First Draft
Name: Ben Ankers
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RESEARCHED DEFINITION (provide
short internet researched definition and URL link)
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DESCRIBE THE RELEVANCE OF THE
RESEARCHED TERM TO YOUR OWN PRODUCTION PRACTICE?
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SOUND DESIGN METHODOLOGY
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Foley Artistry
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Foley Artistry is the reproduction
of everyday sounds that are used in Movies and other forms of media.
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This would be used in our games for
basic sound effects of different things such as footsteps or a something
falling.
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Sound Libraries
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Sound Libraries are comprised of
different sounds that are used to form different type of media from music to
video game sound effects.
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We would comprise our own sound
libraries so we can choose which sound effect that would be used in our
productions
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SOUND FILE FORMATS
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Uncompressed
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Uncompressed audio files are larger
than compressed files and the files of this type are .wav
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Uncompressed files would be used
before we compressed them so we can make edits to it.
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.wav
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.wav is an uncompressed audio file
which store both lossless and loss.
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.wav would be used for out audio
files so we can edit them
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.aiff
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.aiff is the Mac OS version of .wav
as they o the same thing.
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If I were on a mac I would use this
format for editing audio samples
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.au
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.au is the standard audio file for
Sun, Unix and Java
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I would use this format for Sun,
Unix and Java so I can edit audio files.
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.smp
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.smp files are used to send short
midi files to others
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I would send others audio samples
with this file type so they can edit it themselves.
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Lossy Compression
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Lossy compression is used to reduce
the sizes of flies to make them easier to transport.
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I would use this to reduce the file
size for audio files so they are easier to transport.
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.mp3
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.mp3 is the most common audio file
used for storage or streaming.
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I would use .mp3 to store audio
files for later listening.
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AUDIO LIMITATIONS
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Sound Processor Unit (SPU)
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SPU’s facilitates inputs and outputs
of sound signals, consumer models have large sampling latency.
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I would be using this anytime that I
am on a computer as its essential for the use of sound.
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Digital Sound Processor (DSP)
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A DSP is similar to an SPU but it
have very little to no delay.
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I would be using this anytime that I
am on a computer as its essential for the use of sound.
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Random Access Memory (RAM)
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RAM is memory that can be accessed
randomly and most programmes use this as its memory source.
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RAM is used by the software that I
use for editing and creating music/sound
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Mono Audio
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Mono audio is feature that makes
sure all sound is heard even if you are hard of hearing. And it uses a single
audio track
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For basic sounds and music I would
use a mono audio so it uses less space and so it only uses a single audio
track
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Stereo Audio
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Stereo Audio divides the sounds
between 2 channels which means only some sound can be heard from one track.
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For more complex sounds/music I
would use stereo to make use of 2 audio channel
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Surround Sound
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Surround Sound is where sound is
projected around the listener so the listener feels like they are in the
middle of the action.
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I could use this to create a sense
of the consumer being in the middle of the action
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Direct Audio (Pulse Code Modulation – PCM)
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PCM is a digital representation on a
dialog input/output.
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I would use PCM to measure the
inputs and outputs of my sounds
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AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEMS
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Analogue
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Signals that are represented by a
continuous variable.
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I would have to
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Digital Mini Disc
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Magneto-Optical Disc based system
used to store 74-80 minutes of digitised audio
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I could use the digital mini disk to
store a decent amount of digitised audio.
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Compact Disc (CD)
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Compact Disc is a digital optical
disk data storage format which originally held around 80mins of sound, it was
later adapted for the storage of different media such as video.
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I could use the Compact disk as a
way to store audio files physically.
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Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
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DAT are similar to a compact cassette
tape and has the ability to record at a higher or lower sample rate the CS’s.
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If I wanted lower/higher sampling
rate I would use this instead of CD’s.
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MIDI
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Musical Instrument Digital Interface
is used to hook together music instruments in software.
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I would use these in my audio
production for musical instruments and so that I can hook together multiple
MIDI items
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Software Sequencers
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A Software Sequencer is an
application which allows for recording, playing and editing music.
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I would be using this so I can
playback, record and edit my audio samples.
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Software Plug-ins
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A Plug-In is a software component
that adds a specific ability to some existing software.
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I would be using plugins for my
music instruments so I can create my own sounds/music
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MIDI Keyboard Instruments
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MIDI Keyboard Instruments allow for
inputs through usb for the MIDI interface.
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I could use one of these so it’s
easier to input instruments sounds.
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AUDIO SAMPLING
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File Size Constraints - Bit-depth
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Bit Depth is the amount of bits of
information in a single sample, the higher the bit rate the larger the file
size.
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I would have to balance the amount
of bits per sample so the file size isn’t too big.
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File Size Constraints - Sample Rate
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The Sample Rate is the number of
times an analogue signal is measured per second
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I would have to use the correct
sample rate for the correct storage device as some have different sample
rates.
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Final Draft
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Name: Ben Ankers
|
|
RESEARCHED DEFINITION (provide
short internet researched definition and URL link)
|
DESCRIBE THE RELEVANCE OF THE
RESEARCHED TERM TO YOUR OWN PRODUCTION PRACTICE?
|
|
SOUND DESIGN METHODOLOGY
|
Foley Artistry
|
‘Foley
Artistry is the reproduction of everyday sounds that are used in Movies and
other forms of media’
‘A sound effects technique for synchronous effects or live effects’
|
This would be used in our games for
basic sound effects of different things such as footsteps or a something
falling. These are used for crisp and clean sounds
without any other sounds in the background.
|
|
Sound Libraries
|
‘Sound
Libraries are comprised of different sounds that are used to form different
type of media from music to video game sound effects’.
‘A collection of sounds stored on file (for example
on CDs, DVDs, or as digital audio files)’
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We would comprise our own sound
libraries so we can choose which sound effect that would be used in our
productions This is used for easy access to many
sound effects and it makes the whole process of picking out sounds easier.
|
|
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SOUND FILE FORMATS
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Uncompressed
|
‘Uncompressed
audio files are larger than compressed files and the files of this type are
.wav.’
‘Uncompressed
audio is
audio without any compression applied to it’
|
Uncompressed files would be used
before we compressed them so we can make edits to it. Although they are larger than compressed files and they can be exact
copies of a copied sound/audio
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.wav
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‘.wav
is an uncompressed audio file which store both lossless and loss.’
‘Uncompressed
WAV files are large, so file
sharing of WAV files over the Internet is uncommon’
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.wav would be used for out audio
files so we can edit them. This wouldn’t be used for
file sharing as it is too large, it would be tuned into another file type to
reduce its size
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.aiff
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‘.aiff
is the Mac OS version of .wav as they do the same thing.’
‘Unlike
the better-known lossy MP3 format,
AIFF is uncompressed’
‘Standard
audio file format used by Apple. It could be considered the Apple equivalent
of wav.’
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If I were on a mac I would use this
format for editing audio samples. This was created by
Apple for Macintosh computers.
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.au
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‘.au
is the standard audio file for Sun, Unix and Java’
‘The AU file format
is also known as the Sparc-audio or u-law format.’
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I would use this format for Sun,
Unix and Java so I can edit audio files. These would
be essential as these are the standard for sun, Unix and java.
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.smp
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‘.smp
files are used to send short midi files to others’
‘While on the PC, you can edit several
parameters including loop points, pitch, time compression, normalize, sample
rate, etc.’
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I would send others audio samples
with this file type so they can edit it themselves. This
could be used to share sounds and help others out with their projects when we
work in groups.
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Lossy Compression
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‘Lossy
compression is used to reduce the sizes of flies to make them easier to
transport.’
‘Lossy file compression results in
lost data and quality from the original version. Lossy compression is
typically associated with image files, such as JPEGs, but can also be
used for audio files, like MP3s’
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I would use this to reduce the file
size for audio files so they are easier to transport.
Although if wanted the
highest quality possible I wouldn’t use these formats. Lossy Compression can
work very well but larger files that would be compressed to miniscule sizes
would lose out on some on the original quality.
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.mp3
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‘.mp3
is the most common audio file used for storage or streaming.’
‘As well
as a de facto standard of digital audio compression for the
transfer and playback of music on most digital
audio players.’
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I would use .mp3 to store audio
files for later listening. This is the format I would
use for media devices if I need to transport something or if I need to use a
normal media device player.
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AUDIO LIMITATIONS
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Sound Processor Unit (SPU)
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‘SPU’s
facilitates inputs and outputs of sound signals, consumer models have large
sampling latency.’
‘Most
sound cards use a digital-to-analog
converter (DAC), which converts
recorded or generated digital data into an analog format’
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I would be using this anytime that I
am on a computer as its essential for the use of sound. These are essential for computers to output sounds and they
are resent in every modern computer
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Digital Sound Processor (DSP)
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‘A
DSP is similar to an SPU but it have very little to no delay.’
‘DSP works by clarifying, or
standardizing, the levels or states of a digital signal.’
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I would be using this anytime that I
am on a computer as its essential for the use of sound. These are essential for computers to output sounds and they
are resent in every modern computer
|
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Random Access Memory (RAM)
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‘RAM
is memory that can be accessed randomly and most programmes use this as its
memory source.’
‘RAM (random access memory) is the
place in a computer where the operating
system, application programs, and data in current use are kept so that they
can be quickly reached by the computer's processor.’
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RAM is used by the software that I
use for editing and creating music/sound. It’s also
used by much other software, not just the sound software. I am always using RAM
when on a computer as it helps run all most if not all programs.
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Mono Audio
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‘Mono
audio is feature that makes sure all sound is heard even if you are hard of
hearing. And it uses a single audio track’
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/monophonic_sound.html ‘Mono
or monophonic describes a system where all the audio signals are mixed
together and routed through a single audio channel’
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For basic sounds and music I would
use a mono audio so it uses less space and so it only uses a single audio
track. Also I would use mono in 2D games as there is rarely
a sense of depth needed for 2d games unlike 3D games.
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Stereo Audio
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‘Stereo
Audio divides the sounds between 2 channels which mean only some sound can be
heard from one track.’
‘True stereophonic sound systems have
two independent audio signal channels, and the signals that are reproduced
have a specific level and phase relationship to each other’
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For more complex sounds/music I
would use stereo to make use of 2 audio channel
In 3D games his would be
used to enhance the atmosphere. Although it could be used in the cinematics
of game.
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Surround Sound
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‘Surround
Sound is where sound is projected around the listener so the listener feels
like they are in the middle of the action.’
‘Surround sound is a technique for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with
additional audio channels from speakers that surround the listener’
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I could use this to create a sense
of the consumer being in the middle of the action
Surround sound would be
used to frighten people in horror games. Also it could give the player a
great sense of atmosphere.
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Direct Audio (Pulse Code Modulation – PCM)
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‘PCM
is a digital representation on a dialog input/output.’
‘It is the
standard form of digital audio in computers’
|
I would use PCM to measure the
inputs and outputs of my sounds. And I would use this
information to help develop my sounds, also its essential as it’s the
standard form of digital audio for computers
|
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AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEMS
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Analogue
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‘Signals
that are represented by a continuous variable.’
‘Analog
recording methods store signals as a continuous
signal in or on the media’
|
I would have to measure the continuous variable.
|
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Digital Mini Disc
|
‘Magneto-Optical
Disc based system used to store 74-80 minutes of digitised audio’
‘The
digitally encoded audio signal on a Minidisc has traditionally been data-compressed using the ATRAC format’
|
I could use the digital mini disk to
store a decent amount of digitised audio. For easy
physical storage that I would have on hand. These are easy to store as they are
small and they are a good way to back up any files that are important.
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Compact Disc (CD)
|
‘Compact
Disc is a digital optical disk data storage format which originally held
around 80mins of sound, it was later adapted for the storage of different
media such as video.’
‘The data on a CD is stored as small
notches on the disc and is read by a laser from an optical drive’
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I could use the Compact disk as a
way to store audio files physically. And I could store
lots of CD’s for ease of storage and use. Backups of important files would be
stored on CD’s as they can be kept physically so in case of a power outage
the files are safe.
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Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
|
‘DAT
are similar to a compact cassette tape and has the ability to record at a
higher or lower sample rate the CS’s.’
‘Digital inputs and
outputs on professional DAT decks allow the user to transfer recordings from
the DAT tape to an audio workstation for precise editing’
|
If I wanted lower/higher sampling
rate I would use this instead of CD’s. And these
would be easily storable and it would use less memory on the hard drive
although these wouldn’t be used for video game music as the higher/lower
sample rate isn’t needed.
|
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MIDI
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‘Musical
Instrument Digital Interface is used to hook together music instruments in software.’
‘A single
MIDI link can carry up to sixteen channels of information, each of which can
be routed to a separate device.’
|
I would use these in my audio
production for musical instruments and so that I can hook together multiple
MIDI items. Or I could create my own sounds and music.
In my own projects I have created my own music samples and I have also
modified some pre-existing sound effects from a sound library. I used MIDI to
use Virtual Instruments to create my own sound effects for my Tasks. I have
also put together different musical instrument samples and hooked them
together using MIDI.
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Software Sequencers
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‘A
Software Sequencer is an application which allows for recording, playing and
editing music.’
‘called Trackers, which became popular in the 1980s and 1990s as simple
sequencers for creating computer
game music, and are yet popular in the demo-scene and chiptunes’
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I would be using this so I can
playback, record and edit my audio samples. This
would be essential or any sound/music that I would create. I have used
sequencers to loop my created sound samples and music to help me edit them
and fine tune them. Also these were used in old games for their music which
is relevant to what we are doing.
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Software Plug-ins
|
‘A
Plug-In is a software component that adds a specific ability to some existing
software.’
‘Software plug-in is an add-on for a
program that adds functionality to it.’
|
I would be using plugins for my
music instruments so I can create my own sounds/music. Because it would be easier than using pre made sounds and I
would have more flexibility to create new sounds. I have used Virtual
Instrument plugins in my projects to create sound samples and music samples
to use at my own accord. I used many different plugins as the all do
different things (mimic different instruments/sounds)
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MIDI Keyboard Instruments
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‘MIDI
Keyboard Instruments allow for inputs through usb for the MIDI interface.’
‘In the MIDI protocol used in each of these midi
controllers, an encoding scheme is used to map a MIDI value to a specific
instrument sample’
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I could use one of these so it’s
easier to input instruments sounds. This would also
make the process a lot easier and faster. Many different styles could be used
for video game music since there is a large range of different instruments
that are available.
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AUDIO SAMPLING
|
File Size Constraints - Bit-depth
|
‘Bit
Depth is the amount of bits of information in a single sample, the higher the
bit rate the larger the file size.’
‘Bit depth
affects file size. All other things being equal, a 32-bit file is twice the
size of a 16-bit file, and an 8-bit file half the size of a 16-bit one.’
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I would have to balance the amount
of bits per sample so the file size isn’t too big. Or
too small as the quality would suffer. The bit depth would have to be
measured as we don’t want a final pieces result being decided by the quality
that was altered by the bit depth.
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File Size Constraints - Sample Rate
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‘The
Sample Rate is the number of times an analogue signal is measured per second’
‘Sample
rate is the number of samples of audio carried per second, measured in Hz or
kHz’
|
I would have to use the correct
sample rate for the correct storage device as some have different sample
rates. If not the quality could be worse on some
storage devices.
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