Sound project

For this project I chose to create the soundtrack for the fight scene between the granny and the skeleton. Creating sound and foley for an animation was something completely new to me, as I have previously relied on pre made sound tracks or simply downloaded sounds off the Internet. After attending the workshops in the recording studio I felt confident, with setting up the equipment and being able to work within the software ‘ProTools’ in the control room. For the majority of the time we were in the studio I worked in the recording room making the sound effects in time to the track. However my group swapped around and I operated the control room when the voice actors were performing. 

We had two voice actors in the piece, Callum was cast as the Skelton as he had the lowest voice for the deep grunts, and Honour was cast as the granny as she had the highest voice and the most consistent voice acting. It was important to us that their voices were very different in pitch so that the viewer wasn't confused about who was making a noise or speaking at any one time. The noises they made included: hissing, grunting, growling, snoring, screaming and heavy breathing. Very little dialogue was exchanged apart from the granny saying ‘oh’, ‘oi’ and ‘you little shit’. 

We used a whole range of objects, most of the objects we used were from the foley cupboard, with the exceptions being a packet of crisps and plastic cutlery. When the Skelton draws his ax back and swipes forward in the opening shot, we recorded the noise of a knife blade being quickly drawn across a table. We used a knife as it creates a metallic sounding noice, as well as conveying the swoosh as the ax going through the air. For the chair sounds we rubbed a sponge fabric together which created the friction of the chair rocking and creaking. And when the granny jumps of the chair, we used the sound of us jumping off a flat ironing board. We chose to use an ironing board as it has springs, so when you jump off, it creates this springing noise. 

For the main punches and kicks, we recorded us punching pillows and towels. We chose to punch soft items as both figures had clothing on, so the punches would have been diffused. When the light in the room gets hit it starts to swing, we recorded a metal chain swinging and attached a weight to the bottom. We did this so that it swung like a pendulum, having the same weight of a lightbulb and therefore the same swing. 

For the smashes of things falling over we used a combination of objects. We dropped books ,wooden boxes, chairs and photo frames and in protools layered the sounds over each other which made the sounds much deeper and more convincing. 

For the glass smashing on the TV and the lightbulb cracking we dropped and flicked plastic cutlery. This was very effective when layered up and made louder. 

For Fire which came from the broken TV, we rustled a packet or crisps and also dry leaves and straw. These sounds together created the perfect crackling noises of a fire starting. 

For the background music I chose a dramatic piece of classical music. The music builds up going it time with the fight scene, as the tension rises towards the end when the granny hits the skeleton on the head. I also chose classical music as it would have been something that the granny would have listened to in her living room. 

Overall I'm pleased with my project! I learnt a lot of new skills along with having a lot of fun.