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"Wander Wonders"
"Wander Wonders" was more than just a project; it was a passion-driven endeavor to transport listeners to the vibrant cultures of different countries. Through carefully crafted soundscapes, I aimed to evoke the sights, sounds, and sensations of Goa, Thailand, and Dubai.
On this journey, I used a few key gadgets to capture all the sounds for my project. My main device was my Samsung S24 Ultra, which did a great job recording clear audio and video. I paired it with an ANGJU Condenser mic, and together they helped me get good recordings, even when the S24 Ultra struggled a bit with tough outdoor conditions.
I also had my Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite as a backup, which was super helpful. I could go over my recordings, tweak notes, and look up research stuff while I was out and about. For all the editing and final touches, my MSI Katana GF66 12UD laptop was a game-changer—it had the speed and space I needed to work on audio files and pull the whole mix together.
Oh, and my Samsung Galaxy Watch 4! It didn’t record anything, but it kept me organized, let me track how I was doing, and made it easy to stay in touch while I was on the move.
INDIA PHASE
I arrived in Goa on July 9th, excited to start recording for my project. I spent every day exploring different parts of Goa with my Samsung S24 Ultra and my condenser mic.
Recording outdoors was harder than I thought. The rain was a big problem. It would start suddenly, and I had to quickly protect my equipment. The traffic noise was also challenging. Buses, cars, and motorbikes were always in the background, making it hard to get clean recordings.
I tried to capture all sorts of sounds - the busy markets, different types of transport, local music, and people talking. But many of my recordings had too much background noise to use.
In the end, I focused on what I think represents Goa best - the sound of monsoon rain and the beach. The rain has a special sound here, different from what I'm used to back in the Philippines. And the beach, with its waves and occasional voices, really captures the spirit of Goa for me.
By July 24th, I was reviewing all my recordings because we had to move our travel to Thailand few days earlier than planned. I had captured a lot, but only some were good enough to use. It was a bit disappointing, but I learned a lot about outdoor recording. I'm happy with the monsoon and beach sounds I got - they'll help listeners feel like they're really in Goa with me.
THAILAND PHASE
I spent about 12 days in Thailand starting from 25th July, mostly in Bangkok but also exploring other provinces. Capturing the essence of the country through sound was a fascinating challenge.
Just like in India, I roamed the streets with my recording equipment, looking like a vlogger. Despite the curious glances, I remained focused on capturing the unique soundscapes of Thailand. The monsoon rains, while beautiful, added an extra layer of challenge, making it difficult to get clean recordings due to background noise.
From the serene chants of Buddhist monks to the energetic rhythms of Muay Thai matches, Thailand offered a symphony of sounds. I recorded the bustling atmosphere of night markets, the gentle rumble of tuk-tuks, and the soothing sounds of traditional Thai massages.
Ultimately, I felt that the sounds that truly captured the essence of Thailand were:
The friendly voices of Thai people
Traditional Thai music
The ringing of temple bells
The bustling sounds of street food stalls
The intense energy of Muay Thai matches
These sounds seemed to encapsulate the culture, religion, food, and national pride of Thailand. However, it's important to note that this is just my perspective; others might have chosen different sounds to represent the country.
It was a challenging but rewarding experience to try and capture the essence of Thailand through audio. Despite the obstacles, I'm satisfied with the recordings I gathered and the insights they provide into this vibrant country.
UAE PHASE
As a resident of the UAE, I've had the privilege of exploring Dubai countless times. Yet, there were still hidden corners of the city waiting to be discovered. Armed with my recording equipment, I embarked on a mission to capture the city's unique soundscapes.
Roaming the streets, I often found myself the center of attention, drawing curious glances from passersby. It was a bit challenging to explain that I was only recording audio due to the locals’ conservative nature but I managed anyway.
Dubai, being a cosmopolitan city, offers a diverse range of sounds. I focused on capturing the iconic landmarks, such as the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain, as well as the city's efficient transportation system, the Dubai Metro. The rhythmic hum of the metro trains and the announcements in English and Arabic provided a unique auditory experience.
I also ventured into local neighborhoods, recording the lively atmosphere of bustling markets, the melodic call to prayer from nearby mosques, and the sounds of daily life. These recordings, combined with the iconic landmarks, paint a vivid picture of Dubai's vibrant culture and modern lifestyle.
POST PRODUCTION
The post-production phase proved to be a tough process that involved listening to all the tracks I captured, carefully selecting the cleanest recordings, and fine-tuning the audio to create a cohesive and immersive experience.
And because of the theme of my project, the biggest challenge I faced was the quality of the outdoor recordings. Despite my best efforts, background noise and environmental factors often compromised the clarity of the audio. It became evident that whatever gadgets I have was not enough to get clear recordings.
To overcome this challenge, I relied on BandLab, a user-friendly digital audio workstation (DAW). And although our professor does not recommend this app, it was ideal for a beginner like me. By watching tutorials and experimenting with various effects and presets, I was able to clean up the audio and enhance its quality.
The process of editing and mixing the tracks was both enjoyable and challenging. It required patience, attention to detail, and a keen ear for sound. I spent countless hours listening to the recordings, tweaking the levels, and ensuring a seamless transition between different soundscapes.
THE MIXING PROCESS
Navigating BandLab, was initially a daunting task as a complete newbie . But with a bit of patience and a lot of YouTube tutorials, I gradually familiarized myself with its features. I learned how to clean up raw audio clips, reduce noise, and enhance clarity.
The mixing process was a trial-and-error experience. I experimented with various effects, presets, and EQ settings to achieve the desired sound. It was a rewarding process, watching as the raw recordings transformed into polished audio tracks.
Through countless hours of listening and tweaking, I think I was able to create a cohesive soundscape that captured the essence of my journey. BandLab proved to be a valuable tool, allowing me to shape the audio and bring my vision to life.
After diving into the world of BandLab and learning its basic functionalities, I decided to create a custom preset that could effectively clean up the raw audio I had collected for my project, especially the outdoor sounds I'd recorded.
The narration for my project was recorded in a later stage, after I had returned to the UAE. However, the recording process wasn't without its challenges. My gaming laptop, an MSI Katana, has dual fans that produce a considerable amount of noise. This background noise was picked up by my microphone, adding an unwanted element to my narration.
To address these issues, I experimented with various effects in BandLab. I used these effects mostly for the narration and some tracks with voices like the flight and airport announcements.
Here's a breakdown of the effects I used and how they helped clean up my audio:
1. Teclab BA-2A: I set this effect to Compress mode to reduce the dynamic range of my audio. The Gain was set to +60 to boost the overall volume, while the Squeeze was set to +70 to compress the louder parts of the audio. This helped to even out the volume and reduce the impact of sudden loud noises.
2. EQ3-M: This equalizer allowed me to adjust the frequency balance of my audio. I lowered the low frequencies (-7.4Db) to reduce any unwanted rumble or bass, and also lowered the mid frequencies (-9.3Db) to tame any harshness. To brighten the sound, I increased the high frequencies (+4.7Db). The midsweep was set to 647Hz to target any specific frequency issues.
3. Multi Filter: I used this filter in Highpass mode to remove low-frequency noise, such as the hum from my laptop. The Frequency was set to 102 Hz to filter out any unwanted frequencies below this point. The Resonance was set to 2.0 to boost the filtered frequencies slightly, helping to maintain the overall balance of the audio.
4. DeEsser: This effect was used to reduce sibilance, which is the hissing sound produced by certain consonants. The "threshold" was set to -19Db to target only the most prominent sibilant sounds. The frequency was set to 7000Hz to focus on the frequency range where sibilance typically occurs.
5. Slow Panning: For the sound of the waves, the hawkers stall, the mosque's call to prayer, and the Dubai fountain, I added a slow pan effect to create a sense of movement and depth. This effect gradually shifts the sound from left to right or right to left, simulating motion.
One of the presets I found particularly interesting was "Vintage Smooth." This effect added a warm, analog-style tone to my audio, giving it a classic, vintage feel. It was perfect for adding a touch of nostalgia to the Thai bell sound .
Even though I set the mixing to the highest frequency at 6dB, the final output still turned out to be low. This was likely due to the fact that most of my recordings weren't loud enough to begin with.
To measure the loudness of my final project, I used two different online tools: Youlean Loudness Meter and Loudness App. Here are the results I obtained:
Youlean Loudness Meter:
Momentary Max: -6.12 LUFS
Short Term Max: -9.49 LUFS
Integrated: -19.52 LUFS
Loudness Range: 12.3 LU
True Peak: 0.1 T
Loudness App:
Momentary Max: -6.12 LUFS
Short Term Max: -9.49 LUFS
Integrated: -19.52 LUFS
The results from both tools were consistent, indicating that my audio was significantly quieter than the recommended loudness levels for streaming platforms. In the future, I'll make sure to record my audio at a higher volume level to avoid this issue.
THE RESULT
After many days of planning, recording, and post-production, I am happy to present the final product of my audio travel diary, "Wander Wonders."
This project has been a rewarding journey, allowing me to share the vibrant cultures of India, Thailand, and the UAE through the power of sound. From the serene beaches of Goa to the bustling markets of Bangkok and the futuristic cityscape of Dubai, I have captured the essence of these destinations in a way that transports listeners.
One of the most challenging aspects of the project was creating original background music. While I experimented with various instruments and techniques in BandLab, I ultimately decided to incorporate authentic sounds from each destination. For Goa and Dubai, I found free ambient sounds that complemented the atmosphere of India and the UAE. In Thailand, I was fortunate to capture traditional Thai music during a cultural tour, providing a perfect backdrop for the sounds of the country.
By combining these carefully selected sounds with the immersive field recordings, I have created a sonic tapestry that evokes the sights and emotions of my travels. The project showcases the versatility of audio production and the power of sound to transport listeners to distant lands.
As for me, I think I have done a decent job working with the gadgets I have and managing the diffculty of outdoor recordings. From the beginning itself, I knew it was going to be challenging because of the background noise that I will get from all my tracks. I have used a decent amount of denoise to clean them. I know there is so much more to learn for me in audio production, but given the level of my understanding of this course, I hope I did alright.
After many days of tweaking and editing, I hope that I managed to bring "Wander Wonders" to life.
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