Video and Sound Production - PROJECT 1

Edita Chew En Thung / 0357357 

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

Project 1 : Audio Editing Exercises

---

Table of Content

1. LECTURES

2. INSTRUCTIONS

3. PROCESS

4. FEEDBACK

5. REFLECTION

6. FURTHER READING

---

LECTURES

Week 3 

Guide to Storyboarding

Storyboarding helps you plan out each scene so you know exactly what shots you need to capture.

1. Start with a Script: Before you start drawing, you need a script. This is the story written out scene by scene, with dialogue and action.

2. Break It Down: Read through the script and think about each scene. What's happening? Who's there? What do you want the audience to see?

3. Sketch It Out: For each scene, draw a series of pictures to show what happens. You don't need to be a great artist—stick figures work fine! Include details like characters, props, and any important actions.

4. Add Notes: Under each drawing, write down important details like camera angles, character movements, and any dialogue or sound effects.

5. Arrange Your Boards: Once you have all your drawings and notes, arrange them in order. This helps you see how the story flows from scene to scene.

6. Review and Revise: Take a step back and look at your storyboard as a whole. Does the story make sense? Are there any missing shots? Make any necessary changes.

7. Share and Collaborate: Finally, share your storyboard with your team like the director, cinematographer, and production crew. They can give feedback and help bring your vision to life.

Storyboarding is a fun and important part of filmmaking that helps you plan out your movie and make sure everything goes smoothly on set. 

INSTRUCTIONS

fig 1.0 | Module Information booklet (MIB)

Week 3 | in Class practical

Instructions for Project 1 Exercise 1, Audio Dubbing (15%):

1. Download the "vsp24 audio dubbing" folder.

2. Inside the folder, we will find a muted video and a Word file with the dialogues.

3. Follow the instructions provided to prepare the audio files and spreadsheet for the audio dubbing exercise in week 3 of the VPS2024 Project 1.

4. Complete the spreadsheet breakdown

5. Record all dialogues with your phone (import to premiere)

6. Prepare all hard sound effects (import to premiere)

7. Prepare ambient sound (import to premiere)

8. Week 4, we are to bring our headphones, we will be doing sound dubbing in class.

9. Update our blog

10. Study week 3 asynchronous materials 

Week 9 | Project 1 Exercise 2 Sound Shaping

Project 1 Exercise 2 Sound Shaping 

Do Project 1: Sound Shaping. Step-by-step workflow in Adobe Audition is provided in the slides.

Record our own voice for 5 seconds for Exercise 2 submission.

1. Voice of phone call.
2. Voice coming from inside of closet.
3. Voice of toilet/bathroom.
4. Underground cave.
5. Alien/ Orc voice

Week 4 QUIZ - production

fig 1.1 | Week 4 QUIZ

PROCESS

Project 1 Exercise 1 - Audio Dubbing

Everything Everywhere All At Once

PROCESS STEP by STEP:

1. Download Materials: I started by downloading the "vsp24 audio dubbing" folder, which contained a muted video and a Word file with the dialogue script.
   

2. Recording Audio: Following the script, I recorded the necessary audio clips, ensuring that each line matched the timing and emotion of the muted video.

3. Edit and Sync: Using audio editing software, I cleaned up the recordings to remove any background noise. Then, I synced the audio clips with the video, making sure each line was perfectly aligned with the characters' lip movements and actions.

4. Prepare Spreadsheet: I created a spreadsheet detailing each audio clip, including start times and any relevant notes for reference during class.

5. Upload and Share: Finally, I uploaded the completed video with dubbed audio and the spreadsheet for review in the week 3 class.

fig 1.2 &1.3 | Voice recording

I recorded 2 versions for the voiceovers of "Everything Everywhere All at Once" as I compared them to each other and chose the better versions.

Spreadsheet:

fig 1.4 | Spreadsheet

Creating a spreadsheet for the audio dubbing exercise is crucial for keeping everything organised. It ensures that all audio clips are in the right order and synced correctly with the video. The spreadsheet provides clear timing details for each clip, making the editing process smoother. It also serves as a handy reference for reviewing and fixing any errors, and documents the workflow for future use and learning.

I sourced the audio effects from freesound.org and YouTube royalty free sound effects.

EDITING PROCESS:

fig 1.5 | Locking the video

First, locking the video in place makes it easier and safer to edit later on.

fig 1.6 | PROCESS Voiceover pitch shift

Then, I added a the effect of a lower pitch shift for Waymond.

fig 1.7 | PROCESS Voiceover volume dimming

fig 1.8 | PROCESS Voiceover volume dimming

I made the office ambience audio to dim at some scenes to create the different setting sounding ambience, as the sounds could be coming from a different room.

fig 1.9 | PROCESS volume fading / exponential fade

Exponential fade was added to audios that I trimmed and extracted from a lengthy audio to get the desired part of the audio.

fig 2.0 | PROCESS volume dimming / keyframe

The office ambience is then dimmed and gained when needed.

I have completed editing the scenes from "Everything Everywhere All at Once" as assigned by the lecturer, focusing on the audio dubbing. This involved synchronising dialogue with the characters' lip movements, ensuring clarity and consistency in sound quality, and enhancing the overall audio experience to match the film's dynamic and multifaceted nature. The edits aim to maintain the film’s emotional depth and coherence, providing a seamless viewing experience that aligns with the original artistic vision.

Week 9 | Project 1 Exercise 2 : Sound Shaping

Project 1 Exercise 2 Sound Shaping 

Record our own voice for 5 seconds for Exercise 2 submission.

1. Voice of phone call.
2. Voice coming from inside of closet.
3. Voice of toilet/bathroom.
4. Underground cave.
5. Alien/ Orc voice

fig 2.1 | Phone call

fig 2.2 | closet/muffled

fig 2.3 | toilet

fig 2.4 | cave

fig 2.5 | Alien/orc

FEEDBACK

Lecturer gave me insights on how to go about Premiere Pro.

GOOGLE DRIVE LINK: HERE. (only accessible to lecturer)

REFLECTION

In looking back on my progress with technical and digital media skills, I've realised how much they've helped me share my design ideas effectively. By using creative software like Premiere Pro and digital tools, I've been able to bring my concepts to life in engaging ways. 

Whether it's designing presentations or creating digital content, these skills have been invaluable. I'm excited to keep learning and exploring new ways to use technology to make a difference in my work.

FURTHER READING

Self exploration - books

"Storyboarding Essentials: SCAD Creative Essentials" by David Harland Rousseau

Storyboarding Essentials" by David Harland Rousseau is a comprehensive guide that delves into the fundamental aspects of storyboard framing. The book covers essential topics such as shot types, camera angles, composition, and visual storytelling techniques. It provides practical insights and examples to help readers understand how to effectively plan and visualise scenes for film, television, and other visual media. With clear explanations and illustrative diagrams, the book offers valuable guidance for both beginner and experienced storyboard artists. Whether you're a filmmaker, animator, or visual storyteller, "Storyboarding Essentials" serves as an indispensable resource for mastering the art of framing in storyboarding.