Some More Sound Design

Here's some extra practice. The task was to utilize a few provided samples of propeller planes and helicopters to create a sound for something. It could be a vehicle, an environment, an effect, ANYTHING! So where to start?

Then I recalled a futuristic three-wheeled vehicle design done by a concept designer and good friend of mine by the name of Jedd Chevrier. While he specializes in environmental and character design, his automobile concepts are, nonetheless, excellent. This vehicle obviously does not exist in today's world (at least to my knowledge), so it doesn't have any characteristics besides a still photo. Worst of all, it makes no sound - yet. So I figured this would be a pretty good start.

(Click here to see Jedd's work, and here to see this specific piece)

I could always have just made a few simple engine sounds, some electric humming, and tires squealing  but that would have been kind of boring to listen to. So I designed an entire soundscape around this vehicle above.

It begins with you. You approach the three wheeled vehicle in what is about to be its first speed run on the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah. You're about to be the first three wheeled vehicle to break the sound barrier without a turbine engine system. You hop in and close the cockpit and are introduced to a whir of beeps and hums that reassure you the vehicle is in prime condition on a sunny day.You let the engine idle for a moment or two, and then you're off...

As the task was to use the provided samples (being two idling helicopter sounds, a propeller airplane engine sound, a canopy lock and servo sound) to design something, I tried not to go too crazy. I ultimately layered the three engine sounds together, and utilized a Michael Norris - Blur plugin on the propeller plane and one of the helicopter sounds (the Michael Norris plugins are a free bundle of multiple plugins that are GREAT for sound design. Get them here). The blur plugin gave me more of a smoothed out sound from the repetitive propeller blade chopping, and transformed it into something that sounded more like the whir of an electric car. I often find inspiration when I jump in and start doing something, rather than sitting back and planning it out. This whirring sound result gave me that creative spark. I began to picture this futuristic three wheeler as without a motor, meaning no heavy, chugging piston sounds. Instead, I wanted something that sounded more like a Toyota Prius and an F-4 Phantom. So after a bit of EQing and blurring, I got the engine sound. Then, I put it in the environment!

I could definitely add more onto this, but I thought it'd be more fitting to the assignment to leave it as is. It sounded a bit boring on its own, so I thought the accompanying soundscape would add some interesting action to it. Hope you feel the same. Enjoy!

-Matthew Morrison