Sound DesignRadio, theater, film……..

Elements of Sound Design

Objects - The things we have to work with to create soundtracks. Dialogue Sound Effects Music Silence

Techniques - What we can do with the objects.

Mixing - the combination of..., the balance and control of amplitude of multiple sound elements.

Pace - Time control. Editing. Order of events: linear, non-linear, or multi-linear sounds

Transitions - How you get from one segment or element to another.

Segue - one element stops, the next begins. "Cut" in film.

Crossfade - one element fades out, the

next fades in, they overlap on the way.

Transitions continued…

V-Fade - First element fades to inaudible before the second element begins.

Fade to Black - V-Fade with some silence between elements.

Waterfall - As first element fades out, the second element begins at full volume. Better for voice transitions, than for effects.

Kinds and Categories of Sound Effects

Real and Unreal Kinds of Sound Effects: Literal Effects - are intended to sound like

what it is supposed to be. It associates in our minds with specific events, and tells us clearly what is happening. Once established, they can be used again to return to a place, event, or image, easily and quickly.

What are the elements of a sound that create that desired image, or make that particular association? (Running water: add to it the sound of moving a shower curtain, and it is distinguished from brushing teeth or washing dishes.)

Real and Unreal Kinds of Sound Effects:

Non-literal Effects - are sounds used to indicate an event, without being "like" the actual sound of it. Especially for things that don't really make a characteristic sound: what do ghosts sound like? Or sharks passing under water? Often music will be used.

Categories of Sound Effects

Ambience (atmospheres or backgrounds) - Provide a sense of place where, and perhaps of time when, events occur.

Background sounds which identify location, setting, or historical time. "Every place on the planet has its own voice. And that voice changes with the time of day and time of the year."

Categories of Sound Effects

Discrete (Spot) Effects - Indicate individual events; tell what, how, and how much. Brief individual effects, or composite of effects,

specifically placed and timed for a single action.

Foley Effects are incidental naturalistic sounds of movement and business, recorded to match the action. Foley effects are Spot effects, but spot effects are not always Foley effects. Named after Jack Foley, a Second Unit director for Universal Studios in the 1950's. Many spot effects can be made with the mouth, the

hands, or with small noisemakers.

Categories of Sound Effects

Wallas - Crowds. "Walla walla" of many people in a crowded situation, without specific voices or words being distinguishable. “Soda, water, cheese and crackers….”

Categories of Sound Effects

Dialogue - Don't forget that dialogue is sound, too. The character of the voice indicates a lot about who the character is. Also think about vocal contrast; choosing voices that differ enough to be easily identified and differentiated by the listener.

Categories of Sound Effects

Silence. …

A dramatic element. It can be very loud.

Layering

Mixing two or more sounds together to create a combined sound that is more than each of the individual sounds alone. Often consists of non-specific background with added "associative" sounds to help identify or differentiate specifics.

Examples of Layering…

Restaurant scene might begin with voices and kitchen noises in background, then add foreground plates, silverware, and pouring of wine begin to define what kind of restaurant we're in.

Wilderness scene might have birds and insects, but you add distant wolf howls, or close up footsteps, and chain saws, and the story already begins to unfold without any dialogue.

Source:http://www.greatnorthernaudio.com/audio_theater/Sound_Effects.html

The script…Flash Gordon

SFX: Plane goes down, then siren.

ANNCR: The plane lurches into a spinning nose dive. Flash Gordon's trained muscles carry him across the aisle to the frightened girl, to gather her in his arms and then leap free of the falling plane. And pulling the ripcord of his parachute, glides to Earth.

SFX: Siren out.

FLASH: Don't be frightened, Dale. The plane has crashed, we're safe.

DALE: Yes, thanks to you.

FLASH: Hold fast, we're landing …now? Careful?

BOTH: GRUNT AS THEY LAND

Flash Gordon cont…FLASH: Are you all right, Dale?

DALE: Yes.

FLASH: Good

DALE: Oh, look, Flash! There's a large steel door. It's closing!

SFX: Steel door closing

FLASH: Why, that's the laboratory of the great scientist, Dr. Hans Zarkov. He's coming this way! I'll call him to help us. (CALLS OUT!) I hope you'll pardon us for breaking in on you so unceremoniously, Doctor, but you see, we had to bail out.

ZARKOV: (GERMAN ACCENT) I see you for what you are -- spies! Come to steal my secrets! But I have the answer for that. Come with me!

Radio Play Resources online…

Radio Play Scripts online: http://www.genericradio.com/library.php Includes…Flash Gordon, The Lone Ranger, The

Shadow, Green Hornet, Superman!!!

Sound effects online: http://libraryvoices.wordpress.com/2009/03/ http://www.grsites.com/sounds/ http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/PIRsfx.shtml

Back in the day….

Back before there were televisions and computers, there was radio. Families of the 1930s and 1940s would gather around the radio and listen to their favorite programs such as Little Orphan Annie, Amos and Andy, The Guiding Light, and The Shadow.

Radio allowed the listener to create their own images of characters and settings, a luxury that we no longer have in these days of television.

The Task

You are employees of a local radio station. Your boss, who grew up during the "Golden Age" of radio, has decided to add new programming to the station. He has assigned you and your co-workers the task of producing a new radio drama.

Task cont…

Your boss expects you and your co-workers to…

1. Research the history of radio drama and use this knowledge to find a script for a new radio mystery/suspense series.

2. She wants the script to contain references to sound effects (SFX) as well as the actors' dialogue.

And finally….

In addition to the script, you and your team will present the radio play, complete with sound effects, which will be recorded live in class ….

Then…Each person in your group is to select one of the following positions.

Group Jobs: Director (1person)

It is the responsibility of the Director to choose and cast the radio play. The group may research together to read some radio plays; however, the ultimate choice is the up to the Director. Make sure to choose a script which has the correct number of parts for your group’s size.

Foley Artist (2 people) It is the responsibility of the Foley artist to

create the sound effects for the radio drama. These people will be responsible for ensuring that all props are brought to the recording studio when needed. The Foley Artist will make sure that the playwright includes all sound effects in the script. Use recorded sounds &/or live sounds.

Actors –

The actors are responsible for creating voices and any vocal sounds needed to for the radio drama. They should be prepared to record their parts and take direction from the Director.

Rehearsing….

Rehearse your radio drama, including the sound effects. Make sure that you put a lot of emotion and feeling into your reading of the script.

Foley artists must bring in the sound effects to rehearse. (All members of the group should help to locate these.)

We will record the radio plays in class.

Fun Videos About Foley Artistry

www.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3dUNvKhe2npMM%26feature%3drelated

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0wWo5QzFQY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2P1KFdwuVY