Review Video Bumper & Add Sound

[terracoda]

Sarah has created a new video bumper.

Here's the final version to review: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M1I9OK4I7VMM4gzm-fyiBieOPWSL67hi/view?usp=share_link

Sarah needs @emily-phet to have a final look before @Ashton-Morris adds sound to it.

Assigning to @emily-phet to comment that it is good to add sound, and to assign the issue to @Ashton-Morris.

Related to issue #181

[emily-phet]

This looks beautiful! Two comments:

• The opening PhET logo (PhET / Interactive Simulations - large on the screen) looks a little funny. The "Simulations" text is the thinner font, and it looks a little pixelated on my computer. Does it look like that to others?
• It's very fast. With all the animations it feels a little too fast. So I think we either decrease some of the animations, or let it be a few seconds longer overall. (A little longer is fine with me, like 10 seconds total).

[terracoda]

I agree with @emily-phet, that it feels fast. Slowing down the airplane, allowing for time to read the text at a relatively normal rate:

• PhET Interactive Simulations
• Inclusive Features
• {{Feature Title}}

would push the intro to about 10 seconds. I like the suggestion of slowing things down.

[terracoda]

I think the slower bumper looks good in Voicing and Alt Input videos.

[terracoda]

Tagging @emily-phet in case you haven't reviewed the new bumper yet.

[Ashton-Morris]

I worked on three SFX bumper examples which you can view and listen to below.

• PhET Intro Bumper SFX Standard.mp4
• PhET Intro Bumper SFX Minimal.mp4
• PhET Intro Bumper SFX Magic Spells.mp4 ;-)

[terracoda]

Nice work Ashton. I like them all.

Sound is not my forte, so take my feedback with that in mind.

Personally, I like the lightness of the minimal version the best. That preference might have to do with volume of the the sounds in all the bumpers.

There seems to be a little flutter sound on the airplane in the magic version one which I like. I would be curious to hear what others think about the swoosh sound on the airplane. The plane is flying pretty fast, but I feel like a bit of a lighter swoosh - something more paper-y; maybe with the flutter - could give air plane a lighter feel?

But honestly, I defer to others because my ear is not the best critic.

[terracoda]

@emily-phet, what do you think?

[terracoda]

Just adding: And I like the sparkly magic sound, too. I am wondering how the bumpers would sound with the voice over, "PhET Interactive Simulations presents Inclusive Features"? Any chance of pairing the sound with the voice over?

[emily-phet]

Hmm, I'm not sure if this is intended to stand alone, or if it's intended to have music playing in the background as well.

I've been imagining that there would be a musical riff that played for the intro (made by @Matthew-Moore240, I think), like other PhET videos, the also had a swooshing sound. So with that in mind, the minimal swooshing would probably make the most sense so there's not competition between the airplane sounds and the intro music.

I agree with Taliesin that as it is in the links with only the airplane sound, it sounds a bit heavy. Not sure if it needs that heaviness to work with music playing as well. Maybe if there was a little bit of a rustling quality to it, like you would get with a relatively flimsy paper in the wind, would help give more of a "paper airplane" feel.

@Ashton-Morris If you know of a way to get that kind of rusting quality without a lot of effort, go for it. If it's unclear or very effortful, let's just see how the current sound effects sound with music layered in.

Additionally, I would love to try having the text on screen read out - no additional words. Just "PhET Interactive Simulations", "Inclusive Features" "Feature Name" as these appear on screen. @terracoda I think you were planning to record your own voice saying these things after last week's meeting, correct?

[terracoda]

SB shared a version with the voice and I like the one that says presents, but they both work well. I also like the one where the music starts with the start of the inclusive feature. That creates a nice transition after the swoosh, or maybe with the final swoosh.

[terracoda]

@emily-phet, there are now bumper versions with the music and voice overs.

Sarah asked me to try

• "PhET Interactive Simulations presents Inclusive Features" + "Feature Name" as well as
• "PhET Interactive Simulations" + "Inclusive Features" + "Feature Name"

"INTRODUCTION_TO_Interactive_Description_v3" has music and voice over with "presents". "Inclusive_Feature_Bumper_Full_Audio" has it without "presents".

And "Inclusive_Features_Bumper_no_music" has the music come in at the end.

I personally, like the music coming in at the end, but I am good with what others like.

[Ashton-Morris]

I think I made some nice improvements based on your feedback. I also tested it with some of Matthew's music in the background and I think it will work however we set it up.

• PhET Intro Bumper SFX Soften and Paper Rustles.mp4 - To view and listen

• PhET Intro Bumper SFX Soften and Paper Rustles.wav - Audio file only so it can be edited with he video

[emily-phet]

Yup - I like the rustling!

[terracoda]

I think everyone reviewed this version. I can post another issue, or reopen this one if there is more to review.

[terracoda]

I think the bumper is complete, and we are just working on videos, so closing for now.