SONIC DESIGN / PROJECT 2 - AUDITORY IMAGING

23/09/2024 - 20/12/2024 / Week 1- Week 14
Chew Zhi Ern / 0358995
Sonic Design / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Project 2 / Auditory Imaging

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INSTRUCTIONS

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LECTURES

Lectures: Refer to Exercises

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PROJECT

PROJECT 2: AUDITORY IMAGING

For Project 2: Auditory Imaging, we were tasked with creating a vivid audio story in a first-person perspective. The objective was to craft an auditory experience that allows listeners to visualize the events and environment without any use of dialogue or voice. By layering and editing sound effects, we aimed to convey a clear narrative and evoke a strong sense of place and atmosphere. The final audio piece should be 2-3 minutes long and convey a clear sequence of events or actions, transporting the listener into the chosen setting. This exercise highlights the power of sound to tell a story and encourages creativity and technical proficiency in audio editing.

We were given six scenario options to choose from:

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

The chosen scenario for this project is "Everyday Home Life + Background", which captures the morning routine of a character waking up and starting their day. 

I began by writing a script that outlines the daily routine from a first-person perspective. I wanted to capture the essence of waking up, getting ready, and having a peaceful breakfast, allowing the listener to experience these moments purely through sound. The script included distinct actions such as the alarm ringing, brushing teeth, the sizzling of eggs in the pan, and the gentle hum of the refrigerator. This script would serve as a guide to help me identify the necessary sound elements.

Figure 1. Script (The Morning Commute)

In the script, I distinguished between:

1. Foreground sounds: These represent the protagonist's direct actions, such as footsteps, the click of an alarm, or the sound of water splashing.
2. Background sounds: These provide context and ambiance, such as birds chirping or the hum of a refrigerator.

After scripting the scene, I looked for the right sound effects on Freesound.org. I made sure to choose sounds that would clearly represent the actions stated in my script, such as the alarm clock, footsteps, brushing teeth and kitchen sounds like sizzling sounds. To create a more immersive scene, I also included background sounds like birds chirping, water splashing and the hum of the refrigerator to create more immersive atmosphere.

Sound Effects:

• Foreground
• Alarm Button
• Yawning
• Bed Sheet Rustling
• Putting Slipper On
• Footsteps
• Pulling the Curtain
• Open the Window
• Door
• Water Splash
• Washing Face
• Brushing Teeth
• Speaker Button
• Open the Refrigerator
• Turning the Knob of the Stove
• Cracking Eggs
• Toaster Button

• Background
• Fan
• Alarm Clock
• Birds Chirping
• Water from the Tap
• Speaker Connected
• Music Play from the Speaker
• Refrigerator Humming
• Bread Toasting

Once I collected the sounds, I imported them into the audio editing software - Adobe Audition. From there, I began to adjust, arrange and align each sound to ensure that it matched the intended mood and sequence of the story. I applied techniques like equalisation (EQ) to balance the frequencies and make the sounds more clear and distinct.

Next, I carefully layered the sounds to form a coherent and smooth flow. I began with the alarm, followed by the sounds of movement as the character gets up and approaches the window. I placed the bird chirping and breeze sounds in the background to evoke the tranquility of the morning. As the character moves to the bathroom and kitchen, I layered in sounds like the splash of water, the brushing of teeth, and the crackling of eggs in the pan. I also ensured that background noises like the fridge hum and the toaster popping remained subtle but present, adding realism to the scene.

Figure 2. 

After layering the sounds, I spent time fine-tuning their timing and volumes to ensure they blended seamlessly together. I adjusted the pacing of each sound, ensuring that the scene unfolded logically, just as it would in real life. I also made sure that there were no abrupt transitions, and each sound flowed naturally into the next. The final step was exporting the audio as a 2-3 minute clip, ensuring that the sounds were clear, immersive, and told the story effectively.

Finally, I listened to the full audio, paying attention to how well it conveyed the story of a peaceful morning routine. I wanted to ensure that listeners could visualize the scene through sound alone. After making a few final tweaks to improve clarity and balance, I was satisfied with the final result.

Here is the final outcome for the project.

Figure 3. Final Outcome

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REFLECTIONS

Experience:

Working on this project was an immersive and rewarding journey into the power of sound storytelling. The task of crafting an audio narrative without dialogue challenged me to rely solely on sound effects to convey a vivid, first-person experience. I chose the scenario, Everyday Home Life + Background, which required me to capture the essence of a morning routine through sound alone. Each sound effect had to be carefully selected, edited, and layered to ensure clarity and coherence.

Observations:

Throughout the project, I noticed how small, everyday sounds could evoke a strong sense of place and atmosphere. For example, the chirping of birds paired with the gentle rustling of curtains immediately set a serene morning mood. I also observed that transitions between sounds were crucial in maintaining the narrative flow. The challenge was balancing realism with creativity to ensure the sounds were not only authentic but also engaging for the listener.

Findings:

This project deepened my understanding of the role sound plays in storytelling. I learned that even without visuals, a well-crafted audio sequence could paint a clear picture in the listener's mind. Additionally, I gained practical skills in layering and blending sounds to achieve a cohesive audio experience. The exercise sharpened my attention to detail, as subtle adjustments in volume, timing, and texture made a significant difference in the final outcome.

Looking back, I’m pleased with how the project turned out but recognize the importance of continued practice to refine my auditory storytelling abilities. This experience has inspired me to explore more ways to incorporate sound design into future projects, knowing its potential to captivate and immerse audiences.