Session 1: Today we will discuss the details of the final project that combines the use of multitrack audio and moving images. The final project involves combining visual imagery with sound. One of the key competencies is synchronizing the sound with the visuals or vice versa. For video, you need to replace the sound recorded on location in post-production through the use sound design techniques and ADR. Your piece will be made up of video and multitracked audio synchronized to events in picture.
Project 4: Synchronized Audiovisual Piece (Final Project)
Due: Week 15 Finals Period (20 Points)
Description: The Synchronized Audiovisual piece is a one minute thirty second project, combining moving pictures with multi-tracked audio. Synchronizing the sound with the visuals or vice versa will be a critical part of this project. Often sounds need to be replaced in video that is shot on location. Your piece will be made up of video and separate, multi-tracked audio synchronized to events in picture. You may create a derivative work from footage in the public domain. A vast amount of archival and ephemeral footage can be viewed and downloaded from archive.org. Shoot video of your own with either your own equipment or the iPads that are available for checkout.
Requirements:
1. Use Audition to produce your multi-tracked composition with a minimum length of 1:30 minutes.
2. Use field recording or foley techniques to record at least 75% of your sound effects.
3. A one page script is required which includes dialogue and, more importantly, sound design notes.
4. Compile your project in one of the following accepted formats: .mov or .mpeg.
5. A minimum of 10 tracks of audio in Audition is required.
6. Include 2 screenshots of your Audition work in progress with your project (command+shift+3 creates a screenshot on the desktop).
7. Try to maintain the highest possible audio quality. Wave files should be rendered as 48kHz and 24bit (video quality).
8. Use mastering techniques (normalization at a minimum) to finalize your mix.
9. 5% of grade is awarded for presenting your work in class.
10. Upload a bounced .mov file of your project and screenshots to Canvas before the finals period begins.
Points Breakdown:
5 points are awarded for synchronizing your audio well with the visual content
8 points are awarded for the creative content, narrative, style, and tone of the piece
6 points are awarded for your use of automation, processing, mixing, and mastering
1 point is awarded for sharing your piece during the in-class presentations
http://www.filmsound.org/foley/
What is Foley?
Foley Artist Share Their Secrets
Interview with Dustin DuPilka
Session 2: We’ll be covering audio compression today in our group lessons. Audio compression (not to be confused with file compression) is a way to automatically adjust the dynamics of sound. Mixing multiple tracks of audio can often become difficult when some of the audio has varying or inconsistent levels. Audio compression can help resolve these difficulties. It as also widely over-used, especially in the mastering process resulting in the “loudness wars“. Please look at the following articles regarding compression for more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_level_compression
The Death of Dynamic Range (Article on the so called “Loudness Wars”)
What Is Sidechain Compression? And How to Use It