P2 Foley sound and wild track experiment/ evalutation

Equipment 

USB Microphone – The USB microphone stood out for delivering very clear and smooth audio recordings. Compared to both the iPhone and the camera, it offered the highest sound quality. It also connected to the camera quickly and easily. Overall, it had minimal downsides, making it a highly effective tool for sound recording.

Camera – The main advantage of using the camera was its convenience and user-friendly operation. While it did manage to record the necessary audio, the quality was only average. In contrast to the USB microphone, the camera’s sound performance was noticeably lower in clarity and richness.

iPhone – Like the camera, the iPhone was simple and accessible for audio recording. However, it had a key disadvantage: the recordings were often quiet and lacked clarity. The sound came across as muffled, and it didn't capture audio as effectively as the camera or USB microphone.

Techniques

In order to ensure the fire and water sounds were loud and clear, the microphone had to be placed in close proximity to the source. A downside to this approach was the time it took to adjust and achieve the optimal positioning. The recording was done in a very quiet setting, which helped highlight subtle sounds like rainfall and the crackle of fire. However, locating such a quiet space proved to be difficult. That said, the presence of natural background noise actually enhanced the fire recording by making it sound more authentic and realistic.

Role of foley effects

To produce the fire crackling sound, I used crumpled paper and gently squeezed it in my hands. This method was fast and straightforward, but I had to be careful to handle it softly so the sound wouldn’t come across as too intense. For the rain effect, I gently poured water from a cup, which created a soft and realistic rain-like sound. This technique was also easy and effective. To replicate the atmosphere of a restaurant, I recorded in the school canteen by lightly tapping metal cutlery on plates and tables. Although simple, I had to make sure the tapping wasn’t too forceful to avoid a harsh or aggressive sound. For the crowded street ambiance, I also recorded during a busy time in the canteen. While it didn’t perfectly imitate the sound of a street environment, it was the best option given the available resources.