This assignment brief outlines tasks for a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production focusing on sound design for computer games. Students will record ambient sounds, analyze sound design in game cut sequences, create an audio script, record voice acting, and use audio editing software to apply effects and create a 2-minute soundtrack for a Grand Theft Auto 5 mission. The goals are to introduce students to audio recording and production techniques used in the games industry and equip them with skills to produce professional quality sound assets. Students will be assessed on their technical ability, creativity, and independence in completing the sound design work.

1. Assignment brief
Qualification
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production – GAMES DESIGN Y2
Unit number and title
L3 Unit 73 Sound for Computer Games - Partial
Start date
Monday 16/09/2013
Deadline
Friday 17/01/2014
Assessor name
Iain Goodyear
Assignment title
Unit 73 IG1 – GTA 5 Cut Sequence Audio Production
The purpose of this assignment is to:
Learning Outcome 1 – Understand the use of sound and music in games.
Learning Outcome 3 – Be able to create sound assets for a computer game following industry practice.
Scenario
Sound is an essential part of the computer game experience. Forming 50% of our sensory experience, and good game soundtrack
can enhance our pleasure of a computer game and help bridge the ever decreasing gap between games and more traditional
forms of storytelling such as films.
You have been commissioned by Rockstar North to produce the audio soundtracks for cut sequences that will be used in a
planned mission expansion pack due for release in 2014.
Modern computer games such as Grand Theft Auto 5feature complex narrative cut sequences which help to drive the game’s
story forward. As the quality of computer games have advanced, so too has the quality and complexity of the audio produced for
these products.
This assignment will introduce you to audio production and post-production technologies so that you will be able to produce
technically competent and professional sound assetsthat will used in the planned GTA 5 mission expansion pack.
You will produce voice recordings and sound assets using portable audio recording hardware, studio based production hardware
and post-production computer software using VST instruments and effects. This newly acquired audio production knowledge will
equip you with the skills needed to produce a two minute soundtrack for a new GTA 5computer game cut sequence.
This assignment will do the following:
Introduce portable audio field recording technology.
Require the use audio field recording techniques to capture sound assets.
Introduce studio dialogue recording technologies and techniques.
Require the use studio recording technologies to produce clear voice recordings.
Introduce audio post production software and editing techniques.
Require the applicationof field recording and computer audio synthesis to create a computer game audio cut sequence.
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2. Tasks
Grading Criteria Mapping
1.
Unit 73 P3/M3/D3
Use portable audio filed recorders to record 6 location ambient sounds and 6 focused directional
sounds in a range of environments. Recorded sounds must feature altered file names that are specific
to the location they were recorded.
You must also produce photographic evidence that clearly shows each person in your group using the
portable sound recorders on location to capture ambient and directional sounds. These pictures can be
taken using your mobile phone.
Recorded sounds must firstly be uploaded to your SoundCloud account profile page and embedded into
a blog post with accompanying photographic evidence using the title Ambient & Directional Sound
Recording Production.
2.
Unit 73 P1/M1/D1
Analyse the sound design of a range of computer game cut sequences. You must gather video examples
and discuss how the sound design gives a sense of:
Setting
Mood
Game genre
Narrative
In addition, your analysis must explain how you think specific soundtrack assets have been produced
(with reference to production process):
VST instruments and effects
Studio recording
Use of traditional instruments
Audio field recordings
Your analysis must contain clear reference to specific sections of your chosen examples. Your
sequence analysis must be uploaded to a blog post on your IG1 blog using the title Computer Game
Cut Sequence Sound Design Analysis.
3.
Unit 73 P1/M1/D1
Use Celtx software to produce a 2 page script featuring two characters. This will form the narrative
basis for your audio cut sequence production for the GTA 5 mission expansion pack release. Your script
pages must include correctly formatted character names, character dialogue and action description
that clearly indicates reference to sounds that will feature in your audio cut sequence.
Your 2 page script must be uploaded to a blog post on your IG1 blog using the title Audio Cut
Sequence Script.
4.
Unit 73 P3/M3/D3
Record your audio cut sequence script in a recording studio environment. You must ensure that your
dialogue is clearly recorded to a good technical standard. You are free to record yourselves and/or
others when recording script dialogue.
All audio recordings must be renamed once produced to clearly indicate character namesand dialogue
spoken.
Audio recordings must be uploaded to your SoundCloud account profile page and embedded into a blog
post in its unedited form with the title Audio Cut Sequence Raw Recordings.
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3. 5.
Unit 73 P3/M3/D3
Use Reaper post-production software to edit and manipulate produced audio recordings using VST
effects. You must use sounds recorded for task 1 to produce variations that clearly demonstrate the
application and manipulation of a range of VST effects plugins.
This must be supported by annotated screen captures that show:
The effects plugins applied.
Clear explanations of what parameters have been adjusted.
Clear explanations of how effects applied have altered the sound of your original recordings.
Your effects manipulated sound recordings must be uploaded to your SoundCloud account profile
page.Accompanying screen grab annotations and produced sounds must be embedded into a blog post
with the title Audio Recording VST Effects Manipulation.
6.
Unit 73 P3/M3/D3
Use Reaper post-production software to create audio using VST sound generating plugins. You must
produce sound effects for your 2 minute computer game cut sequence.
This must be supported by annotated screen captures that show:
The sound generating plugins used.
Clear explanations of what type of sound effects that you have created.
Clear explanations of what this sound will be used to depict in your computer game audio cut
sequence.
Your VST produced sounds must be uploaded to your SoundCloud account profile page.Accompanying
screen grab annotations and produced sounds must be embedded into a blog post with the title VST
Produced Sound Effects.
7.
Unit 73 P3/M3/D3
Use Reaper post-production software to create a 2 minute GTA 5 Expansion Pack computer game audio
cut sequence as per the requirements of the brief.
Your completed audio cut sequence must be uploaded to your SoundCloud account profile page and
must be embedded into a blog post with the title GTA 5 Cut Sequence Audio Production.
This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose
Iain Goodyear
Date
Date
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4. Unit 73 Sound for computer games
P1 describe uses of sound
and music in games using
some subject terminology
appropriately
P3 create sound assets for a
computer game following
industry practice, working
within appropriate
conventions and with some
assistance
[CT; SM]
M1 explain use of sound
and music in games with
reference to detailed
illustrative examples and
with generally correct use of
subject terminology
M2 explain methods and
principles of sound design and
production with reference to
detailed illustrative examples
and with generally correct
use of subject terminology
M3 create sound assets for a
computer game working to
a good technical standard
following industry practice,
showing some imagination
and with only occasional
assistance
P4 apply sound assets to a
computer game following
industry practice, working
within appropriate
conventions and with some
assistance.
[CT; RL]
M4 apply sound assets to a
computer game working to
a good technical standard
following industry practice,
showing some imagination
and with only occasional
assistance.
P2 describe methods and
principles of sound design
and production using
some subject terminology
appropriately
D1 comprehensively explain use
of sound and music in games
with elucidated examples
and consistently using subject
terminology correctly
D2 comprehensively explain
methods and principles of
sound design and production
with elucidated examples
and consistently using subject
terminology correctly
D3 create sound assets for a
computer game working to a
technical quality that reflects
near-professional standards
following industry practice,
showing creativity and flair
and working independently
to professional expectations
D4 apply sound assets to a
computer game working to a
technical quality that reflects
near-professional standards
following industry practice,
showing creativity and flair
and working independently
to professional expectations.
:PLTS: This summary references where applicable, in the square brackets, the elements of the personal,
learning and thinking skills applicable in the pass criteria. It identifies opportunities for learners to demonstrate
effective application of the referenced elements of the skills.
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