Topic outline

  • General

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    Unit 5: digital sound

    Introduction
    In this unit you will learn about different types of sound, sound files and uses of sound. You will create original sounds for a brief and edit your sounds to meet the requirements of the specification.


    Learning outcomes
    After completing this unit you will be able to:

    • Understand the technology required to produce digital sound files
    • Analyse effective use of digital sound
    • Use computer software to create digital sound content


    Assessment Objectives
    Save the Assessment Objectives and Tasks document to your Unit 5 folder. It is very important that you understand which assessment objectives you are meeting with each task.

    Assessment Objectives and Tasks

  • Topic 1

    A01: explore

    What is Digital Sound?

    link: What is sound?

    Digital sound can be defined as:

    Refers to the reproduction and transmission of sound stored in a digital format. This includes CDs as well as any sound files stored on a computer. In contrast, the telephone system (but not ISDN) is based on an analog representation of sound. In sound recording and reproduction systems, digital audio refers to a digital representation of the audio waveform for processing, storage or transmission. When analog sound waves are stored in digital (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/digital_audio.html)

    You can also read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio

    Task 1

    For this task you can either use Prezi or PowerPoint. You will need to create an account at http://prezi.com/, use your school email address for the contact email if you are going to use Prezi.

    You should create a presentation called 'The purpose and features of digital sound '. You must make sure that your presentation covers the points on the left below AND EXPLAINS THEM IN FULL:

    SOUND

    1. Where, when and how digital sounds are used
    2. Different types of sound
    3. What effects the quality of sound

    EXAMPLES (not to be copied)

    1. Radio as a jingle
    2. Background music on a radio show while someone speaking
    3. Digital, FM or AM frequency on the radio effects the sound quality

    You can add text, images, video, and animation to your Presentation. Sound can also be added if you use PowerPoint. Once you have completed your presentation you should print to pdf if on Prezi and save it into you Unit 5 AO1 folder.

    Once you have created your presentation, print it as a PDF and save it into your A01 folder (make sure you choose the print option in the prezzi edit section to insure all of your pages are included). You will also need to create a word document explaining what our preentation is about, with a link to your presentation.

    Task 2

    You should create an interactive poster for use in music shops to help customers identify equipment and technology needed to record and produce digital sounds. You must make sure that your interactive glogster poster covers the points below.

    Title: Equipment and technology needed to record and produce digital sounds.

    • A range of computer hardware that can be used to record sound.

    • Sound and audio devices and their properties

    • Information for recording sound e.g. sample rates and bit depth, volume and recording control, recording equipment & peripheral devices.

    • Information about different sound file formats and sound storage

    • Software that can be used to edit sound (Advantages and disadvantages)
      For you should explain a minimum of three of the points for each of the sections in detail.

  • Topic 2

    Ao2

    All of your work for Ao2 Plan should be saved into an A02 folder in your Unit 5 Digital Sound folder.

    Client Brief

    As a freelance designer you have been asked by the local council to create a range of sounds for an exciting multimedia Dinosaur Exhibition which will showcase a selection of dinosaurs and skeletons and explore the lives of the animal.

    The exhibition will be hosted indoors and will take on a woodland theme with various robotic models, video presentations, skeletons and displays.

    You have been asked to produce a range of sounds to help enhance the resources within the exhibition. This will involve producing six separate sound files.

    Required sounds

    You will produce 6 sounds:

    Sound 1: A voiceover introduction welcoming visitors, maximum 15 seconds

    Sound 2: Background music for a walkway with no more than 3 loops, maximum 1 minute

    Sound 3: First Scene with two dinosaurs

    Sound 4: Sound effect for first scene

    Sound 5: Final Scene of meteor hitting earth

    Sound 6: Sound effect for second scene

    Task 3
    Using the planning form outline your initial ideas for the sounds you will produce. It is important that you work out the tasks you will have to carry out and their approximate timings.

    Planning form

  • Topic 3

    A03

    All of your work for A03 Create, should be saved into an A03 folder in your Unit 5: Digital sound folder. you should also create a folder called recordings and save all of your original sounds there.

    There are a number of sites that you can get sounds/music from that do not have copyright issues. I have gathered a lot these on to one site. Click the image below to take you to this site with lots of audio recources on:

    Task 4 a)
    You will need to create a Reference of Sources document, this document should be used to record the sources of your sound files.

    Task 4 b)
    You should now record and source sounds that you will use to create your planned original sounds for the brief. Make sure that you save all of these sounds into a recordings folder. 

    Task 5
    You should edit your sounds to fit your plan and to meet the client brief.

    Task 6
    You must test your sound files checking for clarity and quality.

    As you complete tasks 4 to 6 you should gather evidence using the create and testing document.

    Create and test document

  • Topic 4

    A04

    All of your work for A04: Review, should be saved into an A04 folder in your Unit 5: Digital Sound folder.

    For tasks 7 to 9 you should complete the below template:

    Review document

    Task 7
    You must obtain feedback from your client. It is up to you to decide the best way to gather the feedback. Once you have discussed your work with your client you need to respond to their comments - do you agree with your client? why?

    Task 8
    You need to consider a minimum of three constraints that you have delt with during this project. For example asset manipulation, file formats, compression techniques, permission and subject matter/location, copyright, IPR, trademarks etc.

    Task 9
    Review your work. Are you happy with the end result? what would you do differently if you had more time?

  • Topic 5

    Task 9

    Once you have completed all of the tasks you need to complete the OCR evidence check list. Make sure that you list where the evidence for eash of the assessment objectives can be found.

    OCR evidence check list

  • Topic 6

  • Topic 7

  • Topic 8

  • Topic 9

  • Topic 10