Shaun: Hi Amelia, just wondered if you’re still interested in me doing sound for your animation? Shaun
Amelia: Yeah definitely! Which aspects of sound was it you wanted to help with sound effects, music or dialogue?
Shaun: That’s great! I can do all of them, recording dialogue, sound effects, and music. I have all my own equipment and I can use the uni’s studio. If you could give me a brief of what you need that’d be great!
Amelia: That’s awesome, ok I’ll write up a sort of list of things I’ll need for each of those catergories. For sound effects, I’ll need some ambient wind-like noises and maybe a quiet drone to have in the background, just enough to make it eerie. Then also some birdsong and trees rustling in the wind. I’ll need some soft grassy footstep sounds and some on stone. I’ll then need some incidental sounds like tools falling over, keys rattling, a rusty gate squeaking as it opens. I’ll think of a few more and I’ll bullet-point them in a word document for you. For the dialogue I have a short script written up. I might need a couple of gasps and panting too. I haven’t got a voice actress as of yet, there is someone on the course who I might be able to use. If you know any girls that are interested in voice acting and like doing posh English accents, you can ask around, that would be great. And then for the music, I need a short piece to go with the opening and ending sequences, and also some short samples that can be played every now and then during gameplay. I’ll send you some examples of the sort of thing I’m thinking for each bit. Hope that’s ok, I’ll write up a proper brief in a word document for you and I can email it. I’m free for recordings on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and weekends. Thanks!
Shaun: Nice one, sounds good! yea send me a list and I’ll make a start on recording some sounds. Have you already started the animation? Would it be possible to meet up and view some examples? I’m free whenever, I work weekends but can always meet up in the week.
Amelia: So far no animation, I’ve just been working on the models ready to set them up in the game engine. You can have a look at how the project is going on my blog if you want, it’s not very interesting but it gives you an idea. Although I do really need to update it, I neglected it a bit over Christmas. http://ameliageorge3rdyear.blogspot.co.uk/
ameliageorge3rdyear.blogspot.co.uk
Shaun: Sound! I’ll have a read through and make a start on my blog. I can imagine it takes a long time to make the animation. If you find any examples of the type of music you’re after I’ll start making some compositions for you.
Amelia: Will do, I’m having a look through incompetech’s library for some music that’s similar to what I’m thinking. I’ll link you when I’ve found the right ones.
Shaun: Ok sound
Amelia: here’s some inspirations for the intro sequence music intro – Relent (harp & clarinet) http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100777, Quinn’s Song: A New Man (something like this for the intro sequence) http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100578, ending agrippa (amnesia) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpQTpWwsAU4, this new century (machine for pigs) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Ty-lUMy5k, edwin and enoch (machine for pigs) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36t61mWdZuM
Shaun: Thanks! I’ll have a play about and come up with some examples for you, do you want the intro and ending to be the same? Or similar but slightly different to each other?
Amelia: Well there are two endings, but if we have the Winning ending sound similar to the intro that would be good. I want it to feel like good in the sense that you’ve won the game, but also suspenseful and still a little scary as the idea is you would be going on to explore the inside of a haunted house. If that makes sense?
Shaun: Ah right, yea that makes sense, what I’ll do is come up with an intro composition, like the ones you sent me, and then we can base the winning ending music on a lighter, happier version of the intro.
Amelia: yeah that sounds good
Amelia: Hey there, any news on the music? Sorry I didn’t message a bit sooner!
Shaun: Hi! I’ve not done much for the music other than some research on composers in the georgian era, but I have been working on the dialogue, I have an actress who sounds very posh and can do a great ‘Downton Abby’ type voice. I’m recording her later on tonight so i will send you the recordings tomorrow to see what you think. Can I just check that this is the script:
“This isn’t right at all. I must find out why my dear sister has been so silent since she moved away. I’ve had nothing, not a single letter. I know Rosa too well, she would have written to me by now. All I have is this address. (PAUSE) Oh, it looks as though we’ve arrived. (SHORT PAUSE) Excuse me, Driver? (PAUSE) Driver?
” W-what happened? The horse…and the driver!”
Also, quick question, the cutscene you have on your blog, is that the final animation? If so would it be possible for you to send me the video so I can start layering the dialogue and sound effects on top? And is it ok to meet up at some point next week to go through all the sounds and audio elements you need?
Cheers
Amelia: That’s great, thanks. That script is correct, there are a couple of extra lines spread out through the gameplay, I’ll send you those in a bit. Next week I’ll be free all days except for Wednesday and Thursday
Shaun: nice one, would you be able to meet on tuesday around 3.30? and where would be easiest for you? i’ll send you one of the recordings from last night so you can have a listen, it’s not been edited or mixed yet, I’ll do all that after the weekend. Let me know what you think, I can always get Ashley to come back next week to record some more lines
This is just one of 7 recordings I got last night
Amelia: Tuesday 3.30 will be good, maybe we can meet at the library? If it’s possible can we also have another recording session where I could come along to give some direction? I like the first sample you sent, she has a good voice too. I think we just need to work on the emotion behind it/
Thanks
Shaun: Yea that’s great, I’ll meet you at 3.30 in the library, and yea I’ll get Ashley back for a recording and you can come let her know how you want her to speak. See you Tuesday, cheers
Amelia: Hiya, Im just in the library entrance now. You cant miss me – I have blue hair!
Shaun: Hi Amelia, hope you’re good! I’ve been working on the music for the opening sequence and have recorded a piece for the opening animation. I’ll send it to you now so you can have a listen and see what you think. I haven’t mixed or mastered it yet, but have a listen and let me know How are you getting on with the opening animation? Have you made any progress? Also, I will be getting Ashley to come in and record dialogue hopefully next monday if you’d like to come along? I would have got it done earlier but she has been away. Cheers
Amelia: Awesome, thanks. It’s sounding pretty good so far, maybe the tempo should be a bit slower. Monday sounds good, where are you doing it?
Shaun: Yea no problem I can slow it down. Glad you like it. I’ll work on both endings today. The studio is fully booked but I have all the equipment I need at my house, so we can do it here. I can pick you up if you want? I’ll double check with Ashley on what time she’s available
Shaun: I’ve slowed it down by 10bpm, see what you think. I tried going down to 60bpm but it started to sound quite empty, but if you still think it needs to go slower then i’ll reduce the tempo for you. Do you know how long the opening animation will be? and do you know when the opening sequence will be finished? thanks
Amelia: I like the 70bpm version better, that’s great. I won’t find out exactly how long the intro scene will be until next friday which is when we’re going to be programming it. But the length should be roughly the same as it is in the animatic, so about 30 seconds.
Amelia: Hi Shaun, sorry I haven’t got back to you for a while. I’m back home for the Easter break at the moment but I’ll be coming back sometime next week. Can we set a deadline for the work for this project so I’ll have enough time to implement it? If that’s ok. I was thinking we could have everything finished by the 9th May, if that sounds reasonable. Hopefully we can rearrange a time for recording the dialogue as well in the next couple of weeks. Thanks, hope you’re having a nice Easter.
Shaun: Hi Amelia! No problem, I guess we’ve both been pretty busy. My deadline is 8th of may so everything will definitely been done by then. When are you available next week? I will arrange for Ashley to come over and record the dialogue. How are you getting on with the project? Have you done any of the animation? I have almost completed the music, I will finish it when we know the times of the gameplay and cut scenes. I have also got a collection of sound effects ready to put onto the animation. Hope you enjoy your easter!
Amelia: I’m back in Lincoln now so whenever you’re free just give me a shout when you want to record the dialogue. I’m afraid the timing of the scenes is going to be quite a last minute thing as I’m still producing assets to go into the games engine. I won’t know exactly how long each section will be until we’ve done some testing which might be a week or so from now. But if you want to take the timing in the animatic sequence for reference for now, that should make it easier for you. We can always loop things if it ends up being a bit longer than planned, right?
Shaun: Nice one, I’ll ask Ashleigh when she’s free next week, and yea we can loop the music tracks that’s no problem
Shaun: Hi Amelia! Hope you’re good, are you free on Sunday around 12 to do the dialogue recording? I can pick you up and bring you over to mine?
Amelia: Yeah definitely, that sounds good
Manor Script:
“This isn’t right at all. I must find out why my dear sister has been so silent since she moved away. I’ve had nothing, not a single letter. I know Rosa too well, she would have written to me by now. All I have is this address. (PAUSE) Oh, it looks as though we’ve arrived. (SHORT PAUSE) Excuse me, Driver? (PAUSE) Driver?”
“W-what happened? The horse…and the driver!”
“It’s not here”
“It’s getting dark”
“I’ve found it!”
“I don’t have long”
“I’ve got to find it!”
“Where could it be?”
“Where is it?”
“(Scream) Help! Help!”