Artefact 2 – Audio for Multimedia - Hellraiser
This is my 2nd Artefact. My Audio for Multimedia piece. Here is where I will be showing how I recreated the scenes sounds in moderate detail.
Why I chose this project:
I chose this project for my portfolio, as "Hellraiser" (1987) is my favourite Movie of all time. One that I have rewatched numerous times. So I thought that I would have a better grasp on how the scene should sound, than I would with any other movie scene. I also think I have produced a good quality finished product, with my recreation, one that should definitely be more than acceptable for HNC level.
The Task:
The task was to create a post production of a video clip that was at the minimum, 3 minutes long. You could not use any of the original audio, but could use the colleges sound library, as well as others from around the web.
Planning:
With my movie clip chosen I began to plan how to recreate some of the noises found throughout. I watched the scene a fair few times, to get a better understanding of how things play out and sound. I then launched SoundQ and started to search for sounds that may have helped me begin my recreation, thinking about possibly layering different animal noises with effects for the monsters scream itself. And from there I kept working on the project until I was happy with my soundscape and noises.
Entire Session Screenshot:
Sounds I'm proud of:
Throughout my project, I have made multiple sounds I am proud of, and I will be displaying them now below.
The Monsters Roar:
The monsters initial roar was created by layering 3 distinct sound effects, that I lifted from SoundQ. It makes use of a mans scream, a wolf howling, and a hawk's screech. The combination of these samples, aswell as slight blending and tasteful use of effects, helps create the monsters distinct roar within the clip. The rest of the monsters grunts and growls, aswell as its overall movement, were a result of 3 samples working together. A wild boars grunts and groans, a demons breathing, aswell as a sample listed as a monster sound. These samples paired with minimal effects and processing, helps give the monster its overbearing and terrifying demeanour throughout. The Movement and slimey nature of the monster was also achieved with the help of a squishing sound effect, aswell as a thumping one, and when EQ'ed correctly, I was presented with the final product, a terrifying, disgusting, almost rhythmic chase.
The Box:
The boxes sound effects were made possible, from the help of a few different samples. The main ones being the shimmer effects, present when the on screen sparkles appear to be shimmering off the sides of the configuration. The scratching and scraping noises, mostly used to coincide with the boxes shifts and turns within its mechanisms. The dark pulsing samples, used to convey the otherworldly and menacing nature of this object. The initial song that is played comes from an old children's wind up toy sample. And finally the electric zaps that appear to bounce off of the box come from a zapping sample, found in SoundQ. All of these samples have been slightly EQ'ed, reverberated or effected in some kind of shape or form, just like others found within my 2 other chosen sounds, to help make the box feel real, and consistent with its on screen appearance.
The Entrance:
For the entrance opening I used a combination of both a pulsing drone sample, aswell as a pitched down tomb door opening sound effect, to convey the large and imposing nature of this opening. I also applied effects such as reverb and an EQ with boosted lows, to further help sell the large nature of this entrance. After the entrance has opened I also make use of a cave ambience sound effect, to show that the mood within this unknown land between, is to be feared, much more so than the characters initial hospital room.
Full Video:
Difficulties:
The 2 main difficulties I ran into were the syncing of on-screen footsteps to their respective sound effects, and the toughness of creating an alarming and frightening atmosphere during, and leading up to the monster chase scene. Overall I fairly enjoyed the work within this unit, and will most likely come back to do more on the topic, later on.