Sol Levante

This page is dedicated to my independent work on a Netflex Open Content project called Sol Levante

What exactly is Sol Levante?

This content owned and created as a Netflex original animated movie is about a young warrior searching for a secret location which once found can grant wishes. Though it's best to avoid disturbing the ancient guardians. This project stood as an independent study semester long project and the final obstacle for graduation.

So how did this project start?

I personally have played the trombone for around eight years. That being said I'm fimilar with sheet music and how to read it. The only problem being I've never made my own music before nor did I have any knowledge about standard band music construction (Guitar, Bass, Drums, etc).

This Netflex original content is open source and available for anyone to download. I was assigned this project by my temporary university advisor and head of the audio program as a way to challenge myself on truly sound designing and to find out where my skills lie. Unlike Chapman Speaks, for this project, I was alone and responsible for everything. I did not have any form of audio reference nor have I seen the actual film. Everything shown below is all original audio content created either in the university's Post Production suite or in the university's Electronic Music lab.

So what is the EML?

The Electronic Music Lab is a small room in The New England School of Communications building at Husson University. This room contains electronic music equipment and a desktop computer for making, recording and mixing original music content.

This room contains synthesizers such as an analogue Korg Minilogue, a Roland Integra-7, an original Fantom G8 keyboard, a Roland System-8, a Moog One 16 voice analogue synth, an ARRP Oddesey, and a custom Modular unit about seven feet tall. That Modular is featured in the background of the adjacent picture.

How I used this room for Sol Levante.

Personally, I knew music production was going to be the hardest element of this project. I didn't have anythign composed, so I went with what I felt would fit the scene as the video played through. For music production, I used the DAW Digital Performer. This workspace made by Motu, is exceptional in working with MIDI controllers and includes a video track for the clip. Using this, the step record mode, and the conductor track to change tempos, I made a completely original sound track for the clip. This took a time frame of six hours every week for a period of four weeks to complete.

Motu's Digital Performer

Here is a silly image of me using DP to edit MIDI notes for the Sol Levante sound track.

How did the final product turn out?

I considered this project a matter of Life or Death. What I mean is that this work was truly my ultimate test to see how my post production and editing skills have come so far and to push my limits towards work I've never faced before. Overall, using Digital performer to create the music, and Avid Pro Tools to complete the mix and combine it together, really honed my skills for both DAWs and gave me a feeling of which field of Post Production I wish to enter in. I found that Foley is something I really love to work with and record. I also found that music can be fun to create and lets me include my own creativity, even if not done using composed music. It's all about creating again and again and seeing what works and what fails. The more I make, the more experience I have and the better my skills in all fields of this project become. Wether it's editing speech, or finding SFX online, or making my own, I know that with a little creativity, it's possible to complete any audio challenge that comes my way. (Now if only I owned those synthesizers for myself, life may have been a little bit easier)

Check out my most recent work!

Sol Levante (MC300) Foley Edit.mov

The Foley Edit

This edit contains Foley the most

In this clip, the main character is running from Demon trees and summons a power to help her fend off against them. I focused mostly on Foley here as almost every sound here was recorded outside in an open area using a Sennheiser shotgun microphone mounted to a C-Stand (The image of this is the cover of the Photos page). I wanted genuine tree sounds despite the animated medium used. It adds a sense of realism that most cartoons usually avoid and showcases how I use Foley to a creative extent.

In this clip, the main character uses her power amulet to fend off against killer fish as well as avoid lava from a nearby exploding volcano. I focused mostly on Sound Effects here which were free use and gave the scene more of a magical sense compared to the former which focused on realism. This is more fitting for an animated movie and focuses on elements that do not exist in real life (such as magma dragons). This is meant to showcase how I use Sound Effects to my advantage to portray drama and quick intense action. This clip was also showcased in the annual NESCom awards ceremony Senior video for graduating seniors.

Sol Levante [NetFlix Open Content] Sound Designed by Daniel Hess.mov

The SFX Edit

This edit contains Sound Effects the most

SolLevante (MC300) Music Edit.mov

The Music Edit

This edit focuses on Music the most

In this clip, the main character has been transported to an alternate plain within a magical spell. There, she meets with a spiritual force which grants her power. For this clip, I focused on the Musical element the most as it was the driving force of emotion for anyone watching. I also feel as if magic or spiritual dimensions should have no elements tied to 'Earth" or "Realism" so using the Roland Integra-7, I created four different space themed synth lines to play here to create the magical sense of wonder and amazement I believe this scene needs.

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