Task 1 Methods and Principles of Sound Design and Production

First Draft

Name: Roberto Dalberto

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
 “Every day sound effects added to production”
Such sounds that are heard in every  life that are used in sound production
Sound Libraries
“A collection of sounds sored on file”
Literally a collection of sounds that could be in a file or placed in document.
SOUND FILE FORMATS
Uncompressed
 “ An uncompressed(unchanged) file”
Files that haven’t been compressed, meaning they are unchanged in terms of size and data. When a file is compressed, the size of the file changes, this can be useful when needing space
.wav
“A Wave form audio file format”
An audio file for format that is described as a wave form.
.aiff
“An Audio Interchange File format”

.au
 “Sound File format used for Sun, NeXT and DEC”

.smp
“Extension sound file Format used in Smart Music”

Lossy Compression
“Data encoding methods Inexact approximations”

.mp3
“A standard sound file technology used for small audio pieces”
A very familiar sound file format that is used in many devices across the world. It seems to be the easiest for small audio samples/songs that don’t require much space.
AUDIO LIMITATIONS
Sound Processor Unit (SPU)
“A plug in card that records and plays back sound”
A plug in/program that can record all your audio and then play it back for you to edit.
Digital Sound Processor (DSP)
“The DSPs Is usually to measure, filter and/or compress continuous sounds”

Random Access Memory (RAM)
“also known as RAM, Operating system and other data is kept in a computer”
The RAM contains much of the computers data and memory as it stands for Random access memory.
Mono Audio
“When audio is heard through one side left or right channel”
When playing a very thorough sound through earphones, one might want an effect of the mono audio to cause sound to only be heard through one side of the set (left or right), It can also dim sound in one ear so that the other is slightly louder.
Stereo Audio
“Hearing through two audio channels”
Stereo is essentially the sound played through speakers, on a TV or something of the sort.
Surround Sound
“Using three or more speakers to give realistic effects”
This is the use of more than one speaker (usually more than 2) to give the illusion that the sound is sounding the person, as if in the setting itself.
Direct Audio (Pulse Code Modulation – PCM)
“Any sound recorded directly from the event during the filming process.”
Pure audio that has been recorded straight from the source. A sample of the audio that hasn’t been changed whatsoever
Type AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEMS
Analogue
Recording audio in a format of continuous vibrations that are analogous to the original sound waves”

This is sound recorded in its most simple form of waves, instead of being digital, its analogue, giving it a different type of sound.
Digital Mini Disc
“Another version of a compact disk”
A disk used to store sound, very   small sound.
Compact Disc (CD)
“A compact disk”
A plastic disk that stores sound data.
Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
“DAT is a standard medium magnetic tape for professional level of sound quality”


MIDI
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)”

Digital sound editing kits that can be used to warp audio and change the way they sound.
Software Sequencers
“A device that can record, edit, or playback music”

Software Plug-ins
“A computing software extension that can be an add, like a program”
Computer software that requires to be installed in order to be compatible with your PC.
MIDI Keyboard Instruments
A MIDI keyboard is typically a piano-style user interface keyboard device”
Digital instruments, used on computers for sound creations.
AUDIO SAMPLING
File Size Constraints  - Bit-depth


File Size Constraints  - Sample Rate






Improved Version


Name: Roberto D’alberto

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
 ‘Every day sound effects added to production’
‘The sound effects are laid "manually" and not cut in with film’
‘Using many different kinds of shoes and lots of props - car fenders, plates, glasses, chairs, and just about anything I find at the side of the road’
 Such sounds that are heard in everyday life that are used in sound production.  Foley Artistry is the conduction of sound creation for media based productions, using only tools and objects to simulate sounds in the media piece.
For example, using pots and pans to simulate to men hitting metal bars against each other.
 This sort of Foley audio is was very professional in the 1920s, and was a very popular method of creating live action audio.
Sound Libraries
‘A collection of sounds sored on file’
“A sample library is a collection of digital sound recordings, known as samples, for use by composers, arrangers, performers, and producers of music.
A Sound library, also known as Sample library, is a collection of stored sound samples that can be used in co-operation in order to create a piece of fully finished music. This can come in handy when trying to create different type of music pieces using the same samples of audio.
I Personally used a sound library during my project in order to have a play with some of the effects. The effect I used was from MIDI items that were on the machines.
SOUND FILE FORMATS
Uncompressed
 ‘An uncompressed(unchanged) file’
‘Uncompressing (or decompressing) is the act of expanding a compression file back into its original form.’
‘Digital Image File Types Explained’
‘Lossy vs. Lossless compression’
Files that haven’t been compressed, meaning they are unchanged in terms of size and data. When a file is compressed, the size of the file changes, this can be useful when needing space. So Uncompressing a file would convert it to its original state before it was compressed.
Software downloaded from the internet often comes in compressed packages that will un-compress themselves when it’s clicked on. Compressing files also requires certain software to do so. The last link will has much information on all the different types of file compression and file types. An example of file compression software would be 7 Zip.
7z is a compressed archive file format that supports several different data compression, encryption and pre-processing algorithms. The 7z format initially appeared as implemented by the 7-Zip archiver.
.wav
‘A Wave form audio file format’
‘The format for storing sound in files developed jointly by Microsoft and IBM’
An audio file for format that is described as a wave form.
WAV was created by Microsoft that has become a standard PC technology for everything from System and game sound to CD quality audio. A wave file is identified using the name WAV (.wav). WAV sound format has been accepted as an interchange medium between computer technologies in the PC industry, such as Macintosh. This makes it easy for sound designers to freely use the software on different tech.
.aiff
‘An Audio Interchange File format’
‘An AIFF file contains the raw audio data, channel information (monophonic or stereophonic), bit depth, sample rate, and application-specific data areas’
AIFF (Audio interchange File Format) is the second most used sound format in the Apple Macintosh operating system. The other is sound designer 2(SD2) most CD writers can accept AIFF or SD2 files.  AIFF is very complex; It contains and implements very difficult technology that is currently used in the apple operating system.
.au
 ‘Sound File format used for Sun, NeXT and DEC’
‘(Audio file) A digital audio file format from Sun that is used on the Internet and can be played by a Java program’.

.au Is another sound file format that’s used In cooperation with JAVA on most PCs and created by the SUN.

.smp
‘Extension sound file Format used in Smart Music’


Lossy Compression
‘Data encoding methods Inexact approximations’
Lossy compression works very differently. These programs simply eliminate "unnecessary" bits of information, tailoring the file so that it is smaller’.
This is a different type of compression but much like regular compression it cuts down the size of files to smaller portions so that it can be read, opened and/or downloaded. Except, this compression allows the unnecessary bits of information’s that is the program recognises as “not needed data” hence the “lossy” past that must stand for loss of data.
.mp3
‘A standard sound file technology used for small audio pieces’
‘MP3 is the name of the file extension and also the common name of the type of file for MPEG-1 audio layer 3. Today, MP3 is the common audio format for consumer audio streaming and storage and the standard for the transfer and playback of music on most digital audio players.’
A very familiar sound file format that is used in many devices across the world. It seems to be the easiest for small audio samples/songs that don’t require much space.  Mp3 was created by popular film picture experts by compressing the file size to almost 10th of its original size. This caused it to become really popular in the 1990s, especially because external hard drives and storage devices were very expensive back then.
AUDIO LIMITATIONS
Sound Processor Unit (SPU)
‘A plug in card that records and plays back sound’
‘A sound card (also known as an audio card) is an internal computer expansion card that facilitates economical input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs.’
A plug in/program that can record all your audio and then play it back for you to edit. The technical term for the sound processing unit (SPU) is the sound card. It was designed to generate sound in very complex ways.
Digital Sound Processor (DSP)
‘The DSPs Is usually to measure, filter and/or compress continuous sounds’
‘Digital signal processing (DSP) refers to various techniques for improving the accuracy and reliability of digital communications.’
‘Short for digital signal processing, which refers to manipulation of analogue information, such as sound or photographs that has been converted into a digital form. DSP also implies the use of a data compression technique.’
The digital Sound Processor can also be referred to as the Digital Signal processor or DSP. The DSP is used to manipulate different type of information, such as mathematics. The DSP is very easy to program, therefore If it’s needed to change different information, then it can simply be programmed to do so.
The DSP mostly deals with analogue information, and is able to standardize it, for human intelligence. Whereas the ADSP circuit is able to dibranchiate between organised sound, such as human-made signals, and noise, this is inherently chaotic.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
‘also known as RAM, where the Operating system and other data is kept in a computer’
‘Alternatively referred to as main memory, primary memory, or system memory, Random Access Memory (RAM) is a hardware device that allows information to be stored and retrieved on a computer.’

The RAM contains much of the computers data and memory as it stands for Random access memory.
The RAM is another form of a storage device within a computer. It contains data and allows data to be read or written within and out of the device. Its speed is are only limited by the power of the PC of which is always pretty quick in terms of the data carried per second. When compared to other direct data devices such as hard disks, CD-RWs, DVD-RWs and the older drum memory, its speeds very as there are fewer limitations towards how fast the data can travel. Limitations that involve moving parts such as “arms” that scan the disks, or middle spinners that spin the disk at high speeds. Therefore it may vary to where there physical positions are.

Mono Audio
‘Mono or monophonic describes a system where all the audio signals are mixed together and routed through a single audio channel.’
 ‘Mono audio is an Accessibility feature that makes sure, even if you're hard of hearing or deaf in one ear, you never miss a word, note, or sound when listening to your iPhone or iPad with a headset on. Typical stereo audio includes distinct left and right channels, so different ears get different sounds.’
When playing a very thorough sound through earphones, one might want an effect of the mono audio to cause sound to only be heard through one side of the set (left or right), It can also dim sound in one ear so that the other is slightly louder.
Mono audio can also be a type of technique used with multiple speakers within your earphones/headphones. This technique consists of having no directional cues in the sound heard coming from one ear, causing your brain to believe that it could only be coming from one way only.
Stereo Audio
‘Stereo would be a requirement if there is a need to replicate the aural perspective and localization of instruments on a stage or platform, a very common requirement in performing arts centres.’
‘Commonly called stereo sound or just stereo, stereophonic sound divides sounds across two channels (recorded on two separate sources) then the recorded sounds are mixed so that some elements are channelled to the left and others to the right.’

Stereo is essentially the sound played through speakers, on a TV or something of the sort.
Difference between this type of stereo and mono is that stereo requires an area that equal buoyancy between the left and the right side of the room, in order to create atmospheric setting to the listeners. It does by using the same signal of sound directed through both speakers, while they are at both levels of waves in relationship with each other.
Surround Sound
‘Surround sound is a term used to describe a type of audio output in which the sound appears to "surround the listener" by 360 degrees.’
‘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 (surround channels)’
‘5.1 ("five point one") is the common name for six channel surround sound multichannel audio systems.’
 ​‘system for ​playing sounds, ​especially in ​cinemas, that uses three or more ​loudspeakers so that the ​person listeningseems to be ​surrounded by the ​sound.’

This is the use of more than one speaker (usually more than 2) to give the Illusion that the sound is surrounding the person, as if in the setting itself.
Surround sound contains the technology to tap into the abilities of human hearing, and present our minds with a false awareness. It does this by characterizing a person’s sweets spot (where the audio works best) and presents a forward perspective sound field, in the listener’s location.
This technique enhances the ability to locate sound using the acoustics in a room and/or levels of audio of which the brain pics up a second. This technology exploits that ability and causes the listeners to detect sound in a direction and distance.
There are numerous surround sound techniques that are used today, but most tend to use surround sound the same basic way.
In my project, I used techniques familiar to this, as I made the listener feel like the sound was moving from one ear piece, to the other.

Direct Audio (Pulse Code Modulation – PCM)
‘When ports on set-top boxes and Blu-ray/DVD players are labelled PC or linear PCM (LPCM), they refer to uncompressed audio channels rather than encoded formats such as Dolby Digital, True HD, DTS and DTS-HD. PCM can be mono, stereo or have multiple channels for surround sound. See Bit stream mode and linear PCM.’
Pure audio that has been recorded straight from the source. A sample of the audio that hasn’t been changed whatsoever.
When PCM is seen on DVDs or media devices, it usually refers to uncompressed audio file rather than an encoded digital format such as Dolby digital.
Type AUDIO RECORDING SYSTEMS
Analogue
Recording audio in a format of continuous vibrations that are analogous to the original sound waves’
‘An analogue recording is one that is made by changing the sound waves into electrical signals of the same type.’
‘Recording audio in a format of continuous vibrations that are analogous to the original sound waves.
 Before audio recording became digital, sounds were "carved" intovinyl records or written to tape as magnetic waveforms.’
This is sound recorded in its most simple form of waves, instead of being digital, its analogue, giving it a different type of sound.
This different because instead of being digital signals, it’s the same signal but in electrical waves.  These kind of sound waves could be carved on a record and played, that how is in the 1900.

Digital Mini Disc
‘Another version of a compact disk’
 A Minidisc looks a lot like a floppy disk but is slightly smaller (7 cm, 2.75 inches square).’
A disk used to store sound, very small sound. You can record and erase files just as you would on a floppy disk; it’s simply smaller in size.
Compact Disc (CD)
‘Known by its abbreviation, CD, a compact disc is a polycarbonate with one or more metal layers capable of storing digital information.
 ‘A compact disc [sometimes spelled disk] (CD) is a small, portable, round medium made of moulded polymer (close in size to the floppy disk) for electronically recording, storing, and playing back audio, video, text, and other information in digital form.’
A plastic disk that stores sound data.
‘The format was originally developed to store and play only sound recordings but was later adapted for storage of data (CD-ROM).’
Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
‘DAT (Digital Audio Tape) is a standard medium and technology for the digital recording of audio on tape at a professional level of quality.’
‘Digital Audio Tape (DAT or R-DAT) is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987.’
Also known as a cassette tape is used to store old school type songs and audio in a plastic Box. It works by having the sound data burned on to tape that is rolled into a tube inside the cassette.
MIDI
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)’
‘Stands for "Musical Instrument Digital Interface." It is a connectivity standard that musicians use to hook together musical instruments (such as keyboards and synthesizers) and computer equipment. Using MIDI, a musician can easily create and edit digital music tracks.’
‘The MIDI standard is supported by most synthesizers, so sounds created on one synthesizer can be played and manipulated on another synthesizer. Computers that have a MIDI interface can record sounds created by a synthesizer and then manipulate the data to produce new sounds.’
Digital sound editing kits that can be used to warp audio and change the way they sound.
The MIDI Digital instrument set is perfect for those unable to play or not willing to learn real life music instruments, such as for the disabled. It comes in handy as it’s very compatible with most music software as I have used it myself.
While I was doing my project, I mostly used the piano set out of the MIDI instruments, and it proved to be very easy to use and very accurate. Its wide variety of instruments is also something to take into consideration when using the MIDI set.
Software Sequencers
‘A device that can record, edit, or playback music’
‘Music sequencer, a class of device or music software to record, edit, and play back the music, by handling musical notes and performance information in various forms’
 Audio Software Sequences are programs that allow you to sync music MIDI items and such in order to create your own piece of music. Most software’s like this have tools that you can use to edit your audio. They are generally the best for this profession and have a tendency to be really in depth in terms of editing and sound manipulation.
In my project I used software named “Reaper” to change and warp my sounds. The tools I used consisted of me are able to bend the tone, change the pitch, or even stretch the length of the audio. So I was able to manipulate it to a very massive extent. In my project I was also able to use different audio tracks in one file to create one piece of audio.
Software Plug-ins
‘In computing, a plug-in (or plug-in, add-in, add in, add-on, add-on, or extension) is a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer program. When a program supports plug-ins, it enables customization.
‘Plug-in applications are programs that can easily be installed and used as part of your Web browser.’
Computer software that requires to be installed in order to be compatible with your PC.
Software plug-in is essentially is a program that adds functionality to your PC. For example, a Photoshop plug-in called candy eye could be an add-on to the program you already have.
MIDI Keyboard Instruments
A MIDI keyboard is typically a piano-style user interface keyboard device’
‘Short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, MIDI is a standard for digitally representing and transmitting sounds that was first developed in the 1980s.’
Digital instruments, used on computers for sound creations.
The quality of sound of the MIDI instruments depends on the capability of the device it’s being used on During my introductory Project. I used the digital MIDI keyboard in order to create a variety of audio sounds for my game. I used the reaper program to edit my audio, to make it sound more adaptive to an objective. For example, making it sound like an explosion, or footsteps.
The MIDI digital keyboard was really compatible with the reaper software and proved to be very simple to use. It was also in very good quality.
AUDIO SAMPLING
File Size Constraints  - Bit-depth
 In digital audio using pulse-code modulation (PCM), bit depth is the number of bits of information in each sample and it directly corresponds to the resolution of each sample.
‘Bit Depth is also known as Sample Format or resolution. Sample Format is the terminology used the Audacity Preferences Quality setting.
Bit depth is the technology to be able to “bit” every small piece of information in sound audio. For example, very advanced technology would have millions of “bits” in depth, (hence why it’s called bit depth) meaning there is more pieces of information that have been recognised and can be transferred to digital audio. The more depth of bits, the more information is being received and so the better quality.
If the bit depth is very low, then your audio might sound very far from what it originally was and will seem like it has missing bits of sound in it.
File Size Constraints  - Sample Rate
‘ Sample rate is the number of samples of audio carried per second
‘The more samples taken per second, the more accurate the digital representation of the sound can be.
Sample rate is very similar to Bit depth, because they are both advanced technology that was created to enhance the quality of sound. Except, this is about how many samples of the audio is took a second and how they are. The more samples of information is took, then the better the quality because you sound will have more