VIDEO AND SOUND PRODUCTION ( PROJECT 1/AUDIO EDITING EXERCISES )
April 21,2025
ZHOU BOYING / 0369087
Video and Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
LIST
1. Lectures
2. Instructions
3.Project 1 / Audio Editing Exercises
4. Feedback
5. Reflections
Lectures
Task Objective
Use Premiere Pro to add dialogue and sound effects to the video.
Background music is not required.
Focus: syncing speech and sound effects to enhance viewer engagement and atmosphere.
Required Elements
Speech / Dialogue
Record using a mobile phone.
Sound Effects
Hard Sound Effects: Specific sounds like door creaking, glass breaking, gunshots.
Ambient Effects: Environmental background sounds like traffic, wind, or crowd noise.
Production Workflow
Watch the video in Premiere Pro.
Use a spreadsheet to list each scene and its required sound effects.
Reference spreadsheet: Google Sheet Example
Record dialogue with phone and search for sound effects online.
Import all audio files into the timeline and sync them with the video.
Technical Requirements
Audio Track Setup
3 dialogue tracks (one for each character)
4 sound effects tracks
3 ambient sound tracks
Audio Editing Tips
To change voice type (e.g., male to female, adult to child):
Premiere Pro → Audio Effects → Pitch Shifter → Semi tonesVolume Levels:
Dialogue: -6dB to -12dB
Ambience: below -20dB
Sound effects: adjust as needed
In the Thursday physical class of Week 4, Mr. Martin focused on teaching us how to use Premiere Pro to perform gender voice conversion. By applying tools such as Pitch Shifter and EQ adjustment, we learned how to modify pitch and tone to create more natural voice effects for different characters. This skill is essential for completing Project 1 – Exercise 1: Audio Dubbing.
In addition, Mr. Martin divided the class into two production teams for a hands-on simulation of a real filming environment. Each group took on different production roles, including Producer, Director, D.O.P, Art Director, Location Sound, and Boom Operator. Through this simulation, we gained a clearer understanding of each role’s responsibilities and experienced the importance of teamwork and on-set coordination. The session also helped us prepare technically and mentally for the upcoming dubbing and editing tasks.
Week 8
Notes
1. Fundamental Concepts
Frequency Range (Hz)
Human hearing ranges from 20Hz to 20,000Hz.
In audio editing, the full frequency spectrum is commonly divided into 7 bands to identify sound characteristics such as Bass (low), Midrange (middle), and Treble (high).
Dynamic Range (dB)
Measured in decibels (dB).
0 dB SPL = the threshold of hearing
130 dB SPL = the threshold of pain
Proper sound editing requires managing volume levels to avoid distortion or audio clipping.
Mono vs Stereo
Mono (monophonic sound): Uses a single audio channel; more focused, often used for voice recordings or phone call effects.
Stereo: Uses two channels; creates spatial awareness, commonly used in music or film.
Additional reading:
https://www.musicgateway.com/blog/how-to/mono-vs-stereo
2. Setting Up Adobe Audition
Open Adobe Audition and create a Multitrack Session.
Save and name the session.
Use the Effect Rack, go to:
Filter & EQ → Parametric Equalizer
Or: Reverb (for spatial effects)
3. EQ Applications and Techniques
Phone Call Effect
Simulates the compressed quality of a phone line:
Reduce Bass and Treble
Boost Midrange (500Hz to 2kHz)
Result: Focused, narrow-band clarity
Muffled Effect
Mimics speech behind fabric or through walls:
Retain Bass
Cut Treble completely
Boost Midrange
Result: Dull, muted, and low-pass filter effect
Reverb Effect
Adds spatial realism such as bathroom echo or cave resonance:
Apply Reverb
Key Parameters:
Decay Time: Time taken for the reverb to decay by 60 dB
Pre‑Delay: Delay before reverb starts
Dry/Wet Mix:
For subtle spatial presence → High Dry, Low Wet
For special effects → Lower Dry, Higher Wet
Physical Class
In this week’s physical class, Mr. Martin guided us through the practical steps for Project 1 – Exercise 2. We learned how to use Adobe Audition to edit voice recordings and apply effects like EQ and Reverb. He explained key concepts such as frequency range, dynamic range, and the difference between mono and stereo.
We practiced creating multitrack sessions for different sound effects—such as phone call, muffled voice, bathroom, underground, and alien sounds—by adjusting EQ curves and reverb settings. Mr. Martin reminded us to export each version as MP3, upload to Google Drive, and include it in our Project 1 blog post.
Instructions
Project 1 / Audio Editing Exercises
In Project 1, we are required to record our own voiceover and add sound effects to a short clip from Everything Everywhere All At Once, which was provided by our lecturer. To start, we focused on breaking down the audio section first, as it is easier to manage collaboratively. Therefore, we were divided into groups of five, and each group worked on a shared Google Sheet to document the audio breakdown based on the timeline.
In our group, we divided the tasks efficiently by assigning each member a specific time segment of the video to edit, along with individual responsibilities to complete.
Fig 1.2 Audio Breaking Sheet Link
I compiled all the sound effects selected by each group member into a single Google Drive folder to streamline the post-production editing process.
Summary
Through this project, I gained hands-on experience in audio editing, including voiceover recording, sound effect compilation, pitch adjustment, and audio layering in Premiere Pro. Collaborating with my group allowed us to efficiently divide tasks and streamline the post-production process. By applying technical tools like Pitch Shifter and maintaining proper audio levels, I was able to transform my voice and create a clean, balanced sound mix. The final video, complete with voiceovers, sound effects, and ambient audio, was successfully uploaded from my computer, marking the completion of the Audio Editing Exercise.
Project 1: Sound Shaping
Voice of phone call.
Voice coming from inside of the closet.
Underground cave.
Alien/ Orc voice
Feedback
Week 3
Specific Feedback:
This week, I began working on Exercise 1 of Project 1, focusing on audio dubbing. I followed the instructions on Teams to download the provided materials, including the silent video and script. I started planning the dialogue recording and looked for suitable sound effects online. I also reviewed how to structure the audio tracks on Premiere Pro’s timeline. During class, I learned about the importance of syncing sounds accurately and how different sound layers (dialogue, hard effects, ambience) work together to create a realistic environment.
General Feedback:
The task helped me understand how audio can shape the atmosphere of a video. It also made me more familiar with Premiere Pro’s audio tools, especially timeline syncing and pitch shifting. I still find it challenging to match the sound timing perfectly, but the example spreadsheet and class instructions gave me a clear structure to follow. I look forward to learning the voice transformation techniques in next week’s session.
Week 4
Specific Feedback:
This week, I focused on completing my part of Project 1: Audio Editing Exercises. I was responsible for recording the voiceover for one of the characters. After completing the audio breakdown sheet with my group, I recorded the dialogue using my phone and imported it into Adobe Premiere Pro. Since the character had a deeper voice, I used the Pitch Shifter effect to transform my voice to sound like a male. I then synchronized the voiceover with the video and added appropriate sound effects and ambience tracks. I also helped compile all group members’ sound effects into a single Google Drive folder to streamline editing. Finally, I adjusted the background audio levels to below -20 dB as required, and exported the final video.
General Feedback:
This week's physical class helped me understand the full workflow of audio post-production. Mr. Martin guided us through the technical process of voice pitch adjustment and showed us how to manage sound layers effectively in Premiere Pro. Working in teams also gave me insight into how tasks are divided in a real production environment. Overall, I gained valuable hands-on experience in both creative voice acting and technical sound editing, which has improved my confidence in handling audio tasks for video projects.
Reflections
Throughout this project, I gained valuable hands-on experience in audio dubbing and editing. From downloading the silent video and script to planning the dialogue and selecting suitable sound effects, each step helped me better understand the role of sound in storytelling. I learned how to organize and layer different types of audio—such as dialogue, hard effects, and ambience—using Adobe Premiere Pro, which allowed me to build a more immersive and realistic sound environment.
One of the most challenging yet rewarding parts was recording the voiceover for a character whose voice was much deeper than mine. I recorded the lines using my phone and used the Pitch Shifter effect to transform my voice, then carefully synchronized it with the visuals. I also added ambient sounds and effects to enhance the atmosphere and adjusted the overall audio levels to meet technical standards.
Collaborating with my team taught me how tasks are divided in a real production setting. We shared responsibilities, organized all our sound materials in a Google Drive folder, and supported each other through each stage of the process. This teamwork, along with the technical guidance we received, strengthened my confidence in both creative voice acting and sound editing.
Overall, this project helped me develop a more professional approach to audio post-production. It sharpened my technical skills and gave me a clearer sense of how sound can emotionally and rhythmically shape the viewer’s experience in video content.
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