Techniques for retro sound design
Karila, Walter (2018)
Karila, Walter
Turun ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018101015855
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018101015855
Tiivistelmä
The development of the aesthetics of retro technology has developed at the same time as computer and media technologies have advanced further during the last few decades. This phenomenon can be observed in different fields of media activities. For instance, digital photographs are processed to resemble analog photography with its technological limitations and artifacts. In the same manner, digital video is processed to have the same sort of artifacts and noise introduced by VHS cassettes. In this thesis, retro aesthetics was researched from a sound
and video game design perspective. The objective was to develop audio production techniques for retro sound creation.
The beginning of the thesis introduces the theory of retro aesthetics with explanations for analytical concepts. Digital game examples using retro design are examined. After the theoretical part, the thesis introduces two sound design techniques which are used to create sounds suitable
for retro sound design. The techniques were realized using the Reaper digital audio workstation and its plug-ins. Two third party plug-ins were used as well.
The first technique is an effect chain which is used to modify a mathematically “pure” wave into resembling the more colored or distorted waves produced by old hardware. This technique worked well and converted the harsh pure sound into a more aesthetically pleasing and retro styled sound.
The second technique was based on graphical spectral modeling synthesis in which a sound wave is created by painting shapes which the synthesizer interprets as certain frequencies according to the coordinates of the dots in a shape and as certain amplitudes according to the hue of the dot. This technique functioned well with producing formant like sounds and in producing different kind of sounds resembling mechanical sound effects used in old digital games.
The conclusion states that a sound designer should be conscious of the theory of aesthetics he submits to. A theory should be used to create a road map for the design which is then used to decide which sort of techniques and technologies are best suited for the targeted style.
and video game design perspective. The objective was to develop audio production techniques for retro sound creation.
The beginning of the thesis introduces the theory of retro aesthetics with explanations for analytical concepts. Digital game examples using retro design are examined. After the theoretical part, the thesis introduces two sound design techniques which are used to create sounds suitable
for retro sound design. The techniques were realized using the Reaper digital audio workstation and its plug-ins. Two third party plug-ins were used as well.
The first technique is an effect chain which is used to modify a mathematically “pure” wave into resembling the more colored or distorted waves produced by old hardware. This technique worked well and converted the harsh pure sound into a more aesthetically pleasing and retro styled sound.
The second technique was based on graphical spectral modeling synthesis in which a sound wave is created by painting shapes which the synthesizer interprets as certain frequencies according to the coordinates of the dots in a shape and as certain amplitudes according to the hue of the dot. This technique functioned well with producing formant like sounds and in producing different kind of sounds resembling mechanical sound effects used in old digital games.
The conclusion states that a sound designer should be conscious of the theory of aesthetics he submits to. A theory should be used to create a road map for the design which is then used to decide which sort of techniques and technologies are best suited for the targeted style.