About Sound
Sound is vitally important in the medium of video. It communicates so powerfully that you can create successful programs of audio without video, but not video without audio. Even silent films were not truly soundless. Because stories unfold in absolute silence conveyed an eerie feeling, even the smallest silent movie theaters showed their programs with musical accompaniment.
And yet, sound is often undervalued in video production. In amateur programs especially, the finished audio track may be nothing more than whatever the camcorder's microphone happened to pick up. We will begin with sound's most important role: delivering information.
And yet, sound is often undervalued in video production. In amateur programs especially, the finished audio track may be nothing more than whatever the camcorder's microphone happened to pick up. We will begin with sound's most important role: delivering information.
DIALOGUE
Video is a visual medium, but part of good scriptwriting lies in knowing when it is more efficient to tell something than to show it. Since reading is lengthy and can be tiresome, telling typically involves some form of audible speech, usually dialogue between characters.
In a well-directed story video, dialogue provides information about emotions and characters. Dialogue is also important in many nonfiction videos, where it often takes the form of interviews. Some interviews are presented as conversations between two people on-screen. In other cases, the interview is conducted and edited so that the interviewer is invisible and the questions are unheard.
NARRATION
Often, a person being interviewed begins on screen, but after a few moments the visual component of the interview is replaced by footage that illustrates what the person is talking about, while his or her voice continues on the sound track. This is called a "voiceover", usually abbreviated as "V.O" in scripts. Voice-overs are widely used in documentaries.
SOUND EFFECTS
Sound effects are the noises that come from the world on the screen. Some are recorded with the video and consist of the actual sounds produced by the on-screen action. Many others are laid in by the sound editor in post-production. Typically, the sound effects synchronized with on-screen action are designed to heighten the sense of reality. Although, sound effects are typically used to heighten the effects of visual action they can also deliver information independently of the video.
Video is a visual medium, but part of good scriptwriting lies in knowing when it is more efficient to tell something than to show it. Since reading is lengthy and can be tiresome, telling typically involves some form of audible speech, usually dialogue between characters.
In a well-directed story video, dialogue provides information about emotions and characters. Dialogue is also important in many nonfiction videos, where it often takes the form of interviews. Some interviews are presented as conversations between two people on-screen. In other cases, the interview is conducted and edited so that the interviewer is invisible and the questions are unheard.
NARRATION
Often, a person being interviewed begins on screen, but after a few moments the visual component of the interview is replaced by footage that illustrates what the person is talking about, while his or her voice continues on the sound track. This is called a "voiceover", usually abbreviated as "V.O" in scripts. Voice-overs are widely used in documentaries.
SOUND EFFECTS
Sound effects are the noises that come from the world on the screen. Some are recorded with the video and consist of the actual sounds produced by the on-screen action. Many others are laid in by the sound editor in post-production. Typically, the sound effects synchronized with on-screen action are designed to heighten the sense of reality. Although, sound effects are typically used to heighten the effects of visual action they can also deliver information independently of the video.
ELEMENTS OF SOUND PRODUCTION
CONVEYING IMPLICATIONS
Although sound is often used to supplement the video, its most important informational role is to tell you about things that are not on screen - things that exist only by implication. For example, a mother says goodbye to her daughter and watches her ride away. But what, exactly is the daughter riding in on? We can't tell from the visuals because her transportation remains outside the frame. Now if you added a few sound effects you might visualize the vehicle. With a honk, a hiss, and an engine roar, we have constructed a complete bus and added it to the scene; a bus whose existence is only implied.
SOUND IMPLIES LOCALE
With the bus we assume that the scene is set in a residential area, or a school yard, but if we replaced the engine noise with the sound of a conductor yelling "All ahh Boooard!" we can transform the locale to the railway station. By using sound effects alone we could supply the daughter with four completely different modes of transportation.
SOUND IMPLIES RELATIONSHIPS
Sound is very useful in bringing together and unifying a program components that were originally shot separately. For example, look carefully at the following clip from the "Dukes of Hazzard" series 1983. The exterior shots of the car were probably made on location with stunt doubles doing the driving. The interior with Bo, Duke and Daisie were shot separately, with their car towed safely behind a camera truck. To meld all of these different times and places into a single sequence, the sound editors used three common techniques:
Although sound is often used to supplement the video, its most important informational role is to tell you about things that are not on screen - things that exist only by implication. For example, a mother says goodbye to her daughter and watches her ride away. But what, exactly is the daughter riding in on? We can't tell from the visuals because her transportation remains outside the frame. Now if you added a few sound effects you might visualize the vehicle. With a honk, a hiss, and an engine roar, we have constructed a complete bus and added it to the scene; a bus whose existence is only implied.
SOUND IMPLIES LOCALE
With the bus we assume that the scene is set in a residential area, or a school yard, but if we replaced the engine noise with the sound of a conductor yelling "All ahh Boooard!" we can transform the locale to the railway station. By using sound effects alone we could supply the daughter with four completely different modes of transportation.
SOUND IMPLIES RELATIONSHIPS
Sound is very useful in bringing together and unifying a program components that were originally shot separately. For example, look carefully at the following clip from the "Dukes of Hazzard" series 1983. The exterior shots of the car were probably made on location with stunt doubles doing the driving. The interior with Bo, Duke and Daisie were shot separately, with their car towed safely behind a camera truck. To meld all of these different times and places into a single sequence, the sound editors used three common techniques:
- The laid some of the actors' dialogue in as offscreen voiceovers accompanying the exteriors.
- They continued the car sound effects over shots of the auto's interior.
- They varied the volume, perspective and quality of the dialogue and sound effects from shot to shot to match the different viewpoints of the audience.
Sound is Strengthening Continuity
Sound is great smoother of rough connections. In the Dukes of Hazzard example, those connections are between shots in a sequence. Sound is also used to separate sequences together through a technique called split editing.
A split edit is a transition from one shot to another in which video and audio do no change simultaneously. Either the incoming video is accompanied by a few extra seconds of the outgoing audio or, conversely, the incoming audio is laid over the last part of the outgoing video.
Types of Split Edits
A split edit is a transition from one shot to another in which video and audio do no change simultaneously. Either the incoming video is accompanied by a few extra seconds of the outgoing audio or, conversely, the incoming audio is laid over the last part of the outgoing video.
Types of Split Edits
- Straight Cut
- Split Edit; video leading
- Split Edit; audio leading
- Two-Way split edit - shows audio split both forward and backward.
EVOKING FEELINGS
Sound is very useful for conveying and enhancing feelings, both momentary responses and overall moods. Music is the most powerful mood setter, but sound effects and background noises can also stimulate viewers' emotions.
Sound and Mood
Useful examples:
Sound and Mood
Useful examples:
- Gentle surf and steady rain both sound peaceful and soothing
- Howling wind sends a message of desolate emptiness
- Steady mechanical vibration imparts a mood of tension.
- The sound of busy city streets convey a feeling of energy.
- Jet engine background sound deliver a feeling of power.
- The crackling of logs in an open fire suggests cozy safety.
SOUND EVOKES EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
Other sounds can evoke more specific emotional responses. This is often because they are associated with particular actions or objects.
Other sounds can evoke more specific emotional responses. This is often because they are associated with particular actions or objects.
- Echoing footsteps on concrete create suspense.
- The crackle of crunching bones and the pulpy thud of smashed flesh can arouse disgust and pain.
- The metallic click when a rifle hammer is cocked can provoke a sense of dread.
- The chuckling sound of pouring champagne says warmth and romance.
- Fireworks explosions can signal triumph.
The Role of Music
The most powerful sound tool for evoking emotion is music, and music has been an integral part of movies since their beginnings. Joy, sorrow, excitement, dread, and almost every other human feeling have been summoned by music. Like production sound, sound effects, and background sound, music is treated by sound editors as a separate audio component to be blended with the other sound elements to create a final composition sound track.
The most powerful sound tool for evoking emotion is music, and music has been an integral part of movies since their beginnings. Joy, sorrow, excitement, dread, and almost every other human feeling have been summoned by music. Like production sound, sound effects, and background sound, music is treated by sound editors as a separate audio component to be blended with the other sound elements to create a final composition sound track.
Unrealistic Sounds
Some sound effects are frankly unrealistic, especially in comic programs. For example, running character skids around a corner, we hear the sound effect of squealing tires and when he rushes past the camera he is accompanied by an engine roar. Unrealistic effects can help develop mood and emotion within a film. For example, the sounds in the "Scooby Doo" episode create action and excitement.
Selling Audio Environment - Assignment
1) Download a copy of the "Selling Audio Environment Assignment" and "Video Sound Worksheet"
2) Complete the worksheet and review material for the audio section.
3) Complete the Audio Quiz and submit a your responses to the teacher using the Google Classroom.
4) Working with two partners create a Campfire environment that will be used to reinforce the use of video and audio to create successful effects.
[Instructions included in "Selling Audio Environment Assignment" downloaded from the Google Classroom.]
2) Complete the worksheet and review material for the audio section.
3) Complete the Audio Quiz and submit a your responses to the teacher using the Google Classroom.
4) Working with two partners create a Campfire environment that will be used to reinforce the use of video and audio to create successful effects.
[Instructions included in "Selling Audio Environment Assignment" downloaded from the Google Classroom.]
| unit7.videosound.pdf |