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Music & Sound in association withJungle Studios
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"The Real Magic Happens When We Infuse It with Our Creative Vision and Make It Dance to Our Tune"

22/05/2023
Post Production
Warsaw, Poland
133
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Soundly by Platige sound designers on Wojciech Chołaściński and Jacek Onaszkiewicz on frenquency analysers ability to enhance both aesthetics and quality of sound

Wojciech Chołaściński joined Platige Image in 2016. At Soundly, he’s responsible for producing sound effects for animated content, commercials, and special projects. His credits include SFX work for the 'Fish Night' chapter from Netflix’s animated anthology 'Love, Death and Robots', sound design for the cinematic parts of the Roma Musical Theatre's 'The Pilots', and SFX work for a number of trailers for triple-A video game titles.

During his 25 years in advertising, Jacek 'Dżeksong' Onaszkiewicz has worked with well-known brands such as Play, Opel, Skoda, BMW, Aldi, OLX, PKO, BEKO, Lotto, Wedel, Otomoto, and Whirpool. He also worked on film productions, documentaries, feature films, series, and animations. He is the leader and one of the founders of the legendaryWarsaw group Immanuel and the initiator of KaCeZet & Fundamenty. Since 2023, he has been Sound Designer responsible for sound post-production at Soundly.


LBB> First of all give us an introduction to both what you have chosen to focus on and why it’s so exciting to you personally as someone working in sound.

Wojciech and Jacek> The sound work is mind-blowing in every single aspect! What's truly mind-boggling about this job is that each project is like a whole new adventure, demanding a totally unique game plan. And you know what's wild? Sometimes, when I look back on a project I wrapped up ages ago, I catch myself wondering why I tackled it one way instead of another. Out of the blue, it hits me that I could've gone down a completely different path. It's not like I blundered or could've done it better. It's just that there were alternative paths begging to be explored.


LBB> What past developments or innovations does your chosen topic build upon?

Wojciech and Jacek> I’ve got to say, every single project I've been a part of has played a major role in shaping where I'm at right now. Each venture adds something valuable to our portfolio, and after years of putting in the hard work, we've amassed a treasure trove of experiences we can draw from endlessly. But here's the deal: how we make use of this knowledge in future projects is entirely up to us. It's about staying open-minded, learning from both triumphs and setbacks, and, like I mentioned earlier, bringing an innovative touch to every single endeavour. We can't forget that the world of sound knows no bounds. When it comes to arranging those elements, whether it's harmonious or downright chaotic (because, hey, sometimes chaos is the perfect way to capture what we're dealing with), it's all up to our imagination and how skilfully we wield the expertise we've gained.

Now, let's not neglect the role of technology in our craft. It's an absolute game-changer, no doubt, but it never steals the spotlight. It's all about striking that sweet balance. Going too crazy with it can lead us astray, and trust me, we don't want that. That's why we need to have a crystal-clear vision of our objectives and the impact we're aiming to make. Technology is just a tool, a means to an end. The real magic happens when we infuse it with our creative vision and make it dance to our tune.


LBB> Tell us about some examples of this out in the real world and tell us why you think these examples are so exciting or interesting.

Wojciech and Jacek> Check out the trailer for the game 'Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt' for a killer example. They've set a cool standard where the music doesn't kick in right from the start. Instead, both the music and sound design develop side by side. It's all about tight communication between the sound designer and the composer. We vibe together, syncing our visions. In this case, I only had the director's vision and a few musical references to work with initially. Armed with those, I crafted atmospheres, footsteps, and body movements - stuff that doesn't overshadow the music. If it does, no worries, we can tweak it later. When the music arrives, even in its raw form, I can instinctively figure out the right equalisation and compression to apply. That's key because it allows the music and sound design to carve out their distinct sonic territories. So, my main focus is to listen to the music and find spots where I can seamlessly blend my elements. And shoutout to frequency analysers for lending a hand along the way.


LBB> Have you had the chance to work on a project that uses this development/technology/innovation and if so what did you learn from that experience?

Wojciech and Jacek> There's one tool in my arsenal that I absolutely can't live without: the frequency analyser. It's my secret weapon for taking sound measurements and diving deep into the essence of what I'm working on. By knowing the exact frequency range, I can strategically position sounds with precision akin to that of a master craftsman. Plus, it grants me the power to tweak the volume levels just the way I want. All of this is to ensure that the final outcome is nothing short of extraordinary.


LBB> For non-specialist readers, what are the technical aspects that we need to know about in order to grasp this development or topic?

Wojciech and Jacek> A frequency analyser, also known as a signal and spectrum analyser, is like having X-ray vision for sound. It displays the entire audible frequency range of a sound material on a graph, giving us a visual representation of the music. It's like peering into the very soul of the sound, seeing where it's vibrant and where it's mellow. This invaluable insight helps us pinpoint the perfect spots to place our crafted sounds.

But wait, there's more! This device is a powerhouse of possibilities. With the built-in equaliser, a set of magical filters, we can fine-tune the tone, boost specific frequencies, and set cut off points. The result? An amplified sonic experience, both during the production process and when it's time for playback. Working with the frequency analyser is like getting a manicure for your sound - it enhances both the aesthetics and the quality.

Let me break it down with a couple of simple examples. Imagine we're working on a cartoon film, and we want to make a mouse's voice sound just right. By adding high frequencies, we can make it seem smaller, more squeaky. And if we toss in some low frequencies, that same mouse can suddenly become menacing, giving it that 'watch out, I mean business' kind of vibe. 


LBB> What are the challenges that you have to take into account when considering or working within this area?

Wojciech and Jacek> The world of sound is an incredibly diverse realm. As a sound engineer, you have the freedom to carve your own path based on your unique set of skills and interests. You can choose to specialise in a specific area, whether it's capturing the perfect notes in a music recording, conjuring up immersive soundscapes for movies, games, commercials, or any other creative materials that come your way. 

You know what's the real deal in the sound technician profession? The ability to thrive under pressure. When you're working on productions like films or games, where multiple teams are involved and things happen in sequence (I mean, who can imagine creating music before or simultaneously with the visuals in a film, right?), time becomes a precious commodity. That's when your skills as a time-management wizard come into play. You need to hustle, because there's hardly any time left for individual tasks. 

In our line of work, we're all about sound and music, and it's easy to label ourselves as artists. But here's the kicker: Sometimes, we’ve got to face the reality that things might not align with our personal preferences or we might have a different vision from the ones commissioning the work. It doesn't mean we're just mindless executors following someone else's orders. We're more than that. And this brings me to a crucial point every sound engineer should possess: good energy. Some may call it creativity, but it's all about the same thing. Even when we're bringing someone else's vision to life, we shouldn't be afraid to inject our own flavour into the mix. 


LBB> Looking forward, what is the bigger picture for this topic? Is it something that you think we will see more of? Do you think there are other potential applications? If it’s something we haven’t seen brands/agencies look into, is there potential in that space?

Wojciech and Jacek> In today's world, technology is advancing at an astonishing pace. And guess what? Our industry is no exception. Every step of the way, we come across mind-boggling innovations that were unimaginable just a few short years ago. I recently had an astounding experience of hearing a voice generated by AI. It got me thinking, and I bet I'm not the only one, about the future of human voice. Will there come a time when machines can fully embody real emotions like joy, sadness, resentment, rage, or irony?

One thing's for certain: the future is bound to be a wild ride. As technology continues to advance and unleash its mind-blowing power upon us, it's crucial that we never lose sight of what truly defines us as humans. Mutual respect, love, and cultivating those deep, trusting connections - they're the secret sauce to achieving greatness, both now and in the future. These are the timeless ingredients that have propelled us forward, and they will forever remain essential.

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