D1: Evaluate

- Evaluate feedback

From the survey I sent to my peers, I gained a collection of qualitative and quantitative feedback with detailed responses on how I can improve my sound.

Adobe Podcast:


One main suggestion was the quality of the voice over where I was tasked with making the audio clearer and higher quality. If I was to run my file through Adobe Podcast, it would allow my audio to sound higher quality and more professional.

I did this by putting my voice over through Adobe's AI speech enhancer, which helps to remove unwanted background noise, such as speaking or other sounds, and ensures the recording sounds like they have been done in a studio setting.

Furthermore, the feedback from the survey was constructive and allowed me to make positive changes to my own work and allowed me to learn new tools, which i can use in future pieces of work. One major thing I was pleased about from the feedback was that overall every viewer enjoyed the sound with the animation, which was ideal as it is targeted at a young audience. The foley sounds in combination with the voice overs really contributed to the animation as it added a whole level of depth to the viewing experience. 


Here is the main screen when entering the Adobe Podcast website. As you can see, on the left you can upload the files where in my case i would use the voice over files, and they are processed and changes are made using advanced AI tools.

Here is the dialogue before the enhancement



After putting the file through the enhancer, it removed any echoes and background noise, making the audio sound like it was recorded in a professional studio.

One approach to enhancing the overall audio quality involves increasing both the bit depth and frequency. Higher bit depth captures more data, while increasing frequency captures data more frequently. In Audition, I achieved this by raising the sample rate/frequency twofold and setting the bit depth to its maximum value. This led to an improved audio quality.

Volume:

Another proposed improvement was to lower the volume of the bedded audio, such as the space ship boosting, to enable the audience to hear the foley sounds and voiceover more clearly. To achieve this, I reduced the volume of the bedded audio while boosting the volume of other sound files. Improving the quality of the voiceovers also contributed to increased volume and better audibility.



To meet the recommended LUFS of YouTube (-14 db.), I utilized the Levels tab in Audition to regulate the audio's overall volume. YouTube's recommended LUFS (Loudness Units Full Scale) level is -14 LUFS. This means that the audio content uploaded on YouTube should have an average loudness of -14 LUFS, which is a standard level of loudness used by most streaming platforms and broadcasting networks.



The LUFS measurement indicates the perceived loudness level of audio, taking into account various factors such as frequency range and duration. Maintaining a consistent and appropriate loudness level throughout the content improves the overall listening experience for the audience, as they do not have to adjust the volume constantly.

YouTube has implemented loudness normalization, which means that they automatically adjust the playback volume of videos based on their measured loudness level. If the loudness level of the video is higher than the recommended -14 LUFS, YouTube will lower the volume of the video during playback, and vice versa for videos that have lower loudness levels. Below is a screenshot of the loudness normalization algorithm to ensure videos are not too loud or too quiet for a more pleasurable viewing experience.



Bit rate:

A higher bit rate, measured in KBPS (Kilobits per second), is suggestive audio quality. However, to ensure that the audio meets high standards, it is also essential to have a high sample rate and bit depth.

Here is me changing the sample rate when exporting:


Here is me changing the bit depth when exporting:


In order to achieve a professional level of audio quality for my animation, I have increased the sample rate, bit rate, and bit depth. This will guarantee that the audio will be of a superior quality that is suitable for the platforms where I intend to distribute it.

Overall, the use of effects and enhancements has enabled me to produce a soundtrack for my animation that effectively fulfils its intended purpose of entertaining a young audience. Some of the foley sounds included in the soundtrack not only enhance the entertainment value of the animation but also imbue it with a sense of realism. By utilizing Audition, I was able to create an audio project of exceptional quality that complements my animation and is perfectly suited to appeal to my young target audience.


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