Assignment 3

In the first week of production, I began working on the project plan. I created my timeline, outlined my expectations, and identified the expected instruments and sounds to record. I also jot down my idea and how I will conduct my production stages. I also mentioned using a specific DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and explained why I chose it. But to make a long story short, right after the project plan, a change was already made. It was trial and error on the storytelling and recording. I tried to record straight ahead, but when I listen to the audio, it's either that the Tracktion waveform is not picking it up, or Audacity is straight up picking up all sounds. 

The reason why I switched to multiple DAWs is because to the incompatibility. The Tracktion cannot detect my microphone for some reason, even with a lot of troubleshooting, and Audacity is picking up the sounds, even the white noise in my room. For me, it was easy to handle the white noise Audacity is picking up instead of wrecking my brain out trying to figure out why Tracktion is acting up with my microphone. The first week was on adjusting the setup, how to record, and what my technique will be on keeping things nicely recorded in my humble setup. Even in the first week, I was not sure where to mix my final audio product, but I first settled on where I would record it. I planned to record each track on Audacity separately and mix it on another DAW. 

Step 2: Practicing

In week 2, I practiced my narration for my horror stories and planned out the audio effects to make it effective. There is already a recording here, but it was more about understanding what I sound like and adjusting how I record, including how far the microphone should be, and what type of cloth I should use to block out the white noise.  The recording done here is to practice how it will all sound after the final recording. 

I tried recording the story part by part. It was easy to do and minimize stuttering. However, I noticed how the sounds felt different in each recording. A small movement changes the entire dynamic, so either the first part was clean and clear, or the others are imperfect. Because of this, I decided to just record the whole thing in one take, or if unable to, at least minimize parting and make it 2 parts only. My story is not that long but delivering it with characterization and emotion can be challenging. I narrate, record, and listen. This is done multiple times, even if I already perfected it, I would delete the recording again and redo it. 

By the way, I am using a Havit Gaming Microphone GK52 and a combo with Samson SR850 for the headphones. The microphone is not the best, but it is workable, with a little adjustment on angle and a ton of duvet blocking in the open area, which made it possible to minimize the unnecessary noise as much as possible. But the hero of this practice recording is the headphones. I heard every breath, mouth clicking, exhaust fan running, and even changes in volume because of it. It really sealed the deal to know where to edit things out and repeat. Even with the hectic practice plans, it was made easier by having a good listening rig.

After multiple attempts at story narrating practice, on the 3rd day of the second week, I was able to master the story, but it felt too short and so I added another story just to make the storytelling fulfilling. I decided to do this as I listened to the practice recording multiple times, and it felt unfinished and incomplete. Like I want to tell more stories and hear more. The decision was simple . To fulfill the emptiness of the run , I added another short horror story after the first one. I made sure that for the second story, I would be using different techniques to elevate the audio production.

Next to practicing the story narration, I want to practice the ambient sounds, mainly the background music. I did have some issues with the first story. I tried to play both singing voice and guitar for the “Ili-Ili”, but it sounded too busy; you cannot focus on the first story. It was then that I decided to add a story to make up for the other instruments, but even with the first story, I tried to diversify my track already. I planned to sing a lullaby on the first story and play instruments on the second story. This way, I can give a highlight to different techniques in recording different sound sources. Although I am not a singer, but I tried my best to make the lullaby mellow but bothering. I sang a ton of traditional lullabies until I landed on the best version. It was not to show I am a great singer, but to complete the ambience I am looking forward to creating. The guitar, on the other hand, was my brother's, and I provided him with a lot of chord progressions and samples just to create an original sound for the second story. 

If the narration was a long process, this was a ton more of practicing. It was not a straightforward recording, but rather knowing what keys make it sound more bothersome and not just catchy and beautiful. If I describe it, it is a sound that is addictive but unpredictable, that your heart gets excited thinking about what the next sound. Making things less natural and more out of place, but still in line and not distracting when played with the narration. But this will not be done without my brother. Compared to me, my brother knows a lot of chords and keys and also has flexible fingers compared to my sausage fingers, so that when I play far away frets, I just can’t reach them. My brother and I rarely see each other that much during the weekdays, as I have work and he has school, so I just message him the chords I saw and make some kind of strumming pattern to imitate fear and anxiety. He practices during their club time, as he is part of a band. The weekend of the second week is the only time when we can test, record, and practice it.

Overall, having a week for errors, exposing the recording to many limitations, and practicing a ton made the following weeks much easier. Week 2 was the most stressful week of the production itself, as everything started from scratch, and it was up to me to make it deliver in the final recording and product. Audacity helped me a lot with the process, and I was also able to practice using it before the next week, which is the real recording week.

Step 3: Recording and Mixing

 From week 3 to 4, I have an intense recording session, and perfecting each track is needed. I narrated and recorded the first horror story. The takes are more for perfecting the emotions, as the errors were already handled last practice week. After recording the narration, I followed my singing voice, trying to make it feel like a siren in the recording. It was an attempt to sing, as I recorded myself singing was one of the horrific ways I felt shame run through my veins. Now I understand why actors don’t actually watch their films, it feels weird and cringeworthy. Or maybe I am just reflecting my insecurities on it because after recording the singing voice, it is not as bad as it seems. It made the narration feel more creepy, and the eerie ambience was the perfect vibe I am going with.

    After recording the ambient background music, I tried playing around with things in my room to capture sound effects naturally. I used the squeak of a toy car’s tire to get the television switch effect, used a camera cleaner, the one that has a pump, to create the static sound, and my brother’s scream and cough for the recording to make the reenactment feel like it is indeed a kid reminiscing about the story. It is easier to enumerate, but I experimented with this type of sound effects for several days, trying to locate which sounds would work, how far I should record from the microphone, and how to make it directly sync with my narration, considering I record each track separately in Audacity. I was listening to one ear on the media player while I was recording on the other one for the sound effects. It was very frustrating since it would be easier if I could record it directly in Tracktion while listening or in Audacity in layering. The challenge here was not knowing where to mix these recordings afterward. But the main goal, specifically for the 3rd week, is to record all of it.

I repeated the same thing on the second story, but I played around with the sound effects and ambient sound. Basically, I used my brother’s guitar to play the eerie vibes of the atmosphere while narrating. I bothered my brother for 2 weeks, trying to create a specific melody that is eerie. We did settle for something, but the challenge was aligning it again in the separated recorded narration. Some strumming is too overpowering, others are too slow, and others feel a bit off-key. 

In addition to the physical instrument, it was also a time to learn more about the virtual instrument. Good thing, at this time, the Professor posted some preferred and not preferred DAWs to use. So, after trying to work around with Chordz and Vital in the Tracktion plug-in and wondering why they still don’t make sounds, I tried playing around with Cakewalk. At first, it was confusing, but I did notice that the interface was easier for me to work with.  I explored the drum kit and the piano as well, and it was easier to make them create sound, allowing me to figure out how the MIDI works. About 2 -4 days, I tried to play around and look for the sound I want to produce.

For my four audio tracks, I used a variety of sound sources to fulfill the requirements. The first two tracks feature my own voice narrating the stories, while my brother contributed additional sound effects. To create sound effects, I recorded random toys with a microphone to mimic effects such as a television set and fire. For the background music in the first story, I used my singing voice to perform a lullaby. In the second story, I incorporated live instrument recording, where my brother played a repeating four-chord progression (Em6, Em, Em7, and Em). This sequence was looped continuously to create an uneasy and suspenseful atmosphere.  I also used a virtual instrument for some highlights of the story, to be specific, it is a piano and a drum kit.

As seen in the pictures above, once the recording has been done, I already tried to mix and put the separate recording into one. I also tried to play around with effects like reverb and a lower pitch of certain background sounds. Using the virtual instruments was easier as I can now hear the instruments and understand the needful to make the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface ) track work. I was also able to mix the music on the DAW itself without any errors or response problems. The process was easier compared to recording it one by one but mixing it made me the realize where it is lacking and what to add as I can listen to the recording as a whole. Adjustment on the key of piano and drums were made and also adjusting the volume and pan of the mix was done. The background music was appealing but still too loud to highlight the narration and it rather drown it. Other changes were also made there and multiple listening sessions where done. I also asked 2-3 people to listen to it and ask for feedback if it was indeed scary and also if they can understand the narration without any modalities supporting it. With the feedback, adjustment on mixing was made again. Until I reach on a certain point that I was satisfied on it.

Step 4: Mastering

Final mix and mastering

    I have learned a lot during the production process. Even with a concrete plan, change is inevitable, and learning how to adapt is the best way to go. To tell you honestly, it was a emotional wreck from a broken-hearted producer who wanted to make the music she likes to having next-to-next errors on microphones, DAWs and tools. I even got pissed by the knocking sound effects as recording them with microphone make it seem shallow, so VST was a life saver for me. It was an emotional ride but being composed and flexible towards changes is what I picked up on this activity. In time, having such background on audio in multimedia and dealing with the production process myself is going change the way I see modalities like this one. It is not just a supporting modality but also a stand alone intricate and interesting field that can make a multimedia content effective.


Back up of embed soundcloud : Stream Reddit Horror Story by Sophia Marie Tan | Listen online for free on SoundCloud