FMP PROCESS

I watched the whole film on YouTube. As I watched it, I started to jot down the scenes with times; as I wanted to work on. My plan for downloading the film from YouTube had changed because Andy felt that the quality isnt that great and ripping it from a DVD would be best using a HandBrake; this software rips DVD in high quality. He also mentioned that I should find a USB that stores a lot of memory for video size.

I had to miss a week off college because I had to wait for my USB and DVD to come. When I finally got them, I was able to make a start. I went to see Andy so that he can help me rip the DVD from Handbrake but then we had a problem using the software in Studio B; so he told me to go to Matt. Matt was able to rip it off but it took up most of the morning.

Once it was completed, he taught me how to select the scenes that I wanted. The negative thing of using handbrake is that I couldnt cut the exact bits that I wanted. Once I chosen what scene I needed for my project I exported into iMovie. In iMovie, I started to tidy up film. I would cut where I wanted it to end. Then I added titles; this included a main title of the film, names of all the scenes and then ending credits. I also put different transitions for each scene so there is no

stopping between each scene. This took time, as I needed it to flow well. My problem with iMovie, I wasnt sure how to save it on my USB if I had to work in another room. Another problem I had was to ensure that the room that I worked in was available. But Andy and Rich had found a way to do this by finding the folder in iMovie folder in documents so it works out.

When I completed the editing of the film, it was exported as a High quality MP4. Obviously as it's a film, it took half the day to export. After it was completed, we checked to see if the quality of the film and it turned out really well. Then I opened Logic and imported the video. I did this by selecting FILE, OPEN MOVIE and choose the film to import. The next thing was to extract the audio from the film so I can sort out the sound levels. I did this by watching YouTube tutorial and they said to: Right click in the video lane and click import audio from movie. Once the audio was imported, I was able to sort out the sound levels for when I wanted sound for that scene.

Throughout the project, I work in scene sections so that I can complete each one to the best of my abilities. I would loop the scene and find sound effects required for that scene and ensure that it's syncs in with the film. With the music, I would try to relate to the mood of the scene. I would do research on finding examples of different genre styles and listen out for the sort of instruments to use in my own soundtrack. When it comes to making a drumbeat, I would always use the plugins Ultrabeat where I can sort out the tempo, note velocity etc. With the sound effects, I would either find them on Logic or use other free sound effects websites like:

Soundjay.com

www.pacdv.com

Sounddogs.com

During the process, I had lots all the motivation because I had no more ideas to make improvements so I asked Sam to help give me directions on how I can make this film better. He said that I needed to sort out the sound levels on the automation as certain scenes were louder than others. He also directed that I needed to use plugins such as EQ and compressor. I had problems with my work when I opened up the project files for example it would say that it cant find any of my audio files and I would need to look for the audio file on my USB or

download it again and to ensure that it's saved on my USB. Another problem I had encountered; that it couldn't find the film, meaning I would have to import my video again. It had problems working with my USB, so I would need to use different computers and remember which computer had the latest version and sometimes someone could be using it or it could take time to copy it onto my USB.

As I'm playing back through the whole film, it sounds muffled so I'm going through each audio/instrument channel and add EQ and compressor. I will be cutting audio/instruments, adding fadings or using the automation. I'm also adding markers to name all the scenes so I can remember which scene is which.

Scene 1: Business Meeting The piano on space design had too much reverb and it sounded muffled so I turned it down. I went on the channel EQ to turn it up. The strings had to be leveled out by sorting it out on automation. I turned the bass out where it won't sound too overpowering but it's heard well. The drums were turned down so that it's leveled out with the other instruments. On the EQ, the high frequencies on the drums were turned up and the low frequencies were turned down. With the bass, I used the bass improve 1 on channel EQ. I felt that the bass needed to sound a bit lighter so I added the ES2. I increased the EQ of water sound effect; when Peter has a sip of water.

Scene 2: Date with Lawyer Girl I couldnt hear the piano so I went on automation to turn it up. I realized that some of the notes were playing to quick, so I went on the piano to find out why this was happening and I found that the notes were too short so one by one, so I stretched it out a bit. Then I cut the last chord down a bit as it was playing a bit to long for the scene. I turned up the walking sound effect on the automation as it was too quiet. When Peter walks to the door it clips at the end so I used the fade tool so that it cant be heard. I did this again as he touches the light switch. As he opens the door; I turned down the sound effect a bit. The drums had to be turned after scene 1 as the levels were louder and I want it to be constant throughout the film.

Scene 3: Charlene Shouts at Peter The footsteps sound effects couldnt be heard and that was because it wasn't in the main folder. So I had to go through my USB and find it and copied all the sound effects on the folder I'm currently working on and then import it back to its original place. Went on the automation to create a small where there were no footsteps. Audio of the main film had cuts and fading and did it again. The grass walking sound effect came in too early, so I used the scissors tool to cut it out. Then I was about to work on the next scene and then the audio was out of sync so I undid the work and did the faders again. I shifted the piano keys so that it can start straight away. I did another light switch sound have Peters neighbor turns on the light switch twice.

Scene 4: The Next Morning The bass had to be turned up on the automation and the Channel EQ. The drums were too quiet so I turned it up on the EQ but then it was given too much bass, so I turned it down slightly. On the compressor; I went on the attack and gain and turned it up and then on the release, I turned it down. With the strings, I went on the Channel EQ to turn it up but then I bypassed it and it sounded better than before. On the automation; I faded out the clip after Charlene finishes her last line but then I created a little fade in/out on the automation.

Scene 5: House Party At the start of the scene, I had to cut some music out. I increased the velocity to some of the notes from the piano. I cut a bit off the last note as the dialogue starts again. I used the fade tool as footsteps sound effects finish. I turned down the talking slightly as Charlene (Queen Latiafiah) walks in using automation. I decided to cut out strings when the cello plays and then deleted one of the drums because of the dialogue. Then I decided to bring it back because the string doesn't play at certain times. I started to cut it up, the first time but the 1st chord didn't fit so I undid it. Then I tried the other chords and it blended in well. So I repeated this to the other two, as it was finishing. Then I got rid of the last chords. Andy had looked what I had done so far... he was happy with the music and sound effects and sequences of titles before the clips. He said that I needed to sort out the automation on the music and what levels they need to be at. On EQ, I added the cymbal EQ to reduce the bass. With the strings on automation, I turned it down because I couldn't hear the conversation. Copied in another door closing when Peter kicks Charlene out of the house.

Scene 6: Charlene Interrupts Peter & Howies Meeting I added a small snip of drums as Charlene walks into the country club. Then the second time the drum beat plays again but it's out of time.... so I stretched it out to find half a note is not playing. So I played the same part again and this time it's in time. I also faded out the last note on the piano. Then I shifted the fader out early so that the music comes in straight as Peter looks at Charlene. I turned more of the music down when Peter tells Charlene to leave the country club. I also unmuted one of the drumbeats. Also when Charlene enters the conversation between Peter and Howie is turned down to the same level as I want it to be but at the same time I want to hear their conversation and still want the music to stand out.

Scene 7: Peter and Howie avoid their boss I turned down the music when they bump into the boss. I created a simple beat for when Howie and Peter avoid their boss using the hip-hop drum and then copied it onto the strings and the piano. On both strings and piano I took out some notes out at different times so that it doesn't clash with each other.

Scene 8: Charlene & Ashleys Catfight I turned down voice after Ashley insults Charlene so that the music makes most of the scene. One of the brass notes didn't fit in well so I cut it and muted it to see if it work and I tested it out and it was better than before. Turned down drums as Charlene speaks again. I decided to add cello with the drums as it sounded empty.

Then I didnt like the music so I kept making more changes. I took some notes out of the piano. I blended the strings, as the bass was finishing. Then the piano was brought closer to get rid of gaps. Then I had done a build up with the strings in certain parts. I cut the music at the end of the scene and done dropouts of drums also did it as it ends. I was messing around with the drums and strings so it can have different vibe.

Scene 9: Love Lessons The music was overpowering the film so I had to turn it down a bit. I muted and cut the piano as I felt that it wasn't required. Changed the bass on the Channel EQ to a Tom EQ Medium to make it sound smooth. On the piano roll, I gave more velocity to some of the notes and even shorten some of them. Again I muted some notes and it worked but then I felt like it wasn't working and eventually deleted them. I cut some of the piano as it was overlapping with others. One of them didn't fit so I removed it. I copied another drum pattern but I needed to place it in well and it did fit in well. I cut a bit off from the end, as it was playing into the next scene. Turned up some of the sound effects. Sorted out the piano again as some of the notes seems to be off. Then I used the velocity tool to increase the volume note hit and then I unmuted one of the notes as it sounded off beat. I took some chords out of the piano as they were off. Turned up the main conversation between Charlene and Peter a bit. One of the chords was off so I copied another one and now its playing in time. One of the piano instruments was missing some notes. I doubled clicked it and inserted the notes and it played on time. I added some cello using the drum beat notes. Then I took another chord out from the piano because I had trouble with the timing. I decided to make some changes to the music. I used my original drum beat notes and copied to a cello instrument. I took some of the instruments out at certain times as I felt that it wasnt working well. Timing became a bit of a problem because of the changes made; but it was fixed by moving them around. Again with piano some notes affected the rhythm of the song so I took some notes out.

Scene 10: Charlene calls Peter Cut the overlap where there is no piano playing. Quantized the strings as it plays smoothly. Also did this to the piano. Cut the ends of the chords so it ends smoothly. Stretched the middle chords so that it removes the pause. Stretch the beginning part of all the chords so it flows into each other. Turned up the footsteps up a bit. Turned up the door sound effect a bit and went on the EQ to boost it up a bit. Turned down the conversation between Peter, Katie and Charlene. Last chord from the piano came in too early so I moved it back a bit. Now playing it again it sounds better than before. Also did this to the strings. I filled in the gap were there was no music playing so I decided to copy over just the bass and the piano. Redid the walking sound effects, as there is a lot of movement in this scene. Again I wasnt feeling the music so I made more changes. I created a slow drumbeat and just had it with the piano but it didnt fit so I got rid of it.

Scene 11: Mrs Arness unexpected invited to Dinner I turned down the door handle sound effect. Then I panned it to the right a bit. Then I turned up the walking sound a bit. The door closing sound came in late so I moved it in time to the film. Turned up the blender sound effect a bit and cut the extras as it wasnt required for the whole scene. More of walking effect had to be turned up. Drums playing ensuring that it were all in one volume on automation. Chairs pushes back sounded muddy. So I went on the EQ to remove the low frequencies. Sorting out the bells during the dinner scene as some of them sounded off so I needed to either put it in time or change the note. At the start of the scene I decided to just have the door handle sound effect play, as I didnt require the music from the film.

Scene 12: The Club Scene/Scene13 Peter Disses Widow: I cut and faded in and out the walking sound effect smoothly. Then I went on the automation to turn down parts where there is talking so that the music can be heard. Then I felt that I needed to hear the dialogue so I turned it up a little bit more. Then I needed to turn up; the party crowd sound effect as there was no dialogue happening. I used the fade tool on the party crowd sound effect as there was clipping and starting and stopping. Then I decided to back and work on the walking sound effect. I tried to copy and paste it over and over with the fadings but it kept clipping and stopping. So I deleted most of it and stretched it out and it sounds clean and tidy. I repeated this process for the party crowd sound effect. Then I added another acoustic guitar in the break down and the ending of the break dancing scene.

Scene 14: Peter and Howie Quit The walking effects didnt need any fadings as they only walked for a small period. When Peter slaps himself at the end; the sound effect of it had to be turned up by going in the Channel EQ and then the music had to be cut down because of the ending; as I wanted the credits and the music to end together. I faded out the main audio after Peter insults ED and also I didnt want to use the films original music to end. For the ending credits I created a simple drum beat and copied on 3 bass channels, the original basement bass and a bass on Latin drum kit. With the African kit it had ruined the track so I got rid of it.

Other Activities during the process: I decided to color coordinate all the scenes so that its easy for me to know what each scene is. I bussed all the sound effects to bus 1 (aux) so that they are all in volume regardless how much automation I put on them.

Sorting out the sound levels as certain scenes are louder than others. Especially with the music.

Problems 1) Computer keeps crashing 2) Sound effects are moved out of place at certain times 3) Sorting sound levels differently as scenes either required no sound, a bit of sound or need to be heard. 4) Sound effects couldnt be found and it had to be imported again VIEW OF THE FINAL PROJECT