Project 1 Audio Dubbing & Sound Shaping

17.05.2025-21.05.2025 ( Week 3 - Week 5)

WANG JINYI / 0374697

VSP60104 / Video and Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Project 1 Audio Dubbing & Sound Shaping

TABLE OF CONTENT

Lecture

Instructions

Project 1

Reflection

Lectures

Instructions

Project 1

Exercise 1: Audio Dubbing

For our Project 1, our team was assigned the task of audio dubbing a scene from the film Everything Everywhere All at Once. The clip we received was completely silent, so our objective was to rebuild the entire audio experience from scratch — including dialogue, sound effects, and ambient audio — in a way that closely matches the visual content.

The video has a total duration of 35 seconds, and we divided the scene evenly among group members, with each person responsible for approximately 7 seconds of the sequence. Each member had to independently handle voice acting, sound design, and audio synchronization for their assigned portion.

Although the dubbing work was done individually, the sound effect collection was a collaborative effort. As a team, we searched for suitable audio clips — such as footsteps, impacts, rustling, and ambient textures — using Freesound.org. All useful sound effect links were gathered and shared in a group spreadsheet, allowing everyone to access and download the materials needed for their segments.

 I import them into Premiere Pro, adjust the audio tracks, and apply bass enhancement to the male character’s voice. I will ensure that all audio elements — including dialogue and sound effects — are synchronized accurately with the characters’ lip movements and on-screen actions, aiming to replicate the authentic cinematic experience of the original scene.

Overall, it was a fun but challenging project. We learned a lot about how sound helps tell a story, and how to work together while still being responsible for our own parts.

Youtube Link：https://youtu.be/4oR453fZnP8

Exercise 2 Sound Shaping

Instructions:

Record your own voice for 10 seconds for Project 1 Exercise 2 sound shaping.

1. Voice of phone call
2. Voice coming from inside of the closet
3. Underground cave
4. Alien/ Orc voice

Process

1. Voice of phone call.

2. Voice coming from inside of the closet.

For the phone call and closet effects, I learned how important the mid-range frequencies (500Hz–2kHz) are in carrying speech clarity.  By reducing the bass and treble, and slightly boosting the mids, I was able to simulate the limited frequency range of a phone speaker or a muffled closet environment.  It made me realize how minimal adjustments in EQ can quickly change the “location” of a voice in the listener's mind.

3. Underground cave.

The bathroom or cave effect introduced me to reverb settings, particularly decay time and pre-delay, which control how long and when the echo is perceived.  A longer decay time created the illusion of a large, empty space.  This effect was effective in placing the sound in a realistic environment, making the audio more immersive.

4. Alien/ Orc voice

The most creative and challenging part was designing the Alien or Orc voice.  I combined pitch shifting (lowering semitones to make the voice deeper), EQ tweaks (boosting bass or treble depending on the character), and modulation effects like chorus or flanger to build a unique sound texture.

Drive link of Voice Shaping: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rA9bThdShulnAwkNhv7czdTaOo8RzUuG?usp=share_link

Final Audio

1. Voice of phone call.

2. Voice coming from inside of the closet.

3. Underground cave.

4. Alien/ Orc voice.

Reflection

Exercise 1:

This project has given me a brand-new understanding of the role of sound in films. Rebuilding just 7 seconds of audio requires a great deal of detailed work, from choosing the right sound effects to ensuring that every dialogue matches the actor's lips and emotions.

One of the biggest challenges is synchronizing all the content with the visual effects. Even a small mistake in timing can make people feel something is not right. I also have to learn how to adjust the audio level and intonation in Premiere Pro, especially for male characters. The technical aspect is completely new to me, but I really enjoy the process of my own exploration.Working in a team has also taught me how to share resources effectively without having to repeat each other's work. Meanwhile, personal responsibility makes us accountable for our own parts.

Exercise 2:

Through this exercise, I explored how EQ, pitch, and reverb can completely transform a voice to suit different environments or characters. By adjusting mid-range frequencies, I created a phone call and muffled closet effect. Reverb helped simulate the echo of a bathroom or cave. The most interesting part was designing the Alien/Orc voice—I used pitch shifting to deepen the tone, EQ to shape the texture, and effects like distortion or flanger for a more dramatic result. This task showed me how sound editing is not just technical but also creative and expressive.