- 1. Mini Project SoundScape for Games Console Author: University
of Hertfordshire Date created: Date revised: 2009Abstract:The
following resources come from the 2009/10 BSc in Music Technology
(course number 2ELE0077) from the University of Hertfordshire. All
the mini projects are designed as level two modules of the
undergraduate programmes.The objectives of this module are to
demonstrate within a digital audio environment: an understanding of
audio requirements for digital editing. an awareness of technical
constraints for content management and creation. the creation of
immersive multitrack sound sequences, within a games
environment.Students will be provided with a library of audio
samples, captured from a range of sources, from which they must
select and edit into a short duration, professional quality
multitrack sound sequence. The project provides students with an
awareness of current audio standards and also the need to
technically appraise the content of source material. The project
also introduces the use of contemporary digital authoring tools and
processes. Contents Mini Project SoundScape for Games Console
......................................................................................................1Section
1. Project
Specification................................................................................................................................2Section
2. Project Day 1 Tasks
Brief..........................................................................................................................5Section
3. Project Day 2 Tasks
Brief..........................................................................................................................8Section
4. Project Intro and Preparation
Checklist...................................................................................................9Credits....................................................................................................................................................................12
In addition to the resources found below there are supporting
documents which should be used in combination with this resource.
Please see:Mini Projects - Introductory presentation. Mini Projects
- E-Log. Mini Projects - Staff & Student Guide. Mini Projects -
Standard Grading Criteria. Mini Projects - Reflection. University
of Hertfordshire 2009 This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
2. Mini Project- Soundscape for Games ConsoleSection 1. Project
Specification.1. Learning Outcomes assessed (as taken from the DMD)
All Learning Outcomes specified in the Definitive Module
Documentation are assessed as part of this miniproject, the
specific Learning Outcomes are: Knowledge and Understanding be able
to analyse and breakdown problem tasks into manageable steps.
integrate previous and concurrent learning and to use it to solve
technology-based problems. be able to describe the project
life-cycle appropriately. be able to select appropriate Music
Technology and techniques for a given situation. Skills and
Attributes produce a solution to a defined music technology
problem. carry out a simple critical evaluation of their solution.
demonstrate an ability to work effectively in a teams, small groups
and individually. demonstrate an ability to manage time and
resources effectively. 2. Project Title: Soundscape For Games
Console 3. Project Objectives: (technical, specific to this
project)Demonstrate within a digital audio environment: an
understanding of audio requirements for digital editing. an
awareness of technical constraints for content management and
creation. the creation of immersive multitrack sound sequences,
within a games environment. 4. Project Summary: (50 words
max)Students will be provided with a library of audio samples,
captured from a range of sources, from which they must select and
edit into a short duration, professional quality multitrack sound
sequence. The project provides students with an awareness of
current audio standards and also the need to technically appraise
the content of source material. The project also introduces the use
of contemporary digital authoring tools and processes. 5.
Introductory Lecture (2hrs) Content: Introduction to digital audio.
Use of digital audio editing tools (Adobe Audition) and Cross
Platform Audio Creation Tool Use of XNA Game Studio for embedding
audio into games. Content management strategies, technical
standards for content creation, Audio Studio techniques. 6.
Preparation Session (3hrs): Page 2 of 12 3. Mini Project-
Soundscape for Games Console i. An introduction to digital audio
editing using Adobe Audition and a dedicated set of Classroom-in-a-
book tutorials. ii. An introduction to XNA Game Studio through a
set of tutorials.iii. Defining technical parameters for source
capture.iv.Content Appraisal. 7. Day 1Expected Outcomes for the
day:Students working individually must create an immersive
multi-positioning sequence for a game console (e.g. XBOX 360) which
provides the audio back-drop and effects for a mini-game. A
briefing pack which contains instructions, the clip and supporting
narrative will be provided at the start of the day. An intermediate
goal for day 1 is the appropriate selection and creation of the
sound effects.Assessment criteria; the way in which the work has
been planned and managed, the selecting and placing of audio clips
within the soundscape appropriate to the mini-game, the technical
parameters considered and the compression strategies used for the
target media.Key Tasks: Project Planning; developing an appropriate
strategy to meet a specific set of technical requirements. Content
Capture; selection of appropriate audio samples. Audio Editing
techniques, mixing and effects, stereo imaging, multi-positioning
sound sequence. Technical Appraisal; processing of source material
(selection and parameter settings), compression strategies. 8. Day
2Expected Outcomes for the day:Students working in small groups
must embed the audio to the mini-game and demonstrate positioning
of sound within the mini-game. The mini-game will be demonstrated
using the game console and must deliver the effects intended. A
briefing pack which contains instructions, the clip and supporting
narrative will be provided at the start of the day. An intermediate
goal for day 2 will be; embedding the audio to the
mini-game.Assessment criteria; the way in which the work has been
managed, embedding of the audio back-drop and effects, the
positioning of sound within the mini-game and the compression
strategies used for the target delivery platform.Key Tasks: Project
Planning; developing an appropriate strategy to meet a specific set
of technical requirements. Compilation of content; students working
in groups and individually to create the required range of audio
source materials. Embedding of audio contents and positioning of
sound within the mini-game. Technical Appraisal; processing of
source material (selection and parameter settings), compression
strategies. 9. Facilitator guidance (key ideas to draw out from
students):Day 1: Digital Audio standards, mixing, editing,
technical appraisal of content for stereo & surround sound. Day
2: Embedding of audio content, coordination of team effort,
processing sound (individual working).Page 3 of 12 4. Mini Project-
Soundscape for Games Console10. Required Resources: Laboratory
Facilities and Teaching Support. Laboratory Resources: 1. PC
Workstations with analogue and digital capture facilities, audio
editing using Adobe Audition.2. PC Workstations with XNA Game
Studio, and Cross Platform Audio Creation Tool.3. Access to our
dedicated media server which will contain libraries of both audio
and video clips.4. Access to XBOX 360 Development Environment and
surround sound system.5. Headphones. Teaching Resources:6.
Preparatory Session; classroom-in-a-book tutorial exercises with
supporting audio samples.7. Day 1; briefing pack containing
instructions for the day with source materials.8. Day 2; briefing
pack for the day; additional source materials, team allocations for
group work. Page 4 of 12 5. Mini Project- Soundscape for Games
ConsoleSection 2. Project Day 1 Tasks Brief Part 1: Setting the
SceneYou will be presented with a scenario at the start of Day 1.
You will then be required to plan and design a theme to the game in
order to immerse the player into different emotional state (happy,
sad, eerie, funny or a combination of the above).Part 2: Planning
and preparation of wave filesYou are required to prepare the
following files in readiness for Day 2 of the mini project. You
will also be required to write a short description of how the wave
file was composed (i.e. combination of several wave file from the
library named sample1.wav and sample2.wav, generation of DTMF tones
and post processing using xx filters). Please submit this sheet and
the wave files (zipped) towards the end of the mini project
session.FilenameTypeWave file made using... Beep.wavSound
effectBleep.wav Sound effectBrakeCurveMajor.wav Sound
effectBrakeCurveMinor.wav Sound effectBrakeMajor.wavSound
effectBrakeMinor.wavSound effectCarCrashMinor.wav Sound
effectCarCrashTotal.wav Sound effectPage 5 of 12 6. Mini Project-
Soundscape for Games ConsoleCarLose.wavSound
effectCheckpointBetter.wav Sound effectCheckpointWorse.wavSound
effectGear1.wavSound effectGear1ToGear2.wav Sound
effectGear2.wavSound effectGear2ToGear3.wav Sound
effectGear3.wavSound effectGear3ToGear4.wav Sound
effectGear4.wavSound effectGear4ToGear5.wav Sound
effectGear5.wavSound effectPage 6 of 12 7. Mini Project- Soundscape
for Games Consolemenu_buttonclick.wav Sound
effectmenu_highlight.wav Sound effectmenu_screenback.wa Sound
effect v menu_screenclick.wav Sound effectRacingGame GameSound
track Music 1.wav RacingGame GameSound track Music 2.wav RacingGame
MenuSound track Music 2.wav Victory.wavSound trackPage 7 of 12 8.
Mini Project- Soundscape for Games ConsoleSection 3. Project Day 2
Tasks BriefPart 1: Obtaining the game template.You will be
presented with a Game Template - RacingWin.zip. Extract the file
into your working folder and run the game initially to ensure that
it is working.Part 2: Replace the audio filesReplace the game wav
files with the ones generated from last week. You will need to
ensure that the sound files can be read from XACT before compiling
and running the game in XNA Game Studio Express. Remember that the
sound effects and sound tracks for the game should be focused on a
certain theme. You will most likely have to repurpose some of your
sound effects to suit the effects in game. If youre having Wav
files compatibility issues with XACT, consult what you have done in
Day 1 and preparation day. There is a certain wav format that works
well with XACT.Part 3: Demonstrate the game to your tutorOnce you
have completed the task, demonstrate the game to your tutor. You
may leave once you have completed your demonstration. Remember to
submit your e-Log towards the end of the session and your
reflection sheet a few days after.Theme: Completion and
appropriateness of:Sound tracks012 345 6 78 910Sound effects012 345
6 78 910 Page 8 of 12 9. Mini Project- Soundscape for Games
ConsoleSection 4. Project Intro and Preparation ChecklistPart 1:
Familiarisation with Adobe Audition 1. The Classroom in a book
series for Adobe Audition; If youre unfamiliar with Adobe Audition,
go through at least the following tutorial:a. 01_Create a looping
soundtrack.docb. 02_Audition_the_basic.docc.
03_Audition_glossary.doc 2. Experiment by creating a few sound
effect clips through generation of DTMF signals, Noises and
Tone.Part 2: Familiarisation with Microsoft Cross-Platform Audio
Auditioning Tool 1. Download SpaceWarWin.zip and extract this to
your working folder. Unzip the files and double click on the file
SpaceWarWin.sln. This will launch XNA Game Studio Express. 2. Click
on the PLAY button to start the game. You will notice that the
sound effects and music soundtrack in this particular game isnt
quite up to modern standards. 3. DO NOT EDIT ANY OF THE C# CODES.
In solution explorer ( ), navigate to SpaceWarWin-
>Content->Audio->Waves->SpaceWar.xap. Right-click your
mouse button on this file and select Open With. Choose Microsoft
Cross-Platform Audio Creation Tool XACT (Figure ). 4. Familiarise
yourself with the relationship between:a. Wave Banksb. Sound
Banksc. Cue Name 5. It may be worthwhile revisiting a particular
tutorial on the Going Beyond series: Tutorial 3: Making Sounds with
XNA Game Studio Express and XACT (Figure , Figure 41). 6. Revisit
the sound effects generated using Adobe Audition and attempt to
infuse the game with your newly engineered sound tracks/effect. 7.
You may also be required to re-create more relevant sound
track/effects in the context of the SpaceWar game.Page 9 of 12 10.
Mini Project- Soundscape for Games Console Figure 1 XNA Game Studio
Express solution explorer Figure 2 Microsoft Cross-Platform Audio
Authoring Platform (XACT)Page 10 of 12 11. Mini Project- Soundscape
for Games Console Figure 3 Location of Going Beyond Tutorial 3:
Making Sounds with XNA Game Studio Express and XACT Figure 41
Location of Going Beyond Tutorial 3: Making Sounds with XNA Game
Studio Express and XACT Page 11 of 12 12. Mini Project- Soundscape
for Games ConsoleCreditsThis resource was created by the University
of Hertfordshire and released as an open educational resource
through the Open Engineering Resources project of the HE Academy
Engineering Subject Centre. The Open Engineering Resources project
was funded by HEFCE and part of the JISC/HE Academy UKOER
programme. University of Hertfordshire 2009This work is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.The name of the
University of Hertfordshire, UH and the UH logo are the name and
registered marks of the University of Hertfordshire. To the fullest
extent permitted by law the University of Hertfordshire reserves
all its rights in its name and marks which may not be used except
with its written permission.The JISC logo is licensed under the
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No
Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales Licence. All
reproductions must comply with the terms of that licence.The HEA
logo is owned by the Higher Education Academy Limited may be freely
distributed and copied for educational purposes only, provided that
appropriate acknowledgement is given to the Higher Education
Academy as the copyright holder and original publisher.Microsoft
product screen shots reprinted with permission from Microsoft
Corporation.Microsoft, Visual C# and XNA are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries.Abode and Audition are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated
in the United States and/or other countries. Page 12 of 12