Fine-Tuning Audio: Adjusting Volume, Pan, and EQ for a Jetplane Sound
In Week 4 of our Sonic Design course, we worked on refining our skills with a new audio file – the sound of a jetplane. Given that the original audio was extremely loud, we focused on learning how to adjust the volume for different parts of the file to create a balanced, more pleasant listening experience.
Beyond volume control, we also explored other important settings like panning and equalization (EQ). By applying these techniques, we were able to make the audio sound more dynamic and realistic, enhancing the jetplane sound as it moved through the stereo field and tweaking the EQ to ensure the frequencies were well-balanced.
This exercise was a valuable experience in learning how to manipulate sound in a more controlled way, improving both the clarity and quality of the audio. Below, I’ll share my approach and the results of the adjustments I made during this process.
1.(Background Audio)https://freesound.org/s/617137
Here’s a breakdown of the audio elements I used:
Background Audio – The deep, atmospheric "mmm" sound serves as the ambient noise for the entire experiment room, giving it a mysterious and otherworldly vibe. This audio plays continuously throughout the entire minute.
Talking Sound – To add human interaction, I included a short dialogue between a male and a female, representing two people inside the experiment room. This brings life and narrative to the soundscape.
Aquatic Bubble Sound – There’s an object in the middle of the room submerged in a water tank, and the bubble sound plays continuously to reflect this.
Walking Sound – To make it sound like someone is walking into the experiment room, I added the sound of footsteps approaching. This helps to create a sense of movement and direction, enhancing the realism of the environment.
Sci-Fi Engine Sound – A futuristic engine hum adds to the high-tech feel of the room. This sound plays a few times during the minute, implying the presence of advanced machines.
Beeping Sound – To signify the presence of machines monitoring the experiment, I included intermittent beeping noises. These sounds also play repeatedly throughout the audio to create a sense of activity and functionality.
The combination of these sounds resulted in a detailed, layered audio file that effectively brings the futuristic experiment room to life. Adjusting the volume and panning for different elements made it possible to create a more immersive and dynamic listening experience, and learning how to use Adobe Audition to manage these layers was a valuable part of the process.
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| Fig 11.1 Given Environment #2 concept art image |
Here’s a breakdown of the sounds I used for this environment:
Laser Shot – To represent the sharp, sudden bursts of lasers inside the lab, I added this laser shot sound. It plays periodically throughout the soundscape to emphasize the presence of active laser machines.
Laser Continuous Sound – This sound helped to create a more constant background hum of laser activity, enhancing the feeling that the lab is full of high-energy technology.
Scanning Sound 01 – Scanning machines are integral to the environment, so I used this sound to simulate the process of the machines scanning various objects or subjects in the lab.
Scanning Sound 02 – Another variation of scanning sounds was added to bring diversity to the machine noises. This layered effect makes it sound like multiple machines are operating at the same time, adding depth to the room.
Scanning Sound 03 – To further build complexity in the audio, I incorporated a third scanning sound. The combination of these scanning effects helps the room feel more dynamic, with overlapping technologies at work.
Talking Sound – Similar to Environment 1, I included a conversation between a male and female character, but for this environment, I added an echo effect to give the voices a distant, blurry feel. This gives the impression that they’re talking in a large, open lab space.
Machine Sound – To complete the environment, I added a subtle machine hum, providing a steady, ambient background sound that runs throughout the entire audio file. This constant hum ties together the various laser and scanning effects, reinforcing the sense of an active, futuristic lab.
By layering these sounds and carefully adjusting the EQ and volume levels, I was able to craft a detailed audio experience that captures the feel of a laboratory filled with advanced technology. The laser and scanning sounds play intermittently to create a busy, mechanical atmosphere, while the conversation with added echo creates a sense of human presence in the high-tech environment.
These are the audio file for those two environment:
Environment 1:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nwuNspsiega1mIJqNlYSgrWjZ9ZeGOm3/view?usp=sharing
Environment 2:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qjbdE9OZdrFhYkGm95-jrsW1_PzXTmJM/view?usp=sharing
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