Assignment 03: Game Audio

Assignment 03 Briefing

We are provided with some selection to do our projects. It is all gameplay video. We need to pick one and do voice cover for the sound effects in it. We are to record every single sound ourselves and not allowed to use other sound provided online. We can book the audio recording studio in school to do the voice recording. 

I choose Child of Light, as I have some knowledges about this game and I think it will be interesting to do voice cover for this game. 

Original video with no sound:

Process

First, I view the video repeatedly and record down the parts that required sound effect, like character's walking, jumping, talking and etc. It was a very brief note at first, but as I have more progress, I notice more details in the video and more sound should be produce. At the same time, I started to think what kind of sound this part would make and jot it down. 

Note:

I review back senior's previous works on this assignment, and I follow them to produce a game audio timeline to jot down the sound in a very neat and precise manner. This helps a lot in the future while recording and editing sound. 

Timeline:

I create a more complete note on what should I record and the method to record. I also research on the original game audio, in my opinion, the original version sounds very serene and it's quite quiet, I like this kind of audio, it suits the game very well. I hope that I can create something similar to it too. I started to practice my recording. It sounds good and it's what I wanted to put in the game audio. But things got very different and unexpected when I first started to record officially in a recording studio at school. 

Our lecturer, Mr. Razif is there with us to record the game audio. I enjoy the session very well. I get to use the equipment in the recording studio. I learned to record, communicate through microphone and more. It is such a fun learning experience. But I got disappointed when I record my audio. The recordings sound horrible and it is not what I wanted. I ended my session earlier because I need to think of a better plan for this. Overall, I enjoy the experience. 

I then record the audio myself in my own room a few days after, I found it better as there is no time restriction and I feel more comfortable recording sound without any other people watching. Then, I start with audio editing.

1. Running on ground (Main character's action)

For this audio, I record it according to the timeline and watching the video at the same time. As I think that the running sound should sound different at different places and with different pace, I think that record it fully is the better solution. This means that, I do not repeat the running audio recording to create the final running sound, but instead, I record it all in one take, so that it feels more realistic. 

For the edit part, I did have to cut a little and mix in the jump sound, as I did not manage to record the jump sound successfully, it was hard to make sound at the exact time. So, I cut and mix the running and jump sound, I reduce the noise, and that's it. I think with the flower bouquet, the sound sounds like it is on grass, on nature, I think it sound naturally. 

2. Swinging sword (Main character's action)

I start this with recording fork and spoon swiping sound to create the metal clinking sound. I then use back my face care product (which I use for several other sounds) to create the loud thud. I tap on the product to create tapping sound. For editing, I use echo for these two audios to create a more echoed sound, so it sounds a little bit more powerful when the sword swing. I layered them two together to create the sword swinging sound, first it sounds of metal swinging, then, a loud thud indicates the sword being swing down to earth. 

3. NPC flying/flowing & magical dust sound

I wanted to create a magical feeling for this NPC which looks like a water droplet. When it flies around, there will be magical dust follow it. So, the sound includes not only flying sound but also magical dust sound to complete this whole flying sound. But both of them use the same things to record and it is on the same recordings. The only differences might be the length of the audio. I use reverb-ethereal to create the magical sound. It echoed a little and have some panning effect. 

4. Environment - forest sound

The forest sound includes leaves rustling, and also a magical background sound. I use the recording clips from my friend which is turning the pom pom to create leaves rustling sound. I didn't do much editing on it, but I did adjust the volume. It feels naturals as it is. Next, I add in the rolling crystal bits sound to create a magical ambience. The forest have a lot of magical plants and I think that the plants have some magical sounds to it, that's why I add this in. Again, I use reverb for it to create a magical sound. 

5. NPC Touching Enemy 

The NPC will touch the enemy to create some damage, I supposed. I create a little electric-like, buzzing sound when it touches the enemy. For this sound, I use my fingernails to swipe quickly on a comb. Then, for editing, I reduce the noise, cut it nicely, increase base, lower treble and add in Flanger - buzzed to finally create this buzzing sound. I made it low volume because I don't think constant buzzing sound is comfortable, but it did have that subtle yet refreshing sound in this game. 

Final Product

Reflection

In this assignment, I found that the most difficult part is to figure out what kind of sound this particular part should make. I have played games, watched a lot of animation, and the sounds were always amazing, but when it comes to do it myself, it is a completely different experience. It is really not easy. We need to start from scratch, start from observing the animation, then slowly, we record the sounds, edit it and compile it together. I did feel a sense of satisfaction after completing this assignment. Thank you for my lecturer and my fellow friends who guide me through this journey.