Sound Design Projects
The Arsonists
Max Frisch
Directed by Kristy Dodson
Year: 2020
Textual Analysis and Research
Cue Breakdown
Prior to actually doing any sound work, the sound team was tasked with analyzing the text: the characters, the setting, where we might see certain sounds, etc. We also gathered any materials that we wanted to base this project off of and studied them. Examples include the attic having creepy or unsettling ambiences, the firefighters being similar to the Greek fates.
The vibe of the show was absurd, but uncomfortable. It is a black comedy, so there were initially a lot of ambiences, but as the plot ramped up, we had more cues triggered off of lines. The timing took a lot of work. I worked closely with the SPAT designer to send the QLAB output wherever they needed to be. There were lots of 4th wall breaks, or ambience cuts when a character directly addressed the audience. Every scene had some kind of ambience coming from the speakers; this was done so that any time the ambience was removed, it made the audience uncomfortable without them being able to pinpoint why.
Final Scene
In act 6, the density of cues ramps up dramatically as the show reaches its climax. The timing took a lot of communication between myself and the director. 6 explosions surrounding the audience getting progressively closer until a final, incredibly loud explosion rocks the theater.
Dead Pixel
Year: 2023
Dead Pixel was a collaboration between UW Stout programmers and Michigan Tech sound students. Click the image below to view full demo or listen to some examples to the right.
Darkness Box
Written by Ursula K. Le Guin
Year: 2023
Sound design work for an audio drama version of Ursula K. Le Guin's Darkness Box. A group project; the original is a 5.1 bounce, but the demos are only in stereo.