Spatial Audio Design | Task 1 - Exercises

|| Tee Zi Tong, 0366165

|| Spatial Audio Design | Task 1 

|| Week 1 - Week 4

INSTRUCTIONS

Task 1 - Exercises

Week 2 (Equalizer)

In this task, we need to adjust the given sound files so that their sound frequencies match the original sound files provided by Mr. Razif by using the Parametric Equalizer in Adobe Audition.

EQ 1 

EQ2

EQ3

EQ4

Week 3 (Sound Shaping)

In this exercise, we need to adjust the given sound files by using the Parametric Equalizer in Adobe Audition. The purpose of this task is to make the edited sounds match the original sound effects provided by Mr. Razif. Different audio settings are used to create different environments and sound moods.

For the telephone effect, we need to reduce the low and high frequencies to create a small and tinny voice sound. For the closet effect, the sound should feel muffled and enclosed by reducing some high frequencies and adding a short reverb. The bathroom effect requires a brighter reverb with slight echo to create the feeling of sound reflecting from tiled walls.

For the stadium effect, a large hall reverb and longer delay are added to make the sound feel wide, spacious, and far away. Lastly, the airport or train station effect should sound like a large open public space with reflections, but not as echoey as the stadium effect.

1. Telephone

Use a narrow frequency range — typically between 300 Hz to 3.5 kHz — to mimic the limited bandwidth of phone audio. Cut low and high frequencies sharply for that classic “tinny” voice sound.

2. In the Closet

Reduce high frequencies slightly and add a short, boxy reverb to simulate sound reflections in a small, enclosed space. The sound should feel muffled and close.

3.Bathroom 

Add a bright reverb with short to medium decay and some high-frequency reflections. The space should sound reflective and slightly echoey, as if surrounded by tiled walls.

 4.Stadium

 Use a large hall reverb with long decay and a slight delay to simulate distance. The sound should feel wide and spacious, as if it’s bouncing off large surfaces. 

 5.Airport

 The sound should convey a large open space with many reflective surfaces but not as echoey as at the stadium

Week 4 (Sound in Space [Spatial])

This week, we learned about panning and volume adjustments in Adobe Audition. We were introduced to two types of automation, which are track automation and clip automation. Track automation means the adjustments are applied directly to the timeline or track, so the settings will stay in the same position even if the audio clip is moved. Clip automation means the adjustments are attached to the audio clip itself, so the settings will move together with the clip.

To help us understand these functions better, several exercises were given to practice adjusting panning and volume using both track and clip automation. The first exercise was creating a slow jet plane flyby effect, followed by a fast jet plane flyby effect. We also created the sound of a person walking from left to right to practice movement and positioning of sound. Another exercise required us to create the sound of a person walking into a cave by using panning, EQ, and reverb adjustments to create a more realistic environment effect.

1. Jetplane Flyby (slow)

2. Jetplane Flyby (fast)

3. People Walking from Left to Right

4. People Walking into an Cave

After completing the exercises, we were given two environment photos. Based on the images, we needed to create suitable environment sound compositions to show our understanding of panning, volume, automation, EQ, and reverb. Different sound layers and effects were combined to match the atmosphere and mood shown in the photos.

Environment 1

Environment 2

Reflections

Experience

This exercise was a very interesting and enjoyable learning experience for me because I got to explore how sound can be shaped using panning, volume, EQ, and reverb to create different environments and effects. Even though I was absent during Week 4, I still tried my best to catch up and understand the task. My first attempt at the environment sound was a learning process, and I was able to experiment freely with different effects while exploring how sound behaves.

Observation

While working on the task, I noticed that even small adjustments in panning and volume can make a big difference in how realistic a sound feels. I also observed that each environment has its own sound characteristics, such as echo in open spaces or a softer, more muffled sound in enclosed areas. This helped me better understand how audio tools can be used to create a sense of space and movement.

Findings

From this exercise, I found that feedback and guidance are very helpful in improving my understanding and skills. After receiving feedback from Mr. Razif and clarifying my doubts, I was able to better understand the concept and improve my work. This allowed me to refine my audio and produce a final version that matched the intended environment more effectively. Overall, I gained more confidence in using audio tools and learned how important practice and feedback are in the learning process.