Your homework this week is to compose a soundwalk using individual sounds you either record yourself with your phone, or that you find online.

Just like the assignment last week, I want you to take the listener on a journey. However, unlike last week, where I asked you to devise a piece that you recorded as a single audio file, this week you are to compose a soundwalk in Reaper.

Specifications

• Length: 00:30 - 02:00
  • This does not need to be a tremendously long work. Instead, focus on creating a journey that is interesting, while also working to better understand the technical tools and ideas introduced this week.
• Sources: At least 5 sources
  • You should use at least 5 distinct sound sources in this work. Although, I actually hope you incorporate more than that.
• Artistically: You will be judged for the journey you take the listener on.
  • You can effect this journey through consideration of the artistic ideas mentioned on the editing and mixing pages.
  • How can you use techniques such as sparse vs dense, pace, tension & release, crescendos/descrescendos, loudness relationships, sudden amplitude changes, etc. ?
  • This should be more than a simple presentation of discreet sources, the way that they overlap and balance together is crucial.
• Technically: Technically, you will be judged based on your use of editing and mixing techniques.
  • You should split audio up, rearrange it, splice it together, and fade in/out
  • You should consider relative loudness and stereo-field balance for this work of the sources
  • You are also required to utilize automation this week. You can use automation to help with the journey you take the listener on.

Deliverables

You should submit the following items;

• A stereo, final-mix render of your soundwalk
• Screenshots of the arrangement and use of automation
• A written response to this week that discusses;
  • Your understanding of the content
  • How you approached your work
  • What qualities were you attempting to create with your soundwalk work and what qualities emerged that you were surprised by?

Community Responses

Additionally, you should provide feedback to at least 4 of your classmates soundwalk compositions.

If a post already has more then 5 responses, then you cannot respond to that submission. This may mean that you have to come back later to listen and respond to classmate works.

Submission

Please create a new post in the homework submission forum. You should upload the bounced audio file and screenshots. Please place your written response as text in the post.

Reading Resources(OPTIONAL)

Owsinski, Bobby. The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook, Mix Books, 1999.

If you want to learn more about automation, I would suggest you read chapter 18, from the Reaper User Guide.