using in and out point before overwrite them into the timeline. A1 representing Evelyn, A2 representing Waymond while A3 representing Deirdre, there are total of 3 tracks for dialogue.

Fig 3.5 Sync dialogue recordings, Week 4 (17/5/2024)

Moreover, followed by the hard sound effects, also repeating the same step which is trimming before syncing. I have arranged them all according to my script breakdown. A4-A7 are hard sound effects tracks.

Fig 3.6 Sync hard sound effects recordings, Week 4 (17/5/2024)

For ambient sound, I input the respective ambience according to the scene. Then, after there is hole on the door, I have added slightly office ambience and it become stronger followed by the second hole. When the door opened, I also added the crowd noise to showcase the chaos of crowd.

Fig 3.7 Input and sync ambient sound, Week 4 (19/5/2024)

I have adjusted the volume of each clips of dialogues, hard sound effects and also ambient sound to make sure all of them sounds coherent and natural. 

Fig 3.8 Adjusting on the volume of recordings, Week 4 (19/5/2024)

In order to make my voice sounds like a male, we are required to use pitch shifter in audio effects and lower the semi tone to negative range. This is the way for female to sound like male, vice versa.

Fig 3.9 Edit voice using pitch shifter, Week 4 (19/5/2024)

Other than that, in order to let some part of transitions become smoother, I have appplied exponential fade on certain clips in audio transitions so that it sounds better and natural.

Fig 3.10 Apply exponential fade when needed, Week 4 (19/5/2024)

Final outcome of Project 1 Exercise 1 Audio Dubbing

Fig 3.11 Final outcome of Project 1 Exercise 1 Audio Dubbing, Week 4 (19/5/2024)

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Project 1 Exercise 2: Sound Shaping

For the second exercise of project 1, we will have to do sound shaping which using our 5 seconds audio and apply with different effects which sounds like it is from different location using Adobe Audition. We have given a step by step workflow in the slides.

Fig 4.1 Slides for Sound Shaping, Week 9 (21/6/2024)

First, I started with recording a 5 seconds audio using my phone. Basically I am just doing a self introduction :D  After that, I have imported it into Adobe Audition.

Fig 4.2 Original audio, Week 10 (26/6/2024)

Voice of phone call:

In order for the audio to sound like phone call, I have apply the Parametric Equalizer in Filter and EQ effect. I created the effect by bringing down the bass and treble while raising the mid range at the same time.

Fig 4.3 Parametric Equalizer effect, Week 10 (29/6/2024)

Fig 4.4 Voice of phone call effect, Week 10 (29/6/2024)

Voice coming from inside of closet:

For this situation, I have also apply the Parametric Equalizer, but this time was a bit different. Bass will be remained, mid range is raised and treble will be brought to bottom.

Fig 4.5 Voice coming from inside of closet effect, Week 10 (29/6/2024)

Voice of toilet/bathroom :

Usually speak in toilet our voice will be reverberant, therefore we will need to apply the reverb effect. I have chosen a preset which is room ambience and made some further adjustments afterwards.

Fig 4.6 Reverb effect, Week 10 (29/6/2024)

Fig 4.7 Voice of toilet/ bathroom, Week 10 (29/6/2024)

Underground cave:

Same goes to underground cave, I have also applied reverb effect but this time the preset is changed to ethereal. Also, I have make some changes on delay time, diffusion and also output level to make it sounds more natural.

Fig 4.8 Underground cave effect, Week 10 (29/6/2024)

Alien/ Orc voice:

To make an Alien voice, we will have to apply the flanger effect in modulation. This was so fun! I have applied 4 different flangger effects which are Jimmy, Heavy Flange, Hell's Chorus and Synthetic YO-YO.

Fig 4.9 Flangger effect, Week 10 (29/6/2024)

Fig 4.10 Alien/ Orc voice effect, Week 10 (29/6/2024)

Final Outcome for Project 1 Exercise 2 Sound Shaping:

Submission link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1L5X4MGNlapfjVGukHFl5HLvcR25et1DY?usp=drive_link

Voice of phone call:

Fig 4.11 Final outcome for voice of phone call effect, Week 10 (30/6/2024)

Voice coming from inside of closet:

Fig 4.12 Final outcome for voice coming from inside of closet effect, Week 10 (30/6/2024)

Voice of toilet/bathroom :

Fig 4.13 Final outcome for voice of toilet/ bathroom effect, Week 10 (30/6/2024)

Underground cave:

Fig 4.14 Final outcome for underground cave effect, Week 10 (30/6/2024)

Alien/ Orc voice:

Fig 4.15 Final outcome for alien/ orc voice effect, Week 10 (30/6/2024)

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 Feedback

No feedback received.

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Reflection

Both of the exercises are so fun!! This module always let me learn a lot of different things and everything is new to me! I could have the opportunity to discover different field and know where is my interests.

Exercise 1 is fun but challenging at the same time as I never tried sound dubbing before even if I want to. It is harder than I thought as we need to sync the scripts perfectly and find a lot of sound effects that could match the videos, this is testing how detailed and attentive I was towards every part of the videos. The outcome I think not bad, I have successfully done what I thought in mind.

For me, exercise 2 is easier and less challenging compared to exercise 1. We just need to apply what we have learned during the class and carry it out. It was interesting also! I learnt how to make the audio sounds like it is recorded in different places and I also know how to apply some funny alien effects :D