MMS 172 BLOG 2

After a series of cramming and sleepless nights, I’ve finally reached the end of MMS 172. Looking back at my midpoint blog, I remember saying that the course had been okay for me, and honestly, that feeling hasn’t changed much. Now that I’ve submitted my final project, I’ve come to a clear realization: there’s still an ocean of knowledge out there waiting to be explored in audio production. I’ve always loved recording my voice, but I’ve discovered that maintaining its quality through mixing and mastering is a whole different challenge. It’s like learning to swim versus competing in an actual swimming competition—both involve water, but the skill levels are worlds apart.

Despite the challenges, I’m happy and beyond grateful for everything I’ve learned in this course. It opened my eyes to a world of possibilities I never knew existed. I’ve had the chance to experience and do things I’ve never done before, like creating sound effects from scratch and manipulating my voice. Compared to the production course I took last semester, this one has been a whole new experience—and to be honest, it’s been tougher, especially when handling it independently. There were moments when I wished I had more time to join the volunteer group, as I believe hands-on experience beats reading or watching tutorials on a screen. Even though I couldn’t join, I’m still proud of what I’ve accomplished on my own. My work might not be as good as others, but the fact that I managed to complete it independently is proof of how much I’ve learned and grown throughout this course.

Though I didn’t join the volunteer group, I was fortunate enough to have a friend and coursemate, Unicharmed, who collaborated with me on the final project. Despite the challenges of conflicting schedules due to her work commitments, we managed to finish our project on time. This gave us the opportunity to experience mixing and mastering independently, which was incredibly valuable. I’m really, really, really grateful for her partnership and support throughout this process.

As I’m writing this blog just a few hours before the deadline (old habits die hard, I guess LOL), I’ve taken some time to browse through my coursemates’ ePortfolios and check out their final projects. I have to say, I’m impressed! From what I can see, about 50-60% of them have really knocked their final projects out of the park. Seeing their masterpieces isn’t just awe-inspiring—it’s also a huge motivator for me to push myself even further and produce even more outstanding outputs in the future.

When it comes to where I stand among my peers, I’ll be honest—I’m not entirely sure. I’ve received feedback from my professor on previous assignments, and it wasn’t bad at all. But there’s always this little voice in my head saying, ‘You could’ve done better.’ I guess that’s the perfectionist in me talking. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword—on one hand, it keeps me striving for improvement, but on the other, it sometimes makes it hard for me to fully appreciate how far I’ve come. Looking at my work objectively, I’d say I’m somewhere in the middle—not at the top, but definitely not at the bottom either. And you know what? That’s okay, because every project, every assignment, and every late night spent has been a step forward in my learning journey.

Looking ahead as a BAMS student and aspiring multimedia practitioner, I find myself at a crossroads when it comes to audio production. Honestly, I don’t currently see myself pursuing a career in audio production. It’s not that I haven’t enjoyed the course or found it valuable—quite the opposite! I’ve gained a newfound appreciation for the complexity and artistry involved in creating high-quality audio. However, I also recognize that mastering this requires a level of dedication and passion that I’m not sure I possess at this moment.

That being said, I’m well aware that audio production is a fundamental aspect of multimedia work. The skills and knowledge I’ve gained in MMS 172 form an essential foundation that I’m sure will serve me well in various aspects of my future career. Whether I’m working on a video project, a podcast, or even just understanding the audio components of different media, I’ll have a solid grasp of the basics thanks to this course.

While I may not be planning to dive deeper into audio production right now, I’ve learned to never say never. Who knows? Maybe someday, a project or opportunity will come along that reignites my interest in this field. For now, I’m grateful for the skills I’ve acquired and the perspective I’ve gained. It’s all part of the diverse toolkit I’m building as a multimedia student, and I’m excited to see how these skills will complement my other areas of interest and expertise in the future.