Sonic Design/Project 2: Auditory Imaging

 -SPETEMBER 26, 2024

//2024 - //2024 (Week 05 – Week 07)

Wang Yifan / 0368363

Sonic Design / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylors University

Project 2: Auditory Imaging

INTRODUCTION

Project 2- Auditory Imaging

For this task, we need to choose one scenario from the 6 provided and create a detailed story around it. The story needs to be comprehensive, as it will help in creating sound for it. If we don't like any of the 6 options provided, we can come up with our own scenario instead.

The 6 given scenarios are:

1. Wildlife + Background

2. Everyday Home Life + Background

3. Cities + Transport + Exterior Atmosphere

4. Industry and Electronic sounds + Background

5. Weather + Background

6. Market + Rural atmosphere + Background

Environmental atmosphere reference

Fig1.1 People commuting in the city in the early morning

Fig1.2 Morning commute by subway

Storyline:

This story depicts the protagonist Li Ming’s busy morning at work. Through the comprehensive use of various environmental sounds and background sounds, you can add color to the scenes and atmosphere in the story. The entire story not only depicts busy urban life, but also creates a layered soundscape through different sound elements. The sounds of noisy traffic, warm music and laughter, the tense sounds of brakes, and the orderly sound of subways and escalators all together constitute the rhythm of the city, making the whole scene both real and dynamic.

Fig 1.4 Written storyline based on Cities + Transport + Exterior Atmosphere

My sounds include: wind, bird chirping, construction sounds, traffic sounds, crowd conversations, footsteps, bus sound effects, guitar sounds, etc. I obtained these by downloading the sound effects library.

I'll clean up the low-frequency noise first,Use a parametric equalizer to clean up the interface of low-frequency noise. Select the default "60 Hz Hum Removal" and click "Apply"

Fig1.5 Clean up low frequency noise

It is divided into several parameters: low frequency, medium frequency and high frequency to ensure that each section of audio is balanced and no section is too loud or too quiet.

Fig1.6 Control sound volume and balance

Join a multitrack session. Put different sound effects on different tracks, such as footsteps, wind, horns, etc. On the track I also used automation to adjust the volume and at the end added a gradual fade in and out of the sound.

Fig1.7 Track and set volume changes

I use time stretching and pitch effects interfaces. Select the "iZotope Radius" algorithm to adjust the duration and pitch of the sound effect through stretching and pitch adjustment, suitable for background sounds or extended sound effects.

Fig1.8 Axial axial length and adjusted pitch

Fig1.9 adjust sound

Final Auditory Imaging

Google Link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1p3ukSHjTKrns8YPGrEuRYtWvC-_kVcKQ

REFLECTION

Experiences
In this course, I had the opportunity to explore various sound adjustment techniques and experiment with applying different sound effects to match specific scenes. These experiences allowed me to create unique auditory dimensions that complement visual materials. By applying the audio and video editing techniques learned in class, I gained proficiency in integrating sound into my assignments, steadily improving through practice.

Observations
I observed that sound is not merely a tool for enhancing content; it plays a pivotal role in connecting the audience with the visuals, often sparking emotional resonance or creating engaging interactions. The fine details in sound effects are crucial—they significantly influence the audience’s mood and perception, shaping how they interpret the visual story.

Findings
Through this project, I discovered that the layering of sound design can guide audience emotions effectively. Sound does more than reflect the visual content; it reveals the characters’ inner thoughts and can even foreshadow plot developments. Additionally, sound carries a spatial quality, helping producers construct an auditory environment in the audience’s mind. It can fill in narrative details that visuals alone cannot convey. These insights reinforced my understanding of sound as a core element in storytelling, driving the plot and adding depth to the narrative. Moving forward, I will consciously apply these techniques to achieve seamless integration of audio and visuals, enhancing the overall narrative impact.