Sonic Design(Exercises)

Sonic Design:Projects

WEEK1-WEEK14
LI YUHAN (0379857)

Exercise 1

In Exercise 1, I compared the original "Flat" sample with the six equalized tracks one by one in Multitrack View. While listening carefully through headphones, I noticed distinct differences: some tracks had sharp high frequencies, others sounded muffled with excessive bass, and some presented a blurred soundstage. The objective of this practice was to use the parametric equalizer to progressively adjust frequency parameters until all modified versions closely matched the acoustic characteristics of the flat reference sample.

eq1:

I found the sound a bit sharp and thin compared to the flat standard tone, so I boosted the low frequencies to make it rounder and more powerful.

eq1

eq2:

I felt the EQ2's sound needed more body and presence, so I both lowered the bass and boosted the treble.

eq2

eq3:

I slightly boosted both the low and high frequencies to make it sound more immersive and a bit higher in pitch.

eq3

eq4:

I boosted the midrange and cut the low frequencies to make the sound clearer and more textured.

eq4

eq5:

I slightly boosted the high frequencies and cut the low frequencies to make it sound clearer and brighter.

eq5

eq6:

I wanted the sound to be cleaner and clearer, so I tried lowering both the low and high frequencies. Finally, it started to sound a bit more like flat.

Filter1:

I've boosted the overall low frequencies and slightly lowered the highs to reduce the prominence of the background music, thereby highlighting key sounds and enhancing the audio's layered depth.

Filter2:

To achieve clearer sound with greater presence, I repeatedly adjusted the settings and ultimately found that slightly lowering the midrange while simultaneously boosting both the low and high frequencies yielded the optimal result.

Exercise 2

In Exercise 2, we will adjust the two sample recordings provided by the instructor to the six different patterns specified.

1.Telephone:

I tried to make it sound like electrical static, muffled and distorted.

2.In the closet:

I made the sound exceptionally immersive, with a sense of presence and incredible clarity.

3.Walkie-talkie:

The distortion on walkie-talkies should be more noticeable than on phones, accompanied by a slight buzzing sound. I'd describe the audio quality as barely intelligible.

4.Bathroom:

Bathrooms are typically small in size, with smooth walls that cause significant sound reflection and echoes.

5.Airport:

The airport is very spacious and exceptionally large, so sounds echo with a hollow quality and a distant reverberation.

6.Indoor stadium:

The indoor stadium is extremely large and enclosed. Therefore, the sound should produce a noticeable echo and feel rather hollow.

Exercise 3

We need to adjust the ambient sound based on these two images.

For this image, I feel it should include the sound of the rays emitted by the machine shown in the picture, the voices of the two researchers conversing, the operational sounds of other machines in the background, and a hint of factory noise. Additionally, in a relatively enclosed factory setting, there should be some echo, giving the sound a slightly hollow quality.

Therefore, I selected four appropriate sounds to create the ambient audio for this image: laser beams, a man's report, factory noise, and machinery operation sounds.

The ray machine and researchers are positioned at the very front and center of the image, so I set the ray sound to maximum volume and the researchers' voices to center focus. Factory noise and other machinery have reduced volume and presence.

Adjusted the volume levels respectively

Since the recording took place in a relatively open factory space, I added some echo effects to the audio clips for the researchers' presentations.

 researchers' presentations.

After listening to the raw audio of the machine's operational sounds, I applied a full reverb effect to it. Compared to the original, I adjusted it to a more muffled tone and added a sense of distance, since the other machines are positioned further back in the image.

the other machines

I also modified the factory noise, making it sound more muffled compared to the original audio to better blend with the overall ambient sounds and reduce its presence.

factory noise

For this image, I feel it should include the sound of the rays emitted by the machine shown in the picture, the voices of the two researchers conversing, the operational sounds of other machines in the background, and a hint of factory noise. Additionally, in a relatively enclosed factory setting, there should be some echo, giving the sound a slightly hollow quality.

In this image, I believe the central glass enclosure should contain gas, so I added a gas sound effect. Additionally, I noticed numerous electronic devices operating on the left side of the image, so I added a ringing sound—"ding—"—for them. There are also two guards on the left side, and since I imagine they would be moving around, I added a walking sound effect.

Since this research facility or factory appears quite spacious, I anticipated that the alert sound would produce a slight echo. Therefore, I added an echo effect to the alert sound emitted by the machine on the left.

the alert sound emitted by the machine

For the guard's footsteps, since they were moving, I adjusted the volume and direction to make it sound like they were walking. I also added a reverb effect because of the relatively enclosed environment.

the guard's footsteps

I also added reverb to the factory noise to make it less intrusive, ensuring it doesn't drown out the central gas pipeline sounds, and to give it the impression of being in a more enclosed indoor space.

the factory noise

Since the gas sound is confined within a glass pipe and positioned right in the center of the image, I added an echo effect to make it sound more enclosed and distinct.

the gas sound