If anyone is wondering what the term ‘sound design’ means, this clip should make it quite clear. Sound design is the process of creating original sounds that do not always have a direct correlation to any sound that you might hear in the natural world. This film clip is the 2010 demo reel of the Dutch visual effects studio Onesize. Dozens of different projects with amazing visuals are smashed together in this chaotic barrage of imagery. When I came across this clip, I saw it as an opportunity to create an original soundtrack, a tour de force of sound design. After three months of tireless efforts, long nights in the studio, and never compromising in pursuit of sonic excellence, I created this bombastic and dynamic soundtrack. By using my voice for the wind, making punches sound enormous, screaming at the top of my lungs (with a microphone in front of me), and recording, editing, and processing hundreds of sounds, I was able to make this powerful soundtrack. This project is the apex of my journey to become a sound designer at Berklee College of music. This soundtrack was completed in December 2011.
In May 2011, Mass Art student animator James Carlsen finished his animation degree project, Over Games. The animation is about a pair of prepubescent boys who get sucked into a video game world. The two must fight an epic digital monster for survival and find a way to get back to the real world. When James showed me his animation, I saw it as an opportunity to make a large and full soundtrack to accompany and reinforce the story. First, I cast voice actors to rerecord all of the dialogue in this five minute animation. Next, I cast myself as a foley artist to capture the sounds of the characters motions in the animation. I also created and added many sound effects. With a dab of original music and a 5.1 surround sound mix, this animation truly came to life. By personally filling almost every role possible in the creation of a film soundtrack, I was able reinforce the visuals and make an entire new layer to this delightful animation. I was also fortunate to have the incredible voice talents of Landon Chapman, Ariel Strasser, Holly King, and Carissa Scuderi for this soundtrack which was completed in December 2011.
Animation and story created by James Carlsen ©2011
This soundtrack was completed in July 2011. This project involved a great deal of sound effects editing. Since the main characters are made of stone, many prerecorded stone samples had to be utilized. Although the ambience is quiet, it was created using recordings of groups of people, pitched down a few octaves. Additionally, I wrote a short music cue to reinforce the primal aspect of the clip. My favorite part about working on this clips was experimenting with reverb because the environment was so abstract. When all is said and done, the soundtrack helps make sense of this unusual animation.
Animation and story created by James Carlsen ©2011
This soundtrack was completed in February 2011. The particular project involved composing original music and sound design for an animated short. Dialogue, ambiences, and effects were all designed and recorded. Additionally, a short music composition was written for the end credits. The result was a soundtrack that helped tell the story of an annoyed eagle who could not take being objectified any longer.
Animation and story created by MassArt student Zoë Abbett ©2011