The first thing that I would like to tackle in my journey is probably the most unexpected of all, Assignment 3: Project Output. It’s not unexpected in a way that I didn’t expect it to be included or made a requirement of the course. Actually it’s the one that makes the most sense, it’s how I traversed it that was unexpected, except for the delay in my initial timetable.

I didn’t expect that I would be that immersed with the processes to the point that I actually cried and broke down about it, so I guess you could say I had quite the share of experiencing how frustrating audio production could be. I was actually kind of bummed that all those efforts didn’t become the result I strived to achieve, but limitations were there for a reason, and it definitely made the task and the course itself much more remarkable and fulfilling. I never thought I’d put that much strength into pushing it through. It was really an intense roller coaster ride for an output that I feel deserves more than it turned out to be. Although for this topic, I have a feeling I already yapped as much as I could during the previous blog, but in all honesty, I recognize the work I put in, but at the same time, I feel disappointed with myself and my work. It was hard to accept that after everything, I had to accept that nothing could be done anymore to turn it the way I wanted to, but like they say, it eez what it eez and it do be like that sometimes. Nevertheless, I do believe that I was quite able to learn a thing or two about navigating the processes of audio production.

Looking back on the past trimester in the course, I realized how much I'm still into music, particularly performing, more than I expected. I guess singing has always been something I enjoy doing. At times, it's challenging because it's not like I can sing all ranges and types of songs, but it comforts me in a way that I guess only I can probably understand. Regardless of the ups and downs (more emphasis on the downs), I had fun listening to myself, tinkering around, and overall being a part of the process in producing this audio project. Albeit a humbling and taxing experience, it was nice to learn about how these different elements from personal inputs and around the interface work and what they signify, as well as their relationships and contribution to the overall project. In short, it felt great to understand the whys of what I did, and I feel like I can sleep well enough knowing that. That being said, I might try to do projects of my own in the future as a hobby, especially when I have better quality equipment, since I feel like it would be nice to reconnect with my passion for singing, and who knows, it might turn into some part-time career someday.

From what I've seen so far from my course mates' work, it's evident that we all put in the effort to arrive at this point. Some delivered as I expected, while most went beyond. If I were to compare my own, I would say I'm well below the average. Although the presets helped me do my work justice even just a little bit, I can't deny that it is still very much flawed. I feel like parts of it may have come off awkward, especially with how it is arranged, but I do believe that I had a great idea, especially with how each chorus of the two songs was put together at the end, it's just that the execution wasn't enough to fully realize the outcome I had envisioned for it. Reflecting on it, I would've appreciated it better if it had retained its supposedly clear and soothing quality, rather than an ethereal reverb, and if the piano track was able to support the entirety of my work. I love my concept, and I acknowledge the efforts I've made to conquer the obstacles I encountered, but I'm just conflicted as to how I should feel about it because although I'm relieved that I was able to accomplish the task even imperfectly, I expected so much more for it, and I guess that's where my concerns stem from and ideas for improvements are referenced.

Moving on, it was nice to listen to some classic songs, dynamic tunes, and projects along the way. Even though there's clearly more room for improvement for some in my opinion, it does get you in the feels, and at times the themes and concepts sound and look really interesting, so I kind of get why an evaluator's fondness of the work can earn you a bonus. Additionally, there were times when the noise and grainy effect actually added a significant charm to the piece, almost like it's an inherent element of it. It got me thinking whether I should've just modified my plan to make use/take advantage of these artifacts as well, as a backup or preparation, considering that I am aware that there's no way I'll be getting equipment better than what I had used, but I guess I was really that insistent on doing what I chose to do till the end.

I hope that my voice at least was able to successfully deliver even just a part of the strong emotions and meaning behind its purpose. Last but not least, I would like to extend my gratitude to those who listened and stayed throughout the whole thing even if it might've been unbearable at times. I hope that my journey was able to provide valuable insights and guidance, I wish the best for our future endeavors and more power to us all!