Final Sound Design Rubric

Here is the final rubric for your performance on Thursday. Please use the rubric to help put the best performance on as possible!

MS Performances: 
Emma
Dani & Louisa
Duda & Sofia S.
Sofia O. & Maria Paula
Agustina & Olivia

HS Performances: 
Chihiro & Montse
Siyeon & MinSeo
Artur

Dress Rehearsal

Now that you are ready with your sounds, you will need to add them to a Media Player and run a dress rehearsal.

Once you have all of your sounds/music recorded, import your sounds to a theatre playback program. MAKE a playlist in order of the cues you made on the Sound Cue Sheet. (Make sure all of your sounds are the correct sound files--MP3 or WAVs.) Many people use programs like iTunes, but for theatre shows, we use the following program to allow better flexibility: 

MultiPlay (PCs) or 

QLab (Macs) **NOTE: I had a lot of trouble with this version of QLab. (It's quite a bit more complicated that previous versions.) So, I would recommend using iTunes if you haven't already started working with QLab.

Sound Board Operator

1) ONE member of your team (the sound board operator) will need to download to their computer.

2) Sound Board operator should upload the sounds and make sure they are in the correct order

3) Play with using the GO buttons and how to move quickly to next cue.

Stage Manger -- You are in charge of "calling"the cues. You need to prepare your script to be able to communicate clearly with your Sound Board Operator.

There are two terms you will need to know "Standby" and "GO!" You will need to annotate your script in the following manner (using your pencil).

Stage Manager: (a few lines before the line to have the cue play) "STANDBY Q# __________"

Sound Board Operator: (moving hand to cue/go button) "Standing by."

Stage Manger: (at the exact moment the sound should play) "Q# GO!"

Sound Board Operator: (pushes the GO button)

________________________

Once you have completed all of these actions, you should practice running the cues on your own and then with the actors! 

How to Mix Using Audacity

Link to Practice Sound Files

After downloading Audacity, you can IMPORT the practice sounds and begin experimenting.

Once you have a mix you like, you will need to EXPORT (as a WAV). Be sure to include YOUR name in the practice file!

Then you can upload into the Practice Sample File!

Example of Final Mix.
(Sources: Mixed using sounds from Soundbible.com & Bensound.com)
_____________________________________

If you get lost, here's a quick refresher to help you out! LINK

Audacity Interface

source: howtogeek.com

1. Audio controls: The standard controls – pause, play, stop, skip backward, skip forward, and record – for the project as a whole.
2. Toolbar: In order, from top-left to bottom-right: Selection, Envelope, Draw, Zoom, Time Shift, and Multi-Tool Mode.
3. Level meters: The left one is for output, and the right is for input.  Clicking on the the input meter will actively monitor audio levels, and right clicking will give you options to change the refresh rate.
4. Level sliders: Change the volume level for both output and input, and the drop-down menu to the immediate right is to select an input.
5. Shortcut bar: Shortcuts to quick actions – such as cut, paste, insert silence, etc – and for zooming.
6. Audio tracks: The top of this area has the timeline, and any audio tracks will appear here.  More on that in a bit.
7. Selection tools: Here, you can choose where to start selection by time, and then choose to put in an end time, or a length of selection.

How to do Sound Design...

When you are creating sound design, you need to be aware of the process. Here's the basics of what you need to do!

A) Read the SCRIPT! Each time with a different purpose:
    1) Understanding the story
    2) Think about MOODS in each scene (and when they change). Identify the specific moments for specific SOUNDS--jot these down in the margins or on a DRAFT Sound Cue Sheet. Sample Sound Cue Sheet.

B) Meet with the director & find out what her/his vision is for the show. What types of music, sounds and mood does s/he want to bring out?

C)Refine and complete your Sound Cue Sheet (your planned cues). Here is the cue sheet we will be using. Notice there are LETTERS for cues (numbers are used for lighting cues!)

Solo = 10-15 Cues including:
Partners = 15 Cues including: 

• At least one (1) voiceover (Label with "VO")
• At least two-four (2-4)  homemade sound effects (Label with "Homemade") 
• At least three (3) edited sound effects (Labeled as "FXed")
• At least one (1) mixed music piece (Label as "Mixed". Be sure to include original in the sound folder)

D) FIND or MAKE your Sound Cues! Decide which cues are going to be "LIVE" and which will be recorded! Pay attention to using sound which you have the right to use! Be aware of copyright laws and the fact that artists work is not free. You must have permission to use work!

Some open source sites:
SoundCloud
Jamendo
Freesound.org'
Soundbible.com
BBC Sound Effects Library

How to MIX/Edit Cues:
Audacity is a great program for recording any sound and mixing it together;
GarageBand is helpful for making your own music and tunes, but only available on Macs.
LMMS is an open-source program that those with Windows can use. (Those interested in more programs can check them out here)

E) Save your edited sounds into Google Drive. Make sure you label them correctly. For example:
A.PreshowMusic.mp3 (CueLetter.Description.mp3).

F) Once you have all of your sounds/music recorded, import your sounds to a theatre playback program. MAKE a playlist in order of the cues you made on the Sound Cue Sheet. (Make sure all of your sounds are the correct sound files--MP3 or WAVs.) Many people use programs like iTunes, but for theatre shows, programs like MultiPlay (PCs) or QLab (Macs) allow better flexibility for our needs.)

G)  Try it out in the space! Run practices with speakers, microphones & levels.

H) Practice with actors to get your timing! This is known as a TECHNICAL REHEARSAL!

Scripts & Partners

We're on a Mission -- Maria Paula & Sofia O.
The Game -- Agustina & Olivia
Packing -- Duda & Sofia S.
Popular -- Emma
Clarissa & Rose --MinSeo & Siyeon
First Date? -- Louisa & Dani
Roots -- Montse & Chi

Sound Design Summative

For this project you and your partner will use digital sound tools and your creativity to design the sound for a short play. You both will be designers, but for the performance, one will be the stage manager & the other will be the sound board operator.

You will have to select a short play to use. Below are a list of possible resources. Keep in mind that you will be sound designing the play, so choose wisely! No two groups can use the same play! 

YouthPlays 2 Person Scenes

For your final project you must select a script that will allow for 15+ sound cues (if you're working alone 10-15).  A total of only 2 cues can be repeated cues. Your design should include sound effects, voiceover & music. This material should come from a combination of sources including material that you record, pull from pre-recorded music and sound effects, and synthesized/sampled material.  

You must include the following:

• At least 1 voiceover
• At least 2-4 homemade sound effects
• At least 1 MIXED sound effect
• A range of music and sound effects

Your sound effects and music MUST be royalty free or creative commons. You cannot simply use YouTube songs!

This is a storytelling exercise as much as a digital sound project. In many cases, the script for the scene you choose may tell you very little specifically about what sounds should be heard but will tell you the story that needs to be told. It is up to you to determine how to tell this story with sound and which sounds and digital effects you will use.

Important Dates

Script Chosen --Due at start of class Thursday, May 16

Preliminary Cue Sheet Complete– Due end of class Thursday, May 16

Designer’s Concept—A description of the mood/tone for sounds you would like to have-- Due end of class Monday, May 20

Sound Design Folder Complete—Sounds labeled correctly; in chronological order of cues--Due at start of class Wednesday, May 22
Dress Rehearsal, Friday, May 24
Final Performances, Tuesday, May 28 & Thursday, May 30

Expectations:

• Clear concept for the tone/mood for the show seen throughout the design
• Sound quality in recording & editing
• Overall Organization & Formatting
• Punctuality & Professionalism

Sound Design

A. Sound Design: Robert Dudzic



B. Sound Design: Robert Kaplowitz

After watching your assigned video, leave a comment with the following:
*2 things you realized or learned
*1 question/wondering that the video inspired

Old Time Radio Shows & Sound Design

Watch and see how sound design was done BEFORE modern technology! How many sounds can you hear?

Audio Research -- Sound Design

The original slides (and links) are in MS. GRIMES' INSPIRATIONAL NOTEBOOK on the sidebar ----------->>>

Alice in Wonderland -- Final Costume Summative

You have been working quite hard on the costume designs over the past few months! I have received so many positive comments about how VIBRANT and WONDERful the costumes were! You should feel proud of your work!!  Parabens!

You will be given a summative grade for each of the three areas. Here is the rubric.

Here are the final elements you need to turn in for your final summative grades. Due at the start of class on Wednesday, May 8.

1) Original Design -- Include your original designs, along with labeled elements & visual research
2) *Realized Costume -- A photo image of the finalize costume (*This will also be assessed with the Production Process, as we filled out throughout the process.)

Here is a link to the Alice Photos. (Be sure to cite Mr. Van Ballegooijen if you use any of these!)

3) Write Up (See Below)

Part One: Original Design

1. Describe the character and what the clues from the script tell us about this character. (Perhaps add a line from the show?) 
2. What were the specific choices that you made in your original design? What role did the design elements (color, shape, texture, pattern) play in your choices? Why did you make these choices? 
3. What role did visual research have in your design? 

Part Two: Creating the Costume

• Describe the process of creating the costume. 
• Throughout the process, how did you have to change or alter your plans? Explain the reasoning for this. 
• What role did the practicality of the actor USING the costume affect your costume design? 
• How was the original design different from the finalize design? Are you pleased with the finalized design? Why or why not? 

Part Three: Costume Designer

• Explain a difficulty you encountered throughout the production process. How were you able to resolve it OR if you weren't able to resolve it, how might you have dealt with it differently? 
• What was a success that you had throughout the process? 
• Overall, what did you learn/realize about being a costume designer? 

Final Alice in Wonderland -- Costume Summative!