Difference between revisions of "Sound Effects Studio Overview"

Latest revision as of 11:29, 14 November 2024

Overview

The Sound Effects Studio is a general access studio space that allows students to experiment with voice over, isolation recording, and Foley techniques.

The space is equipped with a Mac Studio computer and MOTU M4 audio interface.
You will need to check out a microphone from Media Loan to use in the space.
Has a wide variety of noise makers, textures, toys, shoes, and instruments to use in your Foley work.
Have a variety of floor surface for recording footsteps.
They are available for students to use for academic use.
The labs require the proficiency badge.

Location

Evans Hall 1358
Located past the TV studio in the CCAM
It is down a small flight of stairs.
- A wheelchair lift is available. Contact support staff if needed.

Access

The lab requires the Audio - Sound Effects Studio proficiency badge in Schedule Evergreen.
Read the Electronic Media Lab Access page for proficiency information
Read the Media Labs Access Policy for lab polices
Read the Scheduling General Access Media Labs article for scheduling procedures
Schedule time at Media Loan, the Multimedia Lab or via Self Service in Schedule Evergreen.
Get keys from Media Loan for your scheduled time.

General Policies

No food or drinks of any kind are allowed in the labs.
Alcohol, drugs, vaping and smoking are not allowed anywhere in the buildings.
Take care of yourself and remember to take a break once in a while.
Clean up after yourself.
Do not delete other students' files.
Do not unplug or remove anything from the spaces.
Make sure the door is closed and locked when you leave the lab.
- Do not leave doors propped open if the room will be temporarily unoccupied, even if you are only running to the restroom.
Only use your scheduled time.
Return keys and equipment promptly to Media Loan or to the Library Circulation Desk.
Reports any lab problems by following the Report a problem in a media lab procedure.
Be courteous and respectful to the other users of the labs and all student employees.
Follow the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Social Contract
Files on computers may be deleted at the end of each quarter or as-needed.
- Always keep a backup of your work in another location.

Sound Effects Studio Policies

No open flames or smoke allowed in the studio
Vacuum before you leave
Replace lids on the foley pits
Put all noise makers away in appropriate bins
Take everything you came in with away with you.
- If you want to contribute items they would be appreciated. Items must be approved by staff.
The center front pit is for organics only.
- You are responsible for cleaning, sanitizing and drying the pit afterwards so plan appropriately.
- Bring towels or paper towels. The shop vac is for dry materials only.

Help

Always enter your name and time into the logbook, along with any problems you encounter during your time in the lab
If you need help, go to the Multimedia Lab 1404.
In the dock there is a folder with an orange M called Manuals that contain PDF’s of some of the manuals
The Evergreen Help Wiki – has helpful Mixing Bench articles as well as various audio editing software cheat sheets
- Sound Effects Studio

Applications

Adobe Audition: Multi-track audio recording and mixing
Ableton Live: Music Production
Pro Tools: Multi-track audio recording and mixing.
Premiere Pro
Audacity: Open source audio editor.
Waves Native Power Pack: Audio Plug-ins.

Equipment

Computer

Mac Studio and 64 GB of Ram
27" Dell monitor with built in webcam
Second monitor at the computer station
Third monitor for the Foley performer or recording artist
- The second and third monitors get the same video signal.
- Drag any windows to the second monitor and it will also show up on the performer monitor.

MOTU M4 Audio Interface

There are 2 Mic/Line inputs.
- Gain knob controls the microphone sensitivity.
- Press the 48V button to turn on phantom power.
- The MON button sends the input directly to the output for low latency monitoring.

Headphone Amp

The headphone output of the MOTU M4 in connected to a headphone amp.
It has separate level controls for 4 headphones.

Studio Equipment

Two mic stands
Two mic cables
Two headphones
One headphone extender
- You need to check out microphones and additional headphones (if needed) from Media Loan

Lab Procedures

Powering On Procedure

Turn down the monitor knob on the MOUT M4.
Turn on the power strip located to the left edge of the desk
Power on the computer by pressing the button on the lower left corner of the computer.
Log in to the computer and wait for the user template to fully start up.

Monitoring

The MOTU M4 Monitor knob control the signal to the speakers.
The MOTU M4 Headphone knob sets the headphone output to the headphone amp.
- Use the headphone amp to adjust headphone levels.
Audio Monitoring - Sound Effects Studio

File Management

All file storage on the computers is local to that computer. You need to back up your files in order to use them in another lab.

Make a folder on the desktop to store your files.
When working save often
When you are done save and quit any applications you are using.
Back up your files to:
- OneDrive
- External hard drive
- Thumb drive
If you have a fast USB three hard drive you can work directly of your drive.
We erase all the student files off the computers on Thursday of every eval week.
Always back up your files

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 * Have a variety of floor surface for recording footsteps.
 * They are available for students to use for academic use.
-* The labs require the proficiency badge and also the quarterly access badge.
+* The labs require the proficiency badge.
-* Students in approved programs or contracts will be added to the access badge each quarter.
 === Location ===
@@ Line 16: / Line 15: @@
 ===Access===
-* The lab requires the proficiency badge and also the quarterly access badge.
+* The lab requires the '''Audio - Sound Effects Studio''' proficiency badge in Schedule Evergreen.
-* Read the [https://www.evergreen.edu/electronicmedia/access Electronic Media Lab Access page] for proficiency information
+* Read the [[Media Lab Access|Electronic Media Lab Access]] page for proficiency information
 * Read the [[Media Labs Access Policy]] for lab polices
 * Read the [[Scheduling General Access Media Labs]] article for scheduling procedures
@@ Line 34: / Line 33: @@
 * Only use your scheduled time.
 * Return keys and equipment promptly to Media Loan or to the Library Circulation Desk.
-* Reports any lab problems by following the ''[[Report a Problem in a Media Lab|Report a problem in a media lab]]'' procedure.
+* Reports any lab problems by following the [[Report a Problem in a Media Lab|Report a problem in a media lab]] procedure.
 * Be courteous and respectful to the other users of the labs and all student employees.
 * Follow the [https://www.evergreen.edu/sites/default/files/2021-08/Code_of_Student_Rights_and_Responsibilities.pdf Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities] and the [https://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=174-121-010 Social Contract]
 * Files on computers may be deleted at the end of each quarter or as-needed.
 ** Always keep a backup of your work in another location.
+=== Sound Effects Studio Policies ===
+* No open flames or smoke allowed in the studio
+* Vacuum before you leave
+* Replace lids on the foley pits
+* Put all noise makers away in appropriate bins
+* Take everything you came in with away with you.
+** If you want to contribute items they would be appreciated. Items must be approved by staff.
+* The center front pit is for organics only.
+** You are responsible for cleaning, sanitizing and drying the pit afterwards so plan appropriately.
+** Bring towels or paper towels. The shop vac is for dry materials only.
 ===Help===
@@ Line 51: / Line 61: @@
 * '''Ableton Live''': Music Production
 * '''Pro Tools''': Multi-track audio recording and mixing.
+* '''Premiere Pro'''
 * '''Audacity''': Open source audio editor.
 * '''Waves Native Power Pack''': Audio Plug-ins.
-* '''NI Komplete''' soft synths
 == Equipment ==
@@ Line 60: / Line 70: @@
 * Mac Studio and 64 GB of Ram
 * 27" Dell monitor with built in webcam
-* Second monitor for the Foley performer or recording artist.
+* Second monitor at the computer station
+* Third monitor for the Foley performer or recording artist
+** The second and third monitors get the same video signal.
+** Drag any windows to the second monitor and it will also show up on the performer monitor.
 ===MOTU M4 Audio Interface===
-# Sound card upon start up should be in 48k sample rate.
+* There are 2 Mic/Line inputs.
-# There are 2 Mic/Line inputs.
+** '''Gain''' knob controls the microphone sensitivity.
-#* '''Trim''' knob controls the microphone sensitivity.
+** Press the '''48V''' button to turn on phantom power.
-#* Push the '''Trim''' knob to engage a '''Pad''' to attenuate or reduce your input level.
+** The '''MON''' button sends the input directly to the output for low latency monitoring.
-#* Push and hold the '''Trim''' knob to turn on phantom power if you are using a condenser microphone.
+=== Headphone Amp ===
+* The headphone output of the '''MOTU M4''' in connected to a headphone amp.
+* It has separate level controls for 4 headphones.
-=== Headphone Mixer ===
+=== Studio Equipment ===
-The is a headphone mixer.
+* Two mic stands
-**
+* Two mic cables
+* Two headphones
+* One headphone extender
+** You need to check out microphones and additional headphones (if needed) from Media Loan
 == Lab Procedures ==
 === Powering On Procedure ===
-# Turn down the volume on the '''Mackie Big Knob volume box'''.  It’s the metal box with a silver knob.
+# Turn down the monitor knob on the '''MOUT M4'''.
-# Turn on the power strip located on the right corner of the computer desk.
+# Turn on the power strip located to the left edge of the desk
-# Wait 10 seconds for the sound card to fully start up, sound card should read 48k.
 # Power on the computer by pressing the button on the lower left corner of the computer.
 # Log in to the computer and wait for the user template to fully start up.
-#* The MOTU audio driver software appears on the desktop, do not close this application.
 === Monitoring ===
-* The '''Mackie Big Knob''' '''volume box''' is used to set the monitoring volume.
+* The '''MOTU M4 Monitor''' knob control the signal to the speakers.
-* [[Audio Monitoring - Mixing Bench]]
+* The '''MOTU M4 Headphone''' knob sets the headphone output to the headphone amp.
-* On the '''volume box''' set the '''Source Select''' button to '''A''' to listen to the the '''MOTU 828'''.
+** Use the headphone amp to adjust headphone levels.
-** The computer is designed to send signals through the '''MOTU 828'''.
+* [[Audio Monitoring - Sound Effects Studio]]
-* On the '''volume box''' set the '''Source Select''' button to '''B''' to listen to the '''mIxer'''
-** On the mixer, the knob labeled '''Phones/Control Room''' controls the volume that is sent to the '''volume box'''.
 ===File Management===