When Ears Become Eyes - Fakhry Muhammad Rosa and His Love for Music and the Art of Audio Editing

Click... (the soft sound of the Enter key being pressed)

"GoldWave. Untitled. Edit area," the screen reader whispers into Fakhry's ear. 

Like an old friend, the voice welcomes him to the main screen of his favorite audio editing software. This software has faithfully accompanied him through the countless editing sessions he has undertaken. The sounds and rhythms he hears are like pieces of a puzzle---each needing to be carefully arranged into a seamless whole. With his fingers dancing across the keyboard like a pianist over ivory keys, Fakhry eagerly begins his editing.

"If the sound is balanced, it means it is just as I envisioned," Fakhry murmurs, smiling.

Fakhry Muhammad Rosa is a thirty-year-old man who was born with severe low vision, yet his spirit has never faltered in the face of this challenge. He has proven his resilience and passion for life, discovering a love for music as early as his elementary school days. "I started learning music in the fourth grade," Fakhry reminisces, a gentle smile touching his lips. His musical prowess is not to be underestimated. He often performs alongside his bandmates at events held by Yayasan Mitra Netra, official government gatherings, and even wedding celebrations.

His love for music draws him irresistibly into audio recording and editing. Four years after first falling under the spell of music, in his early junior high years, he began exploring this new realm in earnest. The first audio editing software he used was GoldWave. Initially, Fakhry used the software to compress MP3 files so that they would take up less space. "Back then, memory cards had such limited capacity that my friends would often ask me to compress their MP3s so they could fit more files," he recalls, with a laugh.

But from that simple beginning, Fakhry's curiosity blossomed, compelling him to uncover the deeper potential of GoldWave and other audio software. "At first, I learned from my friend, who is also visually impaired, and then I started experimenting on my own. I also joined online forums to figure out how everything worked," he says. Since those early days in junior high, he has been a self-taught student of audio editing, shaping, and refining his skills with unwavering dedication---a journey that continues to this day.

Learning to edit audio with limited visual ability presents a unique challenge for Fakhry. He chooses GoldWave, software endowed with a dedicated add-on for screen readers. Through this auditory guide, each menu and button on his laptop is translated into sound, allowing him to navigate the interface by ear alone. Though he cannot see the waveform, he has trained himself to rely entirely on hearing as his guiding instrument. "Sighted people can trace the rise and fall of sound waves. I find my way with nothing but my ears," he explains.

Though GoldWave is relatively accessible for the visually impaired, not all audio software offers such ease of use. "Software like Cubase is still out of reach, as no add-on exists for it yet," Fakhry explains. When a program proves inaccessible, he must seek out other alternatives. If none can be found, he relies on the global community to develop the necessary add-ons. "Here in Indonesia, no one has made an add-on yet, so I often find myself searching for other software options," he adds.

For twenty-two years, Fakhry has dedicated himself to the art of audio editing, a craft in which he glimpses immense potential for the visually impaired. "In fact," he muses, "audio editing could be a rather promising career path." Fakhry believes that vocations like podcasting, podcast editing, and the delicate craft of mixing and mastering audio are particularly suited to those who are visually impaired, as they rely on the keen precision of hearing over visual perception.

He has met others too---visually impaired individuals who have carved out their own creative spaces in home recording studios, working with software like Reaper that is equipped with screen reader add-ons, which open doors for them.

Fakhry's optimism aligns with the perspective of Loes Van Dam, a Psychology Lecturer at the University of Essex, whose thoughts were published in The Conversation. According to TheConversation.com, the heightened auditory senses of the visually impaired are a profound advantage in this field. In the absence of sight, the brain repurposes the visual cortex, honing it to respond more vividly to information from other senses, especially sound. This adaptation grants the visually impaired a unique prowess in auditory tasks, from discerning the subtle nuances of sound to pinpointing its source and direction.

In addition to being a self-taught musician and audio editor, Fakhry has been a client of the Yayasan Mitra Netra since 2002. Over the years, he has felt countless benefits from being part of this community. "It is wonderful. To me, Mitra Netra is like a nurturing space, a place where I can grow and flourish. It is one of the places that has taught me so much," he remarks. To him, Mitra Netra does not merely help hone his skills; it is a gateway, inviting him to new encounters, discoveries yet unknown, and to the boundless wonder of learning.

In 2023, Fakhry took part in a podcast training program designed for the visually impaired. This initiative---a collaboration between Universitas Multimedia Nusantara and Yayasan Mitra Netra---aimed to enhance the participation of visually impaired individuals in society, inviting their voices into the world of podcasting. The training was part of the Community Service Program supported by the Directorate General of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia. Due to its success, the program is being held again in 2024, allowing even more participants to gain valuable skills in audio production. This year holds a special significance for Fakhry, as he has become one of the training mentors in audio editing in this program. Kelvin Ronaldo, one of the participants whose work was edited by Fakhry, expressed his appreciation for Fakhry's expertise. 'In my opinion, the editing done by Kak Fakhry is excellent, really good. The results were exactly what I expected. Truly impressive,' Kelvin said enthusiastically." Fakhry hopes that in the future, more comprehensive audio training programs will be offered, focusing on advanced techniques such as mixing and mastering. "I would love to learn more about mixing and mastering someday, to truly explore the essence of audio production," Fakhry says, his voice alight with hope.

Fakhry also hopes his friends at Mitra Netra will embrace the same passionate curiosity that drives him to explore audio editing. "I hope my friends at Mitra Netra will immerse themselves more deeply in the world of audio editing. I am confident that in the future, audio editing could become a promising career path," he remarks with a heart full of optimism. In his view, the more visually impaired individuals learn about audio editing, the greater the likelihood that application developers will begin to prioritize accessibility in their products. "If more people delve into it, it will definitely be more exciting. Perhaps one day, developers will start prioritizing accessibility, knowing there are many users," he adds.

Accessibility is inseparable from the support of society for those who are visually impaired. Fakhry emphasizes the importance of this support, especially in the workplace. "Sometimes people hesitate, questioning whether those who are visually impaired are truly capable. But really, all we need is a chance to show what we can do," he asserts. For Fakhry, sincere support and active involvement hold far greater weight than mere curiosity or sympathy.

Beyond his love for music and the art of audio editing, Fakhry channels his creativity into his YouTube channel, Fakhry Muhammad Rosa, where he weaves thoughtful reviews of gadgets and apps with a special focus on accessibility for the visually impaired. From popular platforms like Tokopedia and Grab to the latest smartphones and technological innovations, his insights bridge the gap between innovation and inclusivity.

Fakhry's channel is not solely a haven for tech enthusiasts. It is also a stage for his passion as a musician. He often shares recordings of his band's performances. For Fakhry, performing is more than a pastime. It is a testament to his boundless spirit and a reminder that true creativity and productivity rise beyond the boundaries of limitation.

Authors: Ryan Chen, Keira Putri Minerva, and Athaya Hana Mumtaza (Students of Digital Journalism, Universitas Multimedia Nusantara)