Archive for March, 2007

Okay, maybe not quite.  However, there is a striking similarity.  Animators know that they could work on a shot forever if given the chance.  Continually massaging it, making it better and better.  Sound design/editing seems to be the same way.  I find myself going back and mixing over and over again.  It feels like it is never going to end.  After getting something that works well, I find another option that will (hopefully) be better.  A never ending cycle.  I’ll have to cut myself off at some point.  Just not yet!

Getting sound levels right is trial and error, after all, this isn’t exactly what I do for a living.  It seems to be going very well if I constantly shift between speakers and headphones.  The headphones provide me with a way to get the exact left/right levels and it also allows me to hear screw ups more easily.  They seem to pick up the most subtle issues.  However, most people that see the short won’t be wearing those things.  Because of that, it is important for me to edit via typical speakers and deal with the not-so-sensitive output to make sure it’s working. 

I’m also finding myself re-editing the music.  I had done this a while ago and was really happy with it, however, I’ve had some minor changes here and there.  No big deal, but it is something I thought I was done with. 

Still on track to finish audio next week or a worst case scenario of the week after. 

I woke up this morning contemplating whether I should try and submit the short to Siggraph. They allow work-in-progress as long as it is 80% finished. After a trip to their website, I see that yesterday was the cut off point. Woops.

I’m actually a little relieved that the deadline has passed, because if not, I would of been tempted to submit a WIP. I’m eager to get it out there, but first impressions are important, and showing something unfinished is a good way to set yourself up for disappointment. I’m glad that I lost track of the date. :)

I’m about half way through  sound effects and final audio mix. I would imagine that I’ll finish sometime next week. The only thing left is to render, run the comp scripts, and assemble the shots together. Almost there!

Creating and editing the sound effects is not something I am truly familiar with.  I know what goes into it and it is afterall pretty straightforward.  However, it is time consuming.  I spent yesterday doing a few things.  First, I went around the house and outside recording various noises.  Footsteps, picking up/setting down objects, bird ambient sound, etc, etc.  The recording was actually accomplished with a Sony camcorder.  The quality is pretty darn good.  It is very sensitive, so sensitive that it picks up more noise than I wanted to hear (camera motor sounds, a refrigerator hum clear across the house, etc).  After capturing the video/audio, I edit out the video and trim the audio with Adobe Premiere Elements. 

By combining these recorded elements with a sound effects CD, I’m able to get pretty much everything I need.  It is now just a matter of time.  I’ve done the first minute or two so far.  I’m getting some satisfaction by combining different noises and editing them in strange ways to get the desired effect.  For instance, by putting together a few recordings of scissors cutting through paper, I can use that for the sound of photographs being picked up and set down. 

I’m excited to say that the lighting stage is done and over with.  Not only did I finish that last shot that was being so very uncooperative, I also went through and cleaned up those additional shots that needed a little help.  I’m so happy right now.  Another major stage finished. 

Or is it?  Tomorrow I will spend the morning going through all of the shot comps one after another and checking consistency and making sure they pass the test when seen back to back.  I’ve done this off and on throughout the process, but now that all shots have been lit- I can do it for the entire short.  I can’t imagine there will be many changes. 

Next on the list will be sound effects.  I’ll be going through the house recording audio of my footsteps, doors opening and closing ambient noise, etc, etc.  It will be so much fun to do something so very different.  I was getting sick of lighting and I’m ready for a change of pace. 

I am so close to being done with this short!  Yehaaw

I’m not even done with ‘Till Death Do Us Part and I’m already developing a story for a new short. Yeah, I want to do another. This time, things will be very different. The goal is to do something with very simple characters, very simple props, and very simple lighting. TDDUP’s animation was not the best character animation in the world, after all, I was animating close to a shot a day. It was rushed. However, this new short will be extremely limited animation. The whole point is to create something fast. I’m not exactly sure yet, but I may try to create really strong keyframes and breakdowns with few inbetweens. Snappy pose to pose style work.

The second reason for doing this new short is to get back into doing physical comedy. TDDUP is anything but funny. I need a change of pace. The plan is to create this short (it will be less than a minute long) as quick as possible. We’ll see if I can stick to that recipe or not.