PROJECTS
My Final Project
Inspiration
The inspiration for this entire project comes straight from two of my favorite chord progressions of any key, and that progression is 6m, 4, 1, 5 and 1, 5, 6m, 4. When I picture the intention for execution of this track I personally feel as if there are multiple visions that this track could be used for. I believe this track could be built further into a full song as it has a “Blue October” feel to it, but I mostly feel that this song is perfect for a short commercial or ad such as an Amazon or UPS advertisement. This is mainly due to the sampler track that is used combined with the feel of the song, and the way it builds dynamically as if you are climbing a mountain and have achieved a difficult victory.
Rhythm/Bass
Bars 1 through 16 are a softer sustaining feel for everything rhythm related that eventually builds and explodes in Bars 16-32. This is like this for both Rhythm and the Bass. Bass was recorded as a MIDI virtual instrument and helped the drive of the rhythm section during the build-up, and the bass guitar on the second 16 bars really helped the last 16 bars achieve that ascension to plateau feel. All rhythm consists of Kick, Snare, Hi-Hat, and Clap Tracks. All 4 rhythm tracks are MIDI virtual instruments.
Harmony/Melody
The Harmony consists of a mic’d Acoustic, Grand Piano, and Electric Guitar. Acoustic Guitar is an audio track, the Grand Piano of Harmony group is a MIDI Virtual Instrument, and the Grand Piano (MIDI TRACK) in the Melody group plays like a little arpeggiating 8th note melody. Electric Guitar one EG input through an Audio Interface then a duplicate of the recorded electric was created and the audio was clipped and transposed in several areas to create the effect of a Rhythm and Lead Electric Guitar. The rhythm track is in the harmony group, and the lead EG track is in the melody group.
Recording/Synth/Sampler
The Audio Recording Group Consists of 3 different Background Vocal tracks. All 3 Tracks were recorded using my voice, and are at different ranges. These tracks are Audio based. When I recognized how the melody sounded somewhat “Blue October-ish” I really wanted to emulate that sound with the overlayed vocals. These serve as “Background Vocals.” The Synth Tremolo Pad and the Smooth Sustained Pad make up the Synth Group and both have a slightly overdriven feel. Both of these tracks I made a lot of adjustments to both to obtain the sound and feel I wanted for both tracks. The synths are original and are MIDI tracks. I also added an Apple Audio Loop (Tryst Cello 01) which is a cello loop clipped and rejoined together in several areas as well as transposed. I did this because I really wanted some kind of strings on this track. My Sampler is “Andre Lyric 12” used in the form of a loop in the key of C which was uploaded into the sampler. I used this sampler because I really wanted some Lyrics in the song but I honestly did not know what to write into this, and so when I was searching for a loop for my sampler track I went through every Audio Loop trying to find something new and authentic to add to the session, and when I found this loop I quickly realized that the key, as well as temple tempo it is being sung, fits and blends into the entire song very well, and now this whole song is glued together by the sampler I chose which ultimately simulates a lead VOX. It is extremely catchy to the point that my children have been singing this around the house when they hear it.
Processing
Aux Tracks 8 & 9 (Bus 8 & 9). Consists of two Time-based and Modulation effects plug- ins in which most tracks are bussed to one or both of these two Aux Channels. Bus 8 is the ChromaVerb Logic Local Plug-in and Bus 9 is the Chorus Logic Local Plug-in. The Aux channel faders help adjust how much of the effects signal is being processed or sent to the track. These are the tracks using reverb and chorus:
REVERB:
1) Kick
2) Snare
3) Hi-Hat
4) Clap
6) Harmony (Mic'd Live Acoustic) 7)Harmony (Grand Piano)
8) Harmony (EG RHYTHM)
9) Melody (Grand Piano2)
10) Melody (EG LEAD)
11) Audio Recording BGV (LowRangeVOX)
12) Audio Recording BGV (MidRangeVOX)
13) Audio Recording BGV (HighRangeVOX)
14) Original Synth (Synth Tremolo Pad)
17) My Sampler (Simulating Lead VOX)
CHORUS:
5) Bass
11) Audio Recording BGV (LowRangeVOX)
12) Audio Recording BGV (MidRangeVOX)
13) Audio Recording BGV (HighRangeVOX)
14) Original Synth (Synth Tremolo Pad)
17) My Sampler (Simulating Lead VOX)
EQ/DYNAMICS:
The Following tracks have EQ:
4) CLAP, 15) Original Synth (Smooth Distortion Pad), and 17) My Sampler (Simulating Lead VOX.)
The Following tracks have Compression: 7) Harmony (Grand Piano), 9) Melody (Grand Piano2), 14) Original Synth (Synth Tremolo Pad), 15) Original Synth (Smooth Distortion Pad), 17) My Sampler (Simulating Lead VOX.)
Sound Design For Games Demo Reel
Demo Reel Description & Overview
During the month of April 2024 I created sounds and sound effects for 5 different game projects. While constructing all the necessary final assets I actually found the mixing and blending of process for these projects satisfying and refreshing. The first clip shows a health power up being received by the player. I utilized a blend of sample sound sources to achieve the final assets for this. The sound of the air hiss and the satisfied “Ahhh” were important to add in as it really brought to life the “refreshment” of receiving this health power up. Clip number 2 was definitely a challenge mostly out of all of them. The button depressing gives a a Sci-Fi feel. I utilized a stapler and vocal sounds to create those. The lever motion sound was a drawer opening blended with an index card being swiped across my desk. The squeak is actually a slowed door hinge squeak. For Clip 3 the Spaceship Loop actually was my microwave running, a window A/C unit running, and the white noise of my youngest daughters hatch machine. I blended the sounds and then I actually filtered out a lot of the high frequencies, and to create that low rumble feel I actually used sub harmonics to bring out some of the ultra low frequencies. For the Black hole in clip 4 I blended several synth sounds in alchemy and scooped out some high end to keep it from being way too “shimmery” and bright. However I really love the mismatched high end shimmer against the vacuum-y type sounds of this because it also makes the blackhole mysterious as well. Clip 5 is my favorite. The laser gun sounds. In this clip there are 3 separate sounds this gun fires at. The first one is done with only recorded sounds on a Zoom H5 recording device. I record for the initial sound transient on this 2 different floor toms, a high tom, and a snare drum. For the tail on this sound I actually recorded a small kitchen knife rubbing against a glass bottle and then on the second one I blew into the glass bottle creating a end whistle train sound. I then blended everything together and edited accordingly. For the second sound I actually used all bass drum and laser synths in Alchemy on Logic. Then exported everything and imported into ProTools for proper editing and mixing. For the last sound, which is honestly my favorite one out of all of three of the laser gun sounds, this was a combo of recordings on the Zoom H5 recorder, and the tail was a combo of synth lasers sci-fi sounds on Alchemy inside of Logic. For the transient sounds recorded I depressed a stapler with force producing a concussive low end sound as well as a cocking kind of sound. The second recorded sound was actually a trash can hit with my hand cupped. Again, I was going for more of a concussive low-end type of sound.I blended all of these sounds between the Zoom and the Synth sounds, and honestly got a laser gun sound I loved. On every percussive sound for every laser gun sound I actually used a FET compressor (CLA-1176) with the attack all the way up to 7 and the release at no less or more than 1. This causes the sound to be super but thick as well giving the sound more body. I used Logic Pro and Alchemy VST to create all of my virtual sounds, and then exported out to ProTools to mix the sounds. All of the source editing and mixing for every sound here was done inside of ProTools, and all final assets were exported out of ProTools. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy the demo reel!
-For collaboration or help with your music or sounds. Email me anytime at: csszumlanski@student.fullsail.edu