The document provides a summary and evaluation of an audio production project. It discusses strengths and weaknesses in the areas of research, planning, time management, technical qualities, aural qualities, audience appeal, and peer feedback. Key points include that background noise in some vocals lowered the quality, more sound effects and a longer runtime could have improved it, and peer feedback noted issues with the script and recording locations. Overall it aimed to introduce characters from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in a new story for a target demographic of 16-18 year old males.
3. Research
Strengths:
• I've included the covers each of the audio samples, accompanied next to some text
comparing it to what I want my product to be; what they do/use in terms of music,
cast, sound affects and script; along with what the audience appeal/draw in is.
• In addition to supplying a short example of what a "radio drama/audio play" is –
using both research (from the Google definition,) and personal knowledge.
Weaknesses:
• With two of the audio samples, I didn't include the actual audio as allot of the samples are
products which need purchasing so people can make a living. To get around this I used the
trailer which will act more like a sample, as well as the inclusion of the website where it can
be purchased...
4. Planning
Weaknesses:
• Because with my final project I changed my story line, meaning allot of the original planning
had to be ditched and replaced.
Strengths:
• However with my original planning, it helped me get a good idea of the kind of audio I'd
needed, with some the audio and characters I planned on using, were carried over to my final
product.
Due to my original idea for the story being changed, this had an affect on my final product. In
affect to this there will most likely be holes in my story line or a bunch of missed opportunities for
sound effects (that wouldn't of fitted into the original plan.)
5. Time Management
Strengths:
• At the begging of the project I managed to push on through Internal plans, research and proposal
within the first day of being set the task, even going far enough to start working on this in my own
time – as to not fall behind and stay ahead of my course.
Weaknesses:
• However in doing this, even though I produced a decent amount of work and took this into my own
time this may affect the quality – meaning my time would've been better spent assuring I had this
to a much higher standard.
• Furthermore, despite my efforts at the start of the project, I started to fall behind (-ever so slightly,)
towards the end as I was having trouble with cast members...
If I had more time than I was provided this time, I would make sure the lines being read where to higher
standard, by possibly finding a quite room. In addition to this, I would most likely implement a bigger
range of sound effect to represent movement and the device used in the story.
I would also include a possible cover for the audio, (like I had originally set out to do in the stages of
planning.)
6. Technical Qualities
Audio Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlvtAQZSBWM
Similarities:
• Much like the product I'm hoping to make, it's based on the same
franchise as the BBC TV show and books series of Hitchhiker's Guide
To The Galaxy.
• In my final piece, I used the same music for the theme song
("Journey of the sorcerer- Eagle".)
Differences:
• For my final product I wasn't able to keep the original cast as this
was a student project.
• Furthermore, being a student, I was limited to stock sound effects
and also without studios to record in, (in which would have been
done for this – being a professionally made product.) However, for
my product, I recorded in corridors or people sent me audio files
that'd been recorded at home.
7. Aural Qualities
Strengths:
• I've successfully created a robotic voice (for the character Marvin.) To achieve this I used a
plugin for audacity ("killringer,) playing about with on lower settings.
• For my actual final product (differing from my final product,) I've created a entirely new script
using the same main cast the original running series, in a new story.
Weaknesses:
• Allot of the vocals here are to a low quality as I was provided with quite rooms or recording
studios to record in – for those cast members that weren't able to record at home as they
were without the equipment to do so. Thus we had to record in the corridors around the
college, leaving it with sounds in the background of the vocals.
• Due to timing I've missed out the opportunities I didn't apply in movement sound effects
(e.g. walking a shuffling of characters.) As well as this, I've miss included a sound effect for
Ford's handheld device.
• Because this is a student project, I wasn't really able to be picky with a cast, so allot of the
cast members aren't actors – lowering the performance given.
8. Audience Appeal
Appeal:
• With my audience, guessing allot of them wouldn't know anything about Hitchhikers' Guide
The Galaxy, I've added lines full of the characters personality and slowly introduced them in
the beginning of the story – one by one – so not to overload the audience with working out
the cast.
• My target range being 16 to 18 year olds, I've appealed to them in the audio format.
Following stereotypes, teenagers (a part of which my age range is,) have their earphones in,
thus allowing them a bigger range of time to allow them to listen to my audio play/radio
drama.
• With my demographic being targeted to a male audience in particular, they can relate easier
to allot more of the characters as there's a bigger ratio of males than there are to females.
10. Feedback 1
• What did you like about the product?
– There is a good sound used at the start of the
audio.
– I like the music after the bit at the start.
– And the robot voice is also good.
• What improvements could have been made to
the product?
– Some of the bits when the characters are talking,
you can hear noises in the background.
11. Feedback 2
• What did you like about the product?
– You've got good sound effects
• What improvements could have been made to
the product?
– There's some noise round the vocals.
12. Feedback 3
• What did you like about the product?
– It uses a theme song which makes it seem more
professional.
– Some of the acting is quite good.
– You've edited a robot voice well.
• What improvements could have been made to the
product?
– The script is a bit weak.
– Some of the vocals should've been recorded somewhere
quite.
– It needs more sound effects.
– Could be longer.
13. Peer Feedback Summary
• What do you agree with from your peer
feedback?
– I agree that the background noise with some of the
vocals make the final product seem less professional
and really takes you out of the experience/story.
• What do you disagree with from your peer
feedback?
– I personally feel as if the timing was ok as this was to
introduce the characters. I also left it at such a point
where a cliff-hanger could work.
14. Peer Feedback Summary
– I would either find a way to remove the
background sound in post or try and find a better
place to of recorded it.
– I'd add more sound effects.
– I’d apply more depth to the volumes of the vocals.
Editor's Notes
What were the strengths of your research? How did your research help your product?
What were the weaknesses of your research? What could you have done better/improve? What effect would this have had on your product?
What were the strengths of your planning? How did your planning help your product?
What were the weaknesses of your planning? What could you have done better/improve? What effect would this have had on your product?
Did you manage your time well? Did you complete your project on time or would your products have improved with additional time?
What would you have done if you had more time to produce your work?
Compare your work to similar existing products and discuss the similarities and differences
Does your work sound good? Was it creative? What aspects of your product’s audio do you like? What would you improve? How would you improve it?
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses
How have you appealed to your target audience? What specific bits of content would appeal to your target audience.
Make reference to specific recordings, dialogue, music and sound effects
What changes would you make to your product based upon your peer feedback and why?