Different Types Of Media
Video Games
Sound creation is used in video games to make the experience for the player more enjoyable and creates a realistic and unrealistic atmosphere that the player can experience.
Movies
Sound creation is used in movies to set the tones of different scenes whether that may be a love or horror scene.
TV Adverts
Sound creation is used in TV adverts to primarily add small effects give the advert that professionalism which make people want to buy the product being presented.
Radio Broadcasts/Podcasts
Sound creation is usually used in broadcasts and podcasts to make the show sound funny or comedic. Wacky and ridiculous noises are implemented to make it unusual but funny.
Animation
Sound creation is used in animations to give the animation some form of life and make it seem more realistic even-though its not.
Types Of Sound Creation
Foley
Sounds used to match action in visual media. Foley makes video games sound more realistic to the situation. For example, in FIFA when the players shoot or pass the sound will be synchronised (by a sampler) too when they carry out the movement. Physical props are used to carry out foley.
Ambience
Sound present to give a sense of location. For example, background in a desert might include animal noises and wind sounds. Ambience may also include effects used to give a sense of space. For example, reverb and EQ used to replicate the size of a room or frequency attenuation (reduction) over distance.
Underscore
Underscore is music to set the mood or place. This is a key feature specifically in horror games and horror movies to create a spine chilling effect for the player/watcher.
Dialogue
Diegetic sound is a noise which has a source on-screen. They are noises which have not been edited in, for example dialogue between characters or footsteps. Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound. Non-diegetic sound is a noise which does not have a source on-screen, they have been added in. Dialogue is crucial for movies as it creates personality for different characters.
Voice Overs
Non-diegetic spoken word. For example, the commentary of a narrator off screen or a voice over for a character in a cartoon/animation. Voice overs are important in video games as they can create a story line to the game or give instructions to the player whilst they are playing.
Special/Spot Effects
Usually diegetic sounds which are generated to enhance particular moments – musical and non-musical sounds. For example, to enhance explosions, bombs going off in Call Of Duty.
Methods Of Sound Creation
Environment Props
Recording background sounds for use as ambience.
Sound Synthesis
Using basic synthesis to create sounds for musical and non-musical use.For example, manipulating the timbre of a synthesiser to change the sound for a particular use. This can be done by modifying the filters, envelopes, gain, drive, threshold on a synthesiser.
Effects Libraries
These are collections of sound effects that you can use in your sound creation pieces. The most effective and simple one to use is YouTube.
Examples of how they use sound creation in TV adverts.
My sound creation piece
This is my piece.
This is the audio from the clip
This is the audio I recorded
I recorded me hitting the table to make a thud sound.
I used a sampler to help me get these in time.
I used these for voice overs
This is my synth work
I used audience sounds from effects libraries to get the crowd sounds.
I modified the piano sound
Unit 4: Learning outcome 3
How my project has met the brief
- I have created sound to go alongside the FIFA 19 advert
- I have used a selection of materials to create sound for my project
- I have used different sound creation techniques
- I have used a variety of tools in logic pro x to manipulate my project to take it too its peak
- I have extracted an mp4 file from an effects library that Is YouTube
- I have also extracted a variety of mp3 files to go alongside the advert
Strengths
I have edited my audio to match the tone of the atmosphere. I used foley to create the kick of the football. I used a few loops – a bass loop to get the energy going. I simply recorded my hand thudding the desk for the kicking football sound. I had to put a noise gate on the thud as the microphone picked up the sound from the computer.
Weakness
I could have added more midi as I have a lot more audio. I relied on the commentary bits a bit too much. If I had more time I could have used midi more to create the bass patterns. If I could do it again I would have added more effects and I would have recorded more ambient sounds from the playground.
Overall, I am quite pleased with my piece and I enjoyed making it.