Like many, I find it a bit difficult to set aside time for ear training, so I was looking for a more on-the-go alternative, preferably something I could do from a mobile device. It could be just a couple minutes a day, on a lunch break, at the gym, or waiting in line somewhere. Consistent ear training can really help you develop your skills over time. Like anything in life, consistency is one of the biggest factors in personal growth, so I find convenience and accessibility to be big factors in whether or not I will be able to consistently practice something. With so many people streaming from their phones, tablets, laptops, etc., I think ear training on any device has actually become increasingly helpful.
As I’m building upon my sound editing skills, a critique I often receive is that my sound effects build is not utilizing a fuller frequency range, so it’s not as impactful during previews. Developing a dynamic frequency range into my builds isn’t just important for having powerful sound moments, it’s also essential for ensuring that the sound effects translate on all possible listening platforms, like a huge Dolby Atmos theatre and tiny pair of ear buds. In order to tackle this challenge, I asked two of our supervising sound editors, Brad Meyer, MPSE, and Tess Fournier, MPSE, to play a frequency-association game. I named some commonly referenced frequency ranges, and they followed up with sound effects that come to mind, and why these particular ranges are valuable for creating effective sound effects builds.
