Closing Blog

As this course wraps up, I find myself reflecting on how much we had covered in such a short time. I feel unsatisfied with where I am right now, but I also recognize that MMS 172 has already given me a strong path to continue growing. Audio production is not something that can be mastered in a single trimester, yet the course provided me with the sufficient skills and understanding to explore it further.

Looking back, I realize that being given a quick run-through of post-production was both exciting and challenging. I struggled to keep up at times, especially since it was my first real encounter with DAW software. And because of inconsistencies during production, I sometimes felt that my overall performance was lacking compared to others. Still, I see those gaps as opportunities to improve with more practice.

Over these past months, one thing became very clear: audio production is such a vast field. Through my classmates’ outputs, I discovered many niches—some were drawn to song production, others leaned toward podcasts, and others created experimental works. I found myself deeply inspired by those who managed to produce high-quality songs, yet I was also empowered by the ones who made professional-sounding podcasts. Their works showed me that even within audio production, there are so many ways to find your own touch.

In my final project, I tried to consolidate everything I learned into one cohesive output. I thought this would demonstrate the full range of my skills. But in the end, I realized that sometimes focusing on one kind of output can be more effective. Many of my classmates’ projects reflected that strength, and I admire them for it. I feel that I did well, but not enough. I want to challenge myself further by trying the kinds of projects others did, whether that means songwriting, more refined Foley, or podcast-style storytelling.

When I assess my work, I recognize both strengths and weaknesses. On one hand, I stayed consistent with my project plan, managed to keep originality in my concept, and made deliberate post-production choices that brought my story to life. On the other hand, I struggled during recordings and post-editing. My environment wasn’t ideal, and my equipment seemed overly sensitive, picking up unwanted noises. Even after extensive post-production fixes, some background sounds remained. Despite these frustrations, I gained valuable experience in researching and problem-solving.

What made the struggles worthwhile is that this was my very first time using a DAW software. Learning how to record, mix, add Foley, and apply techniques like EQ and panning felt overwhelming at first, but it also gave me a sense of accomplishment. I not only learned the technical skills, but I also proved to myself that I could self-learn new tools and adapt them to my creative vision. This gave me confidence that audio production could be part of my future creative works, alongside my interests in multimedia and design. Before this course, I couldn’t even imagine how to apply concepts like audio effects, playing virtual instruments, or reverb. Now, I can.

I improved the most through repetition and trial-and-error. Every mistake—whether it was a noisy track, a poorly timed cut, or an unbalanced mix—forced me to refine my ear and my workflow. By the end of the course, I feel confident that I could take on another project and perform better. My expectations going into the course were simple—I wanted to understand mixing and post-production. In the end, I achieved more than that. I gained both the technical foundations and the creative capacity to use audio as a way for better storytelling.

Looking back at the midpoint of the course, I remember being unsure of where it was going. At the time, I expected more mixing exercises, but instead, we were building technical understanding first. Learning about listening skills, instruments, and equipment felt less important to me then, but in wider view, those lessons were crucial. They formed the base knowledge that made my final project possible.

One thing I do feel regretful about is that the sample projects weren’t available earlier. If I had seen them sooner, I might have been more motivated to experiment with songwriting or to refine my voice acting. I noticed that my voice sometimes lacked the emotional depth compared to the samples, and that realization pushed me to think about how I can grow beyond this course. To be honest, it ignited something in me—an interest in making audio production a hobby. I want to continue learning about song production, practice with better recording setups, and eventually create work that feels professional.

In conclusion, I think I did well, but I know I can do more. This course showed me that audio production isn’t just a requirement to finish my degree, but a creative tool that can add new layers to my multimedia practice. This gave me the foundation, my classmates gave me inspiration, and my own struggles gave me motivation. I'm not only relieved that it’s done but also energized to continue exploring audio, whether as a hobby or as a serious part of my creative journey.