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A Whole New World πΆπ
A Whole New World πΆπ
I was hesitant at first to take this course as I don't have that much experience in handling audio β much like even having the tools needed for creating and listening to it. It doesn't mean that I'm not fond of listening to music, but rather how it seems complicated to produce compared to other media formats where you can visually see if there's something wrong with your work (e.g., animating, photography, or creating graphic design), compared to audio where you'll only notice details like noise only through listening to it. Removing unnecessary sounds on your audio recording seems challenging to me than erasing something from a design or cropping irrelevant elements on a photo.Β
This made me realize that through my stay here in UPOU, I've nurtured my creative eye but didn't have the time to develop my "creative ear," which is also important in order to determine what kind of audio is good, decent, or bad quality. And due to this, I didn't even realize how substandard the audio quality that I've been used to hearing, as I'm using cheap low specs earphones for listening and recording audio β and that was bad because the earphones that I have are not good enough to capture the depth, richness, clarity, and other complexities of the music I'm hearing. Not only was the audio that I've been hearing was affected, but also the audio I've been recording for my projects was not satisfactory until I compared my work with other students and wondered how they achieved that crisp audio. This nudged me to take this production course in order to learn more about how audio works and produce decent or maybe good quality audio for my videos or projects that I have.Β
Start of Something New π«πΌ
Start of Something New π«πΌ
Getting a good quality audio recording not only requires the right tools but also the right usage of them, as well as the right setup for the type of equipment you're using. This was one of the things I've learned as I started the course. Having good equipment can improve the listening and recording experience, but having a treated setup as well as knowing the right "blend" of your microphone setting can do wonders in terms of the sound absorbed and reverbs produced.
The sound meter trial activity was a helpful and an enjoyable experience, as it helped me distinguish how loud or sensitive I am to the sounds around me. This activity also aided me in determining which part of our house is suitable for recording audio β the quietest area, while also spacious enough to create a setup. After finding a suitable place to work on, I was debating on what kind of microphone and in-ear monitor (IEM) I'll be using for this course, considering limitations on budget and the recording environment in which these tools will be used. I scanned through the self-introduction discussion forum for the tools used by my coursemates while also asking my friends who are taking or have already taken the course about the equipment they're using. And then I've stumbled upon options that were recommended by my friends and brands that are often mentioned in the DFs and reviews online that are budget-friendly but still do the job. I was considering Swaytech, Fifine AM8, or Maono PD100X, but the first one was not available on shopee, while I didn't like the look of the second option which is why I opted to buy the Maono one! As for the IEM, I didn't have that large budget that's why I bought QKZ AK6 Pro, as I read it on Reddit and it was also recommended by my brother that the quality is okay for beginners.
Although it was a bummer that I wasn't able to participate in the webcam exercise as my equipment had not arrived yet, I was going through the Unit 2 modules and started to prepare the things I'll need for my recording setup. Thanks to the sound meter trial, I've found that our bedroom is the most suitable place to do the setup, but it still needs a little bit of rearranging of furniture and placement of my study table where I'll be recording. This is necessary as the room is small and has parallel walls, which may create excessive echo due to the numerous hard surfaces present in the room (walls, windows, furniture such as cabinets or beds). I tried rearranging the placement of the table where the recording setup will be placed while also adding fibrous materials in the room like hanged clothes, thick curtains that cover the wall or window, and even stuffed toys that cover the back of the microphone, so that it lessens the sound of the electric fan in the room. Since the microphone I've bought is a dynamic microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, this recording environment is good enough to have a clear audio recording!
And I'm Terrified π«£ποΈ
And I'm Terrified π«£ποΈ
While reading the remaining modules (Unit 3) while also scanning through some of my peers' plans for their final project, I was a little bit terrified about whether I could keep up or do well in the remaining activities, as I'm not that experienced in handling audio.Β Although this anxiousness I've felt has dissipated when I've tried practicing with the microphone as well as talking and recording with it. I thought that it was fun to experiment and explore the things that I can do and the limitations that I have, which I should consider when designing my final project. It's challenging to do the final project, but I'm currently enjoying writing the story that I'll be using for my audio story as I try the dialogues on my draft, as well as taking note of the sounds that can accompany it. I know it's a daunting task but I'm excited to record and see the result of my final project!
You Are the Music in Me πΉπ€
You Are the Music in Me πΉπ€
Audio is something that I'm not too familiar to handle but this course made me understand how sounds work, the equipment I'm using, as well as how the environment of your recording setup is as important as the others. It also made me more comfortable in exploring how to create melodies in ways we can't imagine, such as the Bach-ify your melody AI tool, and even familiarizing myself with post-production processes such as audio effects, modulation, mixing, and mastering that are used to create rich yet balanced audio. Looking back on how I handled audio before, I've really come a long way, but I'm still looking forward to learn more about recording and producing good quality audio, especially in post-production. Writing this blog made me more excited about finishing the final project as it's a new experience of translating my passion for writing stories and leveling it up into something more β in this case, an audio story!
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