3 Common Sound Redesign Mistakes (And How To Fix Them)
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As a sound designer, I’ve seen commonly reoccurring mistakes in my students’ sound redesigns. In this post, I will share three of those common sound redesign mistakes and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Misuse of Reverb
The first mistake I see sound designers make is misusing reverb. There are two common mistakes regarding reverb.
The first is using too much reverb where the mix is set to 100% (or close to it). If you are looking to recreate a realistic environment sound, it is best to use convolution reverb. As a general rule, your mix setting can usually stay between 0% and 25% but that will always depend on the perspective, distance of the object, and desired effect. Use your ear to make the best choice.
The second is using reverb as a substitute for ambience sounds rather than allowing elements in the surroundings to provide the ambience. To fix this, make sure to include ambience sounds such as room tone, wind, and any other elements of the environment as their own sound source.
Mistake #2: Lack of Details
The second common mistake in sound redesigns is not having enough details.
Lack of detail usually comes as a result of missing sounds and sometimes, I have even noticed dead spots where there is complete silence in a mix. This should not really happen unless it is for intentional reasons.
Some common things that people forget to design include environmental sounds (weather, cars, birds, pedestrians, etc.) distant sounds, or sounds from objects that may not be on the camera.
Keep in mind that when you are redesigning clips from games where music was present, you need to add a lot more detail, attention, and clarity to make the sound and mix feel fuller and more alive. Generally speaking, more sounds are needed to cover the role the music was taking.
Mistake #3: What’s Most Important?
The third common mistake to avoid in redesigns is a lack of hierarchy and importance.
It may happen that all sounds present will be important in the redesign, but usually, there will be only one or two that should be brought out.
The avoid this mistake, I like to add markers in my DAW to label the important moments in the redesign and add notes as to what I want to communicate to the player/listener.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as a sound designer, it is important to avoid these three common sound redesign mistakes: misusing reverb, lacking details, and lacking hierarchy. Using your critical ear and having a clear vision for the mix can help you create a fuller and more alive sound redesign.
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