Sonic Design_Project 1 (Auditory Imaging )

 21/4/2025-21/7/2025

Ruthlene Chua Zhen Si 0365222 

Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media 

• Instruction
• Lectures
• Task
• Auditory Imaging 

• JUMPLINK TO: 
• Sonic Design Exercises
• Sonic Design Project 2 
• Sonic Design: Final Project 

• Feedbacks 
• Reflections

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INSTRUCTION

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Task

For this assignment, we must create an audio image that tells a story from a first-person point of view, using only sound effects, music, and ambient audio, no voices or dialogue are allowed. 

The goal is to let the listener visualize and understand the scene or story purely through sound. 

We must choose one of the five given scenarios and design an audio track that effectively conveys the experience, mood, and actions happening in that scenario from the perspective of the main character.

1. Wildlife + Background   
2. Everyday Home Life + Background  
3. Cities + Transport + Exterior Atmosphere  
4. Industry and Electronic sounds + Background  
5. Weather + Background  
6. Market + Rural atmosphere + Background 

After reviewing all the scenario options, I decided to go with "Weather + Background" because it resonated with me the most. I’ve always loved rainy days and often pay close attention to how the environment changes during different kinds of rain. I already have a clear idea in mind of how it should sound. 

I plan to create an audio piece titled "Street Before the Rain", which tells the story of a calm city street that gradually shifts as the weather changes, starting from a peaceful sunny day, followed by distant thunder, light rain, then a heavy downpour, and finally the rain fades away, returning the city to calm. This piece will rely entirely on ambient sounds such as wind, thunder, footsteps, raindrops, and crowd movement to portray the mood and transformation, with no dialogue or voice. The goal is to use sound alone to express how weather affects the city’s atmosphere and people’s behavior, forming a vivid and rhythmic audio image.

Before starting to find the soundtracks, I listed out all the soundtrack that i need, timeline breakdown. 

Firstly, I arranged all the soundtracks based on my auditory imaging story list. I adjusted the volume of each clip to balance the mix and make transitions smoother. To connect one sound to another naturally, I applied fade-in and fade-out effects.

Figure1.0: Soundtrack Arrangement

This part is for editing the left and right sound placement to control how sounds appear in the stereo field.

Figure1.1: Left/Right sound arrangement

I added reverb to the umbrella sound to make it feel more like a first-person perspective. The original sound didn’t feel right, and I couldn’t find a suitable clip recorded from a first-person angle, so I adjusted it manually.

Figure 1.2: Reverb on the umbrella

I adjusted each clip’s volume to balance the mix, ensure key sounds stand out, and maintain a consistent first-person immersion.

Figure 1.3: Volume adjustment

I applied equalizer adjustments to the bus sound using a parametric EQ because the original didn’t match the surrounding environment. The changes help the bus blend more naturally into the overall auditory scene.

Figure 1.4: Parametric EQ adjustment on bus soudntrack

I stretched the small rain sound slightly to make it feel lighter and more gradual, simulating the effect of rain slowly fading. Since I couldn’t find a softer rain clip, this adjustment helped match the intended atmosphere.

Figure 1.5: Extended and stretch the sound track

For the final part, I added fade-in and fade-out effects to the puddle steps as the main character slowly walks away from the scene, creating a sense of distance and closure.

Figure 1.6: Fade in & Out to create sense of distance and closure

Last but not least, here's the outcome: LINK

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Reflection 

Experience

The first week began with a clear walkthrough of the 3D module. The lecturer explained the grading criteria in detail and gave examples for each task. The pace felt comfortable, making it easy to keep up. The patient and step-by-step approach made the basics much easier to grasp.

Observation

The lessons were well-structured, with every tool and process demonstrated carefully. This method kept the class engaged and made it easier for everyone to follow along. It was clear that the explanations helped students feel more confident in trying the exercises.

Findings

A clear introduction with practical examples sets a strong start for learning. When instructions are broken down into manageable steps, it reduces confusion and encourages us to explore more on their own.