MMS 172 Blog 2: End

HOW I’VE DONE SO FAR…

With regards to my self-introduction and Blog 1, I'm reminded of the hopes and expectations I had for this course. Initially, I was eager to explore how I could use audio production to enhance my fitness instructor experience. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to delve into that specific area during the course.

In the early activities, I was pleased with the quality of the audios I was able to produce. Since I was recording at home, I had more control over the environment and was able to minimize background noise.

My initial excitement for the course was tempered by the fact that my holiday had already been planned. This meant I needed to come up with a project that could be completed within a limited timeframe. I chose a challenging theme for my project, which undoubtedly led to frustrations and struggles along the way. The fact that my travel involved a lot of moving, as we visited multiple destinations, added to the complexity of the project. However, I persevered and pushed through to the best of my abilities.

Despite these challenges, I'm believe I’ve made progress in this course since I started with zero experience in audio production. There’s ton of things I need to learn. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have explored my creativity through this course.

Taking a Moment to Look Back…

Glancing over the last three months, I’ve soaked up a lot about music production, particularly during Unit 3: Mixing. I thought mixing was both awesome and a little tough—it’s like tossing together different audio bits to craft a track that feels smooth and pulls you in.

One thing I’m really excited about with my audio travel diary project is how I wove in genuine sounds. I grabbed noises from each spot I “visited,” which gave it a deep, true-to-life vibe. Blending those field recordings with background music built this amazing, immersive soundscape. I also feel the personal vibe I added made it more connectable—my own emotions and experiences shine through, and I hope that made the journey feel special for anyone who listens.

That said, I know there’s stuff I could’ve done better. For instance, I didn’t dive deep enough into the cultural details of some of the locations. I also had a hard time getting the clarity and depth I wanted. It was tough to make sure every track stood out while still fitting together in the mix.

I ran into some struggles while mixing, too. One of my biggest issues was keeping a steady balance between all the elements. Some parts sounded too busy, while others felt a bit empty. Plus, recording outdoors came with its own problems—like background noise and technical hiccups—that might’ve lowered the quality in a few spots. 

HOW DID I DO COMPARED TO OTHERS?

Upon checking back on the discussions, ePortfolios, and final projects of my classmates, I believe they have done a commendable job. Many of them demonstrated a strong understanding of the course material and were able to apply their knowledge to their activities. I enjoyed browsing some of the e-portfolios due to its neatness like 

Isaac Arellano's 

sites.google.com/up.edu.ph/arellanoisaaclance/home?authuser=0 

and Abegail Figueras' 

sites.google.com/up.edu.ph/e-portfolio-figueras/home 

I wanted to take a moment to express my genuine appreciation for SJ Rambano's project. It is truly captivating. She's crafted an incredibly engaging story that keeps listeners hooked from beginning to end. Her ability to find talented voice actors who brought their characters to life is a testament to her dedication and skill.

The audio quality is crystal clear, making it a pleasure to listen to. The crispness and clarity of the sound enhance the overall listening experience and ensure that every detail of the story is easily discernible.

I was so engrossed in the narrative that I found myself eagerly anticipating the next part. The pacing and structure of the story are well-executed, keeping listeners engaged and invested.

It's clear that SJ has a keen attention to detail. The care she's taken in every aspect of the production, from the script to the sound design, is evident in the final result. Her existing YouTube channel and experience in the field undoubtedly contributed to her ability to create such a high-quality piece of work.

SJ's audio production is a testament to her talent and dedication. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging listening experience

AS FOR ME...

I'm unable to compare my performance directly to others because I have not seen anyone who did a theme like mine using outdoor sounds. I feel that I have made significant progress in my audio production skills. What may sound good to us beginners might not necessarily sound good to others. Understanding different Digital Audio Workstations was also very challenging, leading many of us to rely on BandLab, which is easier to navigate.

However, given the complexity of audio production, I believe a face-to-face environment would have been more beneficial for this course (congratulations to those who managed to attend sessions with our Prof at UPLB) but being in an online University, Zoom session would sufficed where we could learn the basics of mixing directly from our professor. This would have allowed for more immediate feedback and clarification on concepts. I think there's value in having synchronous sessions particularly for production courses like this.

Regarding the gadgets I used, I think I managed to do a good job given the tools I had available. Compared to some of my classmates who used more advanced equipment, I definitely fall short. However, I believe I made the most of what I had.

Towards the end of the course, the expectations from our professor became a bit challenging. I think it would have been beneficial to have two different project options: one for students with more advanced equipment and another for those who were primarily using their mobile phones and tablets. This would have allowed students to work within their capabilities and produce projects that were more tailored to their resources.

It's important to remember that the experience of listening to music is subjective. Different listeners may interpret the sounds and emotions in different ways. Despite these potential weaknesses, I believe that "Wander Wonders" offers a unique and immersive listening experience.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to have taken this course. It has provided me with a good intro in audio production. And if my final output fall short, at least I developed my patience as this course has taken a lot of sleepless nights tweaking and editing.