- Chloe Pritchard
- Jan 18, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 12, 2021
In the lesson, we downloaded a clip/episode from the OOglies and we had to find music/sound effects off music library websites (e. g ~ YouTube Audio Library, Freesound etc) to make it sound more realistic, like it was an actual episode. Moreover, we also used an editing platform called Clip Champ to make the audio tracks either quiet/loud, whether it needs to be faded or we can create multi tracks so whichever scene needs more than one sound. Furthermore, we also had to explain what we did and how our journey through editing began. I even included the audio links I have used in the video. They all link to the music websites I've been to download the audio tracks I needed.
{Music Library Websites I've been to}:
{Audio I used}:
Uplifting Orchestra ~ https://freesound.org/people/oymaldonado/sounds/383929/
Cartoon Splat ~ https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/445117/
Man screaming ~ https://freesound.org/people/GreatNate98/sounds/353086/
Throwing effect ~ https://freesound.org/people/denao270/sounds/346373/
Cartoon whistle ~ https://freesound.org/people/Brsjak/sounds/482881/
Flies buzzing ~ https://freesound.org/people/Benboncan/sounds/81970/
{Video I edited}:
{Technical Skills}:
Why is it important to work across multi tracks when you are balancing audio soundtracks?
When you want to add sound effects into a video you picked out/trying to make, it's important that you record the sounds separately in case you find the other sound better. In other words, it's attaching more tracks into the software which hides the background noises.
How did you balance the audio and mix (edit) the audio to recreate a realistic animation world?
In the following screenshots above, you can see that I was working out where the sounds will be throughout the video. So you can see tracks of sound effects in the middle, then at the bottom and then at the top, so it's almost like layering. So once I've picked out the sounds I wanted, by adding them into the clip champ editing software, I went and placed the sound effect randomly, then I'd normally keep playing the video until the sounds are in it's rightful place. (In addition, making sure that they are in sync).
{Audio Skills}
What role does sound play in the animation overall?
Overall, sounds are one of the main elements in the animation industry, because it's just gives you an idea of character like how they are being introduced/presented/what their stereotypes are. In addition, it brings our minds into the picture as if we've been added in there.
How have you made your animation seem real through audio?
Well, I think it was when I started layering the sounds, like tracks on top of one another to make it as both sounds are collaborating. I mean, if we can picture our world as it is now, we hear sounds like birds collaborating with the wind or lightening collaborating with rumbles of thunder.
I went onto freesound.org and used the sounds I got from there.
Has the audio created characters?
I think it has. When I was around halfway through watching, as the watermelon started to conduct the orchestra, then the fly just starts buzzing around him, and the music was still playing while he was whacking the fly. I guess the music really brings us to the conclusion to how frustrated the watermelon was.
How does the sound-effect design create the animation world?
When making your own sounds throughout the animation industry, it's as if you are creating a world of your own, by including the vibes you choose. Also when it comes to people watching animation/work that you do, they would want to know what goes on behind the curtains. Are the sounds actually real? In the audience, it would seem interesting for them and looks as if they are actually witnessing what's occurring in the scene.
How did the Audio reference sheet help you plan?
By going through the guide to help me, I went with some different sound effects to make it more realistic, (e. g - adding orchestra tuning soundtrack over a baby crying). Moreover, it would make your idea/project more organised.
What role does music have in the animation?
The role of music in animation is to create the sense of mood, emotion and atmosphere. So, music that can match the characters personality. (Whichever scene might take place). So when I first previewed the first half of the clip, as you see the watermelon entering the stage and the music just suddenly fades out and then here comes the commencing of 'room tone', the awkward silence.
How did you decide what to use?
Well, when I visited 3 of the websites, (freesound.org, YouTube Studio, Freesfx.co.uk) to find the appropriate sound effects which would suit better for the video, I was previewing some tracks, by firstly changing its category (SFX genre). So I firstly went onto freesfx.co.uk to see if they had the flies buzzing effect, orchestra music etc. However, that platform didn't really give me much varieties, which was pretty disappointing. YouTube Studio had some SFX which was relatable to some scenes, so I downloaded some of them, which is excellent. When I went onto freesound.org, I doubt that I was going to get the results I needed, but as a result, I actually found a lot of orchestra pieces, flies buzzing to include in the Ooglies video. I wanted to see what the sounds were like, to see if whether they were appropriate or not. So I just pictured it in my head to see how it would actually sound before adding it into the software.
How much detail have you added?
I managed to add what I can throughout the editing process. I could have added more sound effects to when the watermelon threw the banana across the room/sounds of people in the audience while he was hitting everything in the performance. I've just decided to not go over the top with this one.
How many sounds have you put in the soundtrack to go with the visuals?
Well, I didn't really want to go over board with the whole thing, so I just kept it very simple and precise as I possibly could, so I decided to follow the guide with using different sound effects, plus using over 4 sound effects.
How much sound is too much? What was the role of Room Tone? Why was this important?
The point of having room tone, is to bring the audience's emotions and thoughts about what it would be like to actually play in front of a massive audience. Then suddenly everything goes wrong.
{Feedback and Evaluation}:
I got some feedback off my teachers.
{Improvements from feedback/making it better}:
In the OOglies video I already edited, judging by the feedback I was given, I somehow missed out the room tone effect and when the conductor taps on the stand to give the signal to the orchestra and I forgot how it reflects on the event and the audience, making sure that it's more realistic, like how we normally go there in our everyday lives.
So I did some improvements to the video:
