Assignment overview
How music changes a story
This project explored how non-diegetic music changes the emotional meaning of a story. I recorded a personal narration about the day I began hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and created two versions using contrasting background music.
The narration remains exactly the same in both versions, but each soundtrack creates a completely different emotional experience.
The story
Standing at the Southern Terminus after months of planning, I felt both excitement and uncertainty before taking the first steps on a journey that ultimately changed the direction of my life.
A/B listening experience
Same narration.
Different worlds.
Listen to the hopeful version first, then the dramatic version. Notice what changes—even though the spoken story does not.
Version 01 · Hopeful / Inspiring
Martin_PacificCrestTrail_Inspiring
Music: North
The uplifting music creates a feeling of adventure, optimism, and new beginnings. It focuses the listener on the possibilities of beginning a life-changing journey.
Version 02 · Dramatic / Suspenseful
Martin_PacificCrestTrail_Suspenseful
Music: Restless World
The dramatic orchestral music transforms the same narration into a story of uncertainty and survival, drawing attention to the risks and unknown challenges ahead.
Reflection
Sound shapes meaning
This assignment demonstrated how powerful non-diegetic music can be in shaping a story. Even though the narration never changes, the emotional response of the audience changes dramatically depending on the soundtrack. The hopeful music makes the story feel inspiring and adventurous, while the dramatic music creates tension and uncertainty. This project reinforced how sound design is an essential storytelling tool in digital media.
View the original assignment brief
Record a story of two minutes or less, create two copies, and add royalty-free music with two distinctly different moods. Post both versions and explain how the choice of non-diegetic music changed the story.