Mini Project – Digital Audio Editing

Author: University of HertfordshireDate created:Date revised: 2009

AbstractThe following resources come from the 2009/10 B.Sc in Media Technology and Digital Broadcast (course number 2ELE0073) from the University of Hertfordshire. All the mini projects are designed as level two modules of the undergraduate programmes.

The objectives of this module are to demonstrate within a digital broadcast environment: an understanding of audio requirements for digital editing. an awareness of technical constraints for content management and creation. the creation of multitrack sound sequences.

Students will be provided with a library of audio samples captured from a range of sources from which they must select and edit into several short duration, professional quality, multitrack sound sequences. The project provides students with an awareness of current audio standards and also the need to appraise the technical content of source material. The project also introduces the use of contemporary digital authoring tools and processes.

ContentsSection 1. Project Introduction....................................................................................................2Section 2. Project Day 1 Brief: Digital Soundscape....................................................................4Section 3. Project Day 2 Brief: Audio Commentary....................................................................5Credits........................................................................................................................................6

In addition to the resources found below there are supporting documents which should be used in combination with this resource. Please see:Mini Projects - Introductory presentation. Mini Projects - E-Log.Mini Projects - Staff & Student Guide.Mini Projects - Standard Grading Criteria.Mini Projects - Reflection.

© University of Hertfordshire 2009 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

Mini Project- Digital Audio Editing

Section 1. Project Introduction

1. Learning Outcomes assessed (as taken from the DMD)

All Learning Outcomes specified in the Definitive Module Documentation are assessed as part of this miniproject, the specific Learning Outcomes are:

Knowledge and Understanding

Be able to analyse and breakdown problem tasks into manageable steps.

Integrate previous and concurrent learning and to use it to solve technology-based problems.

Be able to describe the project life-cycle appropriately.

Be able to select appropriate Media and Broadcast Technology and techniques for a given situation.

Skills and Attributes

Produce a solution to a defined Media and Broadcast Technology problem.

Carry out a simple critical evaluation of their solution.

Demonstrate an ability to work effectively in a teams, small groups and individually.

Demonstrate an ability to manage time and resources effectively.

2. Project Title: Digital Audio Editing

3. Project Objectives: (technical, specific to this project)Demonstrate within a digital broadcast environment:

an understanding of audio requirements for digital editing.

an awareness of technical constraints for content management and creation.

the creation of multitrack sound sequences.

4. Project Summary: (50 words max)Students will be provided with a library of audio samples captured from a range of sources from which they must select and edit into several short duration, professional quality, multitrack sound sequences. The project provides students with an awareness of current audio standards and also the need to appraise the technical content of source material. The project also introduces the use of contemporary digital authoring tools and processes.

5. Introductory Lecture (2hrs) Content: Introduction to digital audio.

Use of digital audio editing tools (Adobe® Audition® and Soundbooth).

Content management strategies.

Technical standards for content creation.

Audio Studio techniques.

6. Preparation Session (3hrs):

i. An introduction to digital audio editing using a dedicated set of ‘Classroom-in-a-book’ tutorials for Adobe® Audition® and Soundbooth.

ii. Defining technical parameters for source capture.

iii. Content Appraisal.

7. Day 1

Expected Outcomes for the day:

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Mini Project- Digital Audio EditingStudents working individually must create a 5.1 surround-sound sequence for a specified range of target delivery platforms (e.g. web, cd, etc). A briefing pack which contains instructions and supporting soundscape narrative will be provided at the start of the day. An intermediate goal for day 1 is the creation of a stereo soundscape sequence.

Assessment criteria; the way in which the work has been planned and managed, the selection and placement of audio clips within the soundscape described by the given narrative, the technical parameters considered and the compression strategies used for the target delivery platforms.

Key Tasks: Project Planning; developing an appropriate strategy to meet a specific set of technical requirements.

Content Capture; selection of appropriate audio samples.

Audio Editing techniques, mixing and effects, stereo imaging, 5.1 surround sound.

Technical Appraisal; processing of source material (parameter settings), compression strategies.

8. Day 2

Expected Outcomes for the day:Students working in small groups must plan & record a spoken commentary, with supporting background music and effects, for a short video clip. The fully edited clip is intended for distribution via a digital broadcast application (e.g. ipTV). A briefing pack which contains instructions, the clip and supporting narrative will be provided at the start of the day. The clip itself will comprise an edited-down video track along with original-length audio tracks that must be edited to fit the shorter video clip. An intermediate goal for day 2 will be; cleaning up a musical track (e.g. removing unwanted artefacts; pops, crackles, voices).

Assessment criteria; the way in which the work has been managed, the editing of the audio tracks and addition of a commentary track (team working in the sound booth), the technical parameters considered when cleaning up a music track (individual work) and the compression strategies used for the target delivery platform.

Key Tasks: Project Planning; developing an appropriate strategy to meet a specific set of technical requirements.

Compilation of content; students working in groups and individually to create the required range of audio source materials.

Audio Editing techniques, Dolby digital, advanced effects.

Technical Appraisal; processing of source material (selection and parameter settings), compression strategies.

9. Facilitator guidance (key ideas to draw out from students):

Day 1: Digital Audio standards, mixing, editing, technical appraisal of content for stereo & surround sound.

Day 2: Editing audio-visual content, coordination of team effort, processing sound (individual working).

10. Required Resources: Laboratory Facilities and Teaching Support.

Laboratory Resources:

1. PC Workstations with analogue and digital capture facilities, audio editing using Adobe® Audition® and Soundbooth®.

2. Access to our dedicated media server which will contain libraries of both audio and video clips.

3. headphones.

4. wall mounted 5.1 surround sound system.

Teaching Resources:

5. Preparatory Session; classroom-in-a-book tutorial exercises with supporting audio samples.

6. Day 1; briefing pack containing instructions for the day with source materials.

7. Day 2; briefing pack for the day; additional source materials, team allocations for group work.

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Mini Project- Digital Audio Editing

Section 2. Project Day 1 Brief: Digital Soundscape

You must work individually to create a 5.1 surround-soundscape which provides an audio back-drop for an acoustic journey. An intermediate goal for day 1 is the creation of a stereo soundscape of this journey. The completed soundscape must be optimised for a specified range of delivery platforms. The resulting soundscape could be incorporated into an audio visual sequence.

You may not, under any circumstances, use just one pre-existing audio source file or soundtrack. It is required that you to assemble a variety of sound sources to produce the final work.

Key Tasks

Project Planning; developing an appropriate strategy to meet a specific set of requirements.

Content Capture; selection of appropriate audio samples.

Audio Editing techniques, mixing and effects, stereo imaging, 5.1 surround sound.

Technical Appraisal; processing of source material (selection and parameter settings), compression strategies used.

Tools and Resources

The software package you are to use for this assignment is Adobe® Audition®.

An extensive audio clip library is available with the installed software but you may also use open-source material from the web.

All your audio project files must be backed up regularly to your own USB memory stick/on-line storage area. Be professional and make backups of all your work as you go. Do not simply assume the equipment is going to work 100% all day, it never does!

Day 1 Assessment criteria

All the work you submit must be produced by you working alone within the timetabled six hours for Day 1.

For assessment you are required to;

1. Complete an e-log and submit this on-line by 18.00.

2. Complete the Digital Soundscape Map (handed out with this Brief) and hand it in at 18.00.

3. Post your stereo file on-line by 15.00.

4. Post your 5.1 surround sound file on-line no later than 18.00.

5. Post a completed reflection sheet for Day 1 on-line.

Your progress will be monitored and assessed throughout the day with reference to your e-log plan.

Important criteria for assessment are; the way in which your work has been planned and managed, the selecting and placing of audio clips within the soundscape described by the given narrative of the audio journey you choose to take, the technical parameters considered and the compression strategies used.

Soundscape requirements:

You are to produce a 5.1 soundscape lasting approximately one minute. Your first goal is the creation of a stereo soundscape from which you will develop your 5.1 soundscape.

You should think of this soundscape as being used at the beginning of a radio drama or documentary to set the scene, establish the atmosphere, and create an emotional tone. This is not a ‘signature tune’, more an ambient colouring of the sonic environment in which the programme will take place. It is not simply a piece of music either although there may be some musical elements in the piece.

The piece has to thread an ‘acoustic’ path from one side of the grid below to the other in 5 ‘steps’. The individual descriptions in each square should not be thought of as ‘separate’ places – more landmarks on a continuous journey. Similarly you should be concerned about atmosphere and emotional tone rather than creating a literal sound picture.

When you have completed each soundscape (stereo and 5.1) you must export your work to audio files for two possible delivery platforms;

1. Low-bandwidth internet connection,

2. CD / FM radio medium quality.

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Mini Project- Digital Audio Editing

Section 3. Project Day 2 Brief: Audio Commentary

There are two goals for today’s project:1. Initially you will be working individually to edit audio onto a video clip of approximately 4 minutes duration.

Your specific clip is available on-line via the local server.2. To achieve the second goal you will work individually and in small groups to plan & record a spoken

commentary with supporting background music and sound effects, for a 1 minute video clip. Your final clips are intended for distribution via a digital broadcast application.

NOTE: You must use more than one pre-existing audio source file. You must not use video clips from any other source than the one specified.

Key Tasks: Project Planning; developing an appropriate strategy to meet the brief.

Audio Editing techniques to achieve the first goal.

Compilation of content; working in groups and individually to compile the required audio-visual content in-cluding, background sounds, a spoken commentary and a musical accompaniment to meet goal two.

Technical Appraisal; processing of source material, compression strategies.

Tools and Resources

The software package you are to use for this assignment is Adobe® Audition®.

An extensive audio clip library is available locally with Audition which you must use as your main on-line source although you may use other sources if you wish.

All your audio project files must be backed up regularly to your own USB memory stick/on-line storage area. Be professional and make backups of all your work as you go. Do not simply assume the equipment is going to work 100% all day, it never does!

Team Work

You will be assigned to a team and allocated a time during which you must use the studio to capture your audio commentaries. You must leave the studio at the end of your allotted period so that others may use it.

Assessment criteriaAll the work you submit must be produced by you working alone within the timetabled six hours for Day 2.

For assessment you are required to;

6. Complete an e-log and submit on-line by 18.00.

7. Post both your AV files on-line no later than 18.00.

8. Post a completed reflection sheet for Day 2 on-line.

Your progress will be monitored and assessed throughout the day with reference to your e-log plan.

Important criteria for assessment are; the way in which your work has been planned and managed, the selecting and placing of audio clips to accompany the video clip you have been given, the technical parameters you have considered and the project management strategies you have used.

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Mini Project- Digital Audio Editing

Credits

This resource was created by the University of Hertfordshire and released as an open educational resource through the Open Engineering Resources project of the HE Academy Engineering Subject Centre. The Open Engineering Resources project was funded by HEFCE and part of the JISC/HE Academy UKOER programme.

© University of Hertfordshire 2009

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

The name of the University of Hertfordshire, UH and the UH logo are the name and registered marks of the University of Hertfordshire. To the fullest extent permitted by law the University of Hertfordshire reserves all its rights in its name and marks which may not be used except with its written permission.

The JISC logo is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales Licence.  All reproductions must comply with the terms of that licence.

The HEA logo is owned by the Higher Education Academy Limited may be freely distributed and copied for educational purposes only, provided that appropriate acknowledgement is given to the Higher Education Academy as the copyright holder and original publisher.

Abode, Audition and Soundbooth are either registered trade marks or trade marks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

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