Re: [microsound] Sound Design Rec.

[Kerry Uchida <kerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

jt wrote:

> I hope this is not too far off topic, but I am a young guy looking to get
> started in sound design and I would like to know what skills are most
> valuable in the field.
>
> I have been working with audio software/hardware for quite a while now and
> understand most of the principles involved with synthesis, mixing, etc.

The best skills are a good set of ears.
Learn to "picture" the sound design you or your client
are looking for and then utilize the tools that you
have and know to create this soundscape. Using
your ears during the process to listen to if you
are actually achieving the sounds you are looking
for.

>
> My real question seems to be then: what is the best way to present this
> knowledge in a form such that someone can get an idea of my abilities. I do
> create music, but I was wondering if there are any other areas that I should
> create examples for.

First of all I think you need to be clear about what exactly it is
that you want to do.  Sound Design can be looked upon
from many different aspects: synth sound design, film sound
design, installation sound design, gaming sound design, etc...
Each type of Sound Design as a "Job" will have different
challenges to them: technical, financial, creative etc.  It's
one thing to be able to create a bunch of sounds and
call yourself a sound designer.  I don't think there are
many contracts out there where you'll get paid to go
into your bedroom studio for a weekend and make
a bunch of sounds and burn them to CD.  Pre-production
meetings, screenings, materials gathering, equipment gathering,
experiments, tests, presentations, reviews, reworking,
new experiments, re-present, re-work, final approvals,
final formatting, delivery, backing up, invoicing.  These
are all other "abilities" that you will need to work in sound
design.
\
The demo tape, is just that, a demo of what you can
create.  You'll need to tailor this tape to your the
needs of what your client is looking for.  Presenting
them some techno music when they are looking
for some sounds for their Flash buttons for a
web site they are constructing may not be appropriate.

Start listening to your world around you.
What sounds has someone designed?