Adding sound to UDK

UDK sound trigger

• Right click on any surface in UDK to open menu. add actor > add trigger.
• Double click green switch where the trigger was created to open properties.
• Click the trigger tab. > click arrow next to cylinder component to expand settings list.
• Adjust height and radius accordingly.
• Open UnrealKismet.
• Right click anywhere in the blank space.
• Neweventusingtrigger_0 > touch.
• Right click on blank space again.
• New action > sound > play sound.
• Sequence act play sound.
• open content browser in order to find the appropriate sound.
• with the right sound selected, click the green arrow in kismet, on the play sound section in the properties window.
• link touch node to play node.
• to adjust max trigger count, left click on the trigger touch node, then go into properties and under the sequence event tab and adjust the numbers. 
• 0 = infinate.

Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition is a sound editing and recording program. I have used this program to chop-up, noise reduce, pitch-shift and rearrange audio. I have used Audition to slow down the electric whirring of the machinery, convert an mp3 file to a wav file and to increase audio gain. I have had previous experience with audio editing software from using Audacity, a free download with some, if not all of the important tools that Audition has. It was almost second nature for to use.

Zoom recorder and recorded sounds

We are required to record our own sounds for inclusion in our UDK levels. In order to do so we had to use the Zoom recorder. An induction had to be undertaken so that we could understand how it worked and what microphones are available for use.

The Zoom has two microphones on top of it and a screen for displaying sound levels and menus. Once the demonstration was complete I went out to record sounds around the city centre. My first location was at the bus station. I used this area to acquire the sound of echoing footsteps in a tunnel. Unfortunately the sound of voices and the music and announcements from the tannoy made the sounds ill-fitting for my level. I then collected sounds from passing traffic and inside the shopping centre for use in the exterior and interior of my level. These suited my needs perfectly.

I did record other sounds from around town but these proved unusable because they were too quiet or non existent. Overall though i am happy with the sounds i have and i hope for next time to get more.

Game level storyboard

Below are the story boards for a potential cutscenes that i have drawn in Photoshop.

 Player character drives through gates. Sound: Car engine, rain on the roof and windscreen wipers.

 Driver proceeds forwards and parks behind police car. Sound: Engine idle then stopping, handbrake and rain.

Player reaches for umbrella on car seat. Sound: rustle of umbrella over car seat.

Driver reaches for the door, opens it and steps out into the rain. Sounds: car door opening, rain getting louder and footsteps landing on wet concrete.

Player opens umbrella in the rain. Sounds: sound of opening umbrella and rain falling on it.

Player walks toward the apartment. Sounds: footsteps on wet floor and rain sounds.

Driver arrives in front of two men and presents badge to them. Sounds: rain and subtle rustling.

Player enters apartment and opens door. Sounds: Closing umbrella, rain on fabric, rain down the drainpipe and door opening.

Player closes door, rests umbrella against wall and walks upstairs. Sounds: umbrella closing and footsteps upstairs.

Royalty free sounds

These sounds were found on royalty free sound effect sites and will be used in my level that i made with UDK.

This is a steam sound effect that will be used in the warehouse where there is alot steam inside.
http://www.sounddogs.com/previews/25/mp3/330534_SOUNDDOGS__ai.mp3

The buzzing sound will also go inside the warehouse near the machines at the back.

http://soundbible.com/1581-Buzz.html

This will be used for the rusty pipes leaking water in the warehouse.

http://www.soundjay.com/nature/sounds/rippling-water-1.mp3

This sound, originally intended for a space ship door will be used for the glowing cylinder under the walk-way.

http://soundbible.com/1284-Space-Ship-Door-Opening.html

Games for the blind

Today i am looking at games for the blind. 

3D snake

This game uses sound exclusively. In the game you have to control a snake towards fruit (that are represented by a dinging sound) in order to grow larger and avoid the walls (portrayed by waves). Playing this game was hard because it was impossible to tell what you are doing or where anything is. When i ran towards the dinging noise i was greeted by an explosion and a scream which results in game over. It was also difficult to tell if this game takes place on a flat or 3D plane of existence.

Noise reduction

In Audition we removed and reduced some interfering sound in two audio files. In the first file i removed a ringing bell and chopping board sounds from an interview with a restaurant owner. In the second file i reduced the ambient sounds of birds from another interview, i did this by highlighting the offending sound and used the capture noise print option from the effects tab under noise reduction/restoration. After capturing the sound i then chose the noise reduction (process) option and clicked on apply in the dialogue box.