Spatial Audio Design/Task 3
16/11/2025-25/11/2025(Week9-Week10)
Cai Zihan / 0378043
Spatial Audio Design / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / Taylor's University
TASK 3/Exercise
TABLE OF CONTENT
INSTRUCTIONS
LECTURES
TASK 2
FEEDBACK
REFLECTION
INSTRUCTIONS
<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WPHgYKTIP2EFPSKVNlEs_bYvcckEJvH_/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>
LECTURES
1. Noise Reduction (Reduce Background Noise)
• Step 1: Select the background noise sampling area (pure noise segments without speech)
◦ Operation path: Effects → Noise Reduction → Capture Noise Print
• Step 2: Select the entire audio file and apply noise reduction
◦ Operation path: Effects → Noise Reduction → Noise Reduction (process), adjust parameters according to the actual noise level
2. Volume and Imperfection Optimization (Highlight Key Elements + Clean Up Noise)
• Volume Adjustment:
◦ Prioritize amplifying core content (such as speech segments), rather than simply matching waveform size
◦ Always listen and compare to ensure key sounds are clearly identifiable
• Imperfection Cleanup:
◦ Identify and remove noise such as breathing sounds and lip-smacking sounds
◦ Recommended Tool: Dynamic Effects (AutoGate function)
◦ Function: Sets a threshold; audio below the threshold (such as faint breathing sounds) will be automatically filtered/removed
◦ Purpose: Quickly clean up background noise and keep the audio clean (see Figure 1.1: Using the AutoGate function)
3. Dynamic Effects Adjustment (Balance Audio + Preserving Texture)
(1) Compressor (Amplitude → Dynamic Effects)
• Function: Automatically reduces audio exceeding the set threshold, making the waveform more uniform
• Precautions:
◦ Avoid a completely square waveform; preserve the natural dynamics of the sound (except for special needs)
◦ After compression, the track volume can be appropriately increased, but ensure that noises such as breathing sounds are not amplified
◦ Key parameters: Adjust the threshold and ratio to find volume balance
◦ When to operate: Use after manually optimizing the audio for better results
(2) Deesser (Removing “sss” sounds)
• Function: Eliminates sharp “sss” noises produced by letters such as “S” and “X” in speech
• Operation path: Effects → Amplitude → Deesser
• Adjustment points:
◦ Precisely set the center frequency and bandwidth to match the audio frequency segment corresponding to the hiss
◦ Listen after processing to ensure that it does not affect the overall quality of the speech
4. Frequency Balance (Basic and Treble Adjustment)
• First step: Use the frequency analysis function to view the audio frequency distribution
• Core adjustments:
◦ Reduce excessive bass: To avoid a muddy sound, use an equalizer to reduce low frequencies and improve clarity.
◦ Frequency balance reference: Equalizer setting "2" (mid-frequency) reaches its peak, then gradually decreases, and moderately rebounds at setting "5" (mid-high frequency).
◦ Key principle: Refer to the above guidelines, but rely on actual listening tests; trust your ears' judgment.
III. Summary of Operational Logic
1. Noise reduction (remove background interference) → 2. Imperfection removal (remove background noise) → 3. Dynamics adjustment (balance volume + remove hiss) → 4. Frequency calibration (optimize high and low frequencies). Always listen after each step to ensure the audio is clear, natural, and distortion-free.
TASK 3
Audio Storytelling
In this project, we had to choose a story to narrate and voice. So we had to find sound effects online to enhance the storytelling. I also had to create sound effects for the audio space (5.1).
I decided to read the famous story "The Three Little Pigs."
This is the video I chose for the story and pictures:
http://xhslink.com/o/A6QTEKjUiOx
I recorded the narration and the characters' dialogue separately.
In the tenth week of class, I showed my Project3 to the teacher. The professor said that my voice was sometimes unstable and sometimes very loud, so I had to keep it stable. I used the compressor I learned in the previous week's class. Then, there were also some hissing sounds. So I went back and corrected my homework again.
To bring up the compressor: Click on the "Effects" option in the top menu bar, select "Amplitude and Compression", and choose the regular "Compressor", the "Tube Modeling Compressor" with warming adjustment, or the "Multi-Band Compressor" suitable for complex audio as needed.
And in order to make the human voice more stable, I made adjustments
Click on [Effects] - [Noise Reduction/Restoration] - [Noise Reduction], obtain the noise sample and apply it, and you can remove continuous noises such as current sounds and fan sounds
Use compression and limiting to level out volume fluctuations
Select [Effect] - [Amplitude and Pressure Limit] - [Compressor]. Using the parameters previously suitable for the human voice can make the volume of strong and weak more balanced
Fine-tune the details to improve the stability effect
If there are individual tail sounds with insufficient volume, I shorten the extra mute through [Effects] - [Diagnosis] - [Remove Mute (Processing)] to make the pause rhythm of the vocals more stable.
Final
<iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oppZU_Syy0cJGET7MSJzsN5NCW7uGPJc/preview" width="640" height="480" allow="autoplay"></iframe>
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/181OYr6y2k8xn3lV7LHyrJ6aNL0m1BSyC?usp=drive_link
Feedback
Experience
This audio production assignment proved to be incredibly fulfilling. Beyond experimenting with sound mixing and editing, I’ve always been fascinated by voice acting, so getting the chance to lend my voice to characters and shape their personalities through tone and delivery made the experience truly meaningful. On the whole, this project sharpened my skills in interpreting script nuances and recognizing how adjusted vocal styles—from energetic and playful to calm and authoritative—can resonate with different demographic groups. Moreover, it offered practical insights into curating music that aligns seamlessly with a project’s theme and emotional tone, helping me refine my ability to choose soundtracks that enhance rather than overshadow the core content.
Observations
This assignment made me realize that dubbing is a very complex process. It not only requires different emotions but also needs to adjust many things in the later stage, such as the stability of the human voice.
Discoveries
This learning experience made me realize for the first time that dubbing and creating different sound effects require finding a lot of audio
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