Leanne
Stone
Audio definitions
Sound v audio
Definition: Sound is what you can hear whereas the audio is what allows you to manipulate the sound and also digitally create sound.
Volume v level
Definition: Volume is the ability to make a sound louder or quieter through a speaker. Whereas the level is the actual electrical signal that is being sent to the speakers.
Mixing
Definition: Mixing is when multiple sounds are combined into one or more audio channels.
Sound design
Definition: When a sound is created for a different variety of needs. It uses lots of different audio techniques and controls.
Sync
Definition: Being in sync means elements of the audio line up with each other correctly or in a certain way.
Foley
Definition: This is when sound effects are recorded in a certain way or electronically in a studio, adding to the film after it has been shot.
Diegetic sound
Definition: These are the sounds that belong to the world of film. Whatever the sound effects and dialogue the characters can hear on set is diegetic.
Non-diegetic sound
Definition: These are sounds that characters cannot actually hear. For example any overlaid music added or extra sound effects or voice overs.
Score's and soundtrack's
Does the music help create a sense of time and place?
This is the first scene in Chapter one of The Mandalorian therefore sets the time and place naturally. It presents the Western gunslinger live action with the use of tribal drums to create this. It sets the place very well. This is the main theme however still fits well when presenting the idea of an evening bar scene.
Does the music underline or reinforce the psychological meaning of the scene?
In this instance the music does resemble the meaning of the scene. It presents tension between two western like characters using the wind instruments etc. Making the tension instant as Mando walks into the bar suggesting an underlining mission or disagreement which we later see.
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Does the music serve as ‘neutral’ background filler?
Once the music has set the scene and Mando comes into conversation the Western score is then used as a background filler so that their conversation is the main audio. The audio here just adds to the tension better the three characters.
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Does the music help build continuity between scenes?
I think it does as the next scene is Mando taking him onto the Razor crest, showing Mando's superiority in comparison to the other characters therefore there is similar music in the background in the next scene so it flows nicely.
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Does the music help build a scene towards a climax and create a sense of finality?
In a way this does lead to a finality of the overall fight scene, however I would more say it brings us into the world and is just the beginning, as it mostly serves the purpose of welcoming us into Mando's world and what he does. This is just the beginning of the journey rather than the inevitable end of this one fight scene.
Does the song help create a sense of time and place?
Having this song in the background doesn't necessarily show the time or place when we look at the whole picture, however I don't think it was meant to do this at all. The purpose with this was to detach from what's going on around the one character. Rather then setting the overall time and place it shows the emotion of Groot. This could be to welcome us back into the world of GOTG showing the comical and personal connections and differences between the characters.
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Does the song underline or reinforce the psychological meaning of the scene?
It does not do this, it more disconnections from the meaning of the scene. This song creates a happy, carefree environment amongst the dramatic feel of the fight scene between the other characters and a monster.
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Does the song serve as ‘neutral’ background filler?
The song does not act as a background filler rather what the scene is focused around. It sets the ultimate mood, the background sound effects are more the background filler for this scene.
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Does the song help build continuity between scenes?
It helps to link the scenes because of what is happening on screen. Drax crashes into the music box that Groot had plugged in therefore making the music stop so it transitioned into what was happening in the fight. It wasn't a massively smooth transition but it worked and was inventive to have the music box.
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Does the song help build a scene towards a climax and create a sense of finality?
This scene both does and doesn't lead towards a climax. This song leads towards showing more of the fight scene, creating the actual time scene. It leads to the climax of that single fight when they kill the monster. Instead of creating a sense of finality I feel like it rather wraps us the intro to the characters.
Sound design
What is sound design?
Sound design is when you create different sound tracks for a variety of different needs. It is created to serve a certain purpose adding to the focus of the movie. It's not necessarily a need to sound realistic but to create a certain emotion to a scene. Each sound should be designed not only to be believable but to to bring across the right emotional response.
How can sound design help tell your story?
One way sound design can help with telling stories is through the use of isolated sound, this is when it's more likely the silence of sounds rather than a loud background nose that can tell a story. Having background noises quieter means the louder noises is where our attention is instantly drawn, even if that noise may be reoccurring deep into the visual scene. We will naturally follow along with the noises that stand out the most to us. One example of this is Munich, where the sound designer doesn't make the climax a big noise gate but actually leads to a silence which therefore makes any noise that does occur in the scene climactic and gives it importance.
Another specific way sound design can help tell a story is by carefully selecting the sound effects to not only be realistic enough to tell the story and keep us following along but also to find a sound that creates the emotional connection or idea for the audience that isn't necessarily portrayed visually. An example of this would be Darth Vader's life support, the famous breath sound effect. Having this sound shows the human aspect of him, showing he is not invincible raising question about what happened to him, who is he. Having this makes a deeper point we cannot see visually and creates questions answered in later films.
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How is contrast used in sound design? Give two examples (link to research sources)
Contrast can be used in sound design to create a stylised nature for certain film brands. The way this can be done is by steering away from the realistic scenes, this not only means certain emotions can be portrayed but also a style can be linked to a certain film series.
An example of this is The Matrix. The director here purposely wanted the fight scene sound effects to become increasingly intense. whilst the first fight in this movie feels realistic and the soundtrack could be used for any fight scene as we come towards the end of the movie we find the movements are increasingly more dramatic. However this works as it builds up to this and eventually has become the style of The Matrix film.
One other example is Bound, a film where sound is even added to things such as the movement of the camera. Doing this is contrasting the real world, and when creating these whatever it element this has been given a sound effect becomes increasingly important. For example the camera movement sound effect creates the opinion that it is turning to something climactic etc.
Sound Design
What is the function of ambience (backgrounds) in sound design?
Ambience can be used for a few different purposes. It can create a sense of continuality in between scenes with audio, when no other major sound is present in a scene it can also help prevent an unnatural silence in the shot or it could be the thing that establishes or reinforces a certain mood within a scene. Some examples of ambient sounds could include wind, rain, birds, rustling of trees. Anything the scene around the main focus would naturally make.
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What is the difference between sound FX and foley?
FX is a special effect, generally computer made to create a sound accurate to what is being portrayed on screen, this is done digitally. However Foley is the where sound designers are put into a Foley studio which objects and items, not necessarily similar to what's on screen at all, however these items will be used and manipulated to create a sound that not only connects realistically but emotionally to the visuals, they will record these objects whilst the shot they are recording for plays on screen. They will then take these sounds and digitally manipulate them if needed.
One example of a movie that uses a lot of Foley is 'A Quiet Place' (using crab legs to represent monsters walking). An example of FX is any sound that is digitally created and enhanced (for example a large explosion may be digitally enhanced as it may be difficult to capture)
Foley
How can music help tell the story of a scene?
Music can portray a scene well just like sound effects can. Music can either be created specifically for a movie or an older song can be taken if it matches a certain situation or even to change a mood. In a way music can be more effective than general sound effects as it can be more memorable, when adding a song or a hook with a main theme it s more likely to get into the audience's head. They then both relate this to the characters and also themselves. The best industry for this is Disney.
For example The Lion King soundtrack connects you to the characters more emotionally with songs such as 'Can you feel the love tonight', this is written specifically for the movie and creates a catchy song which better connects the two characters and you. AN example of taking a song already composed is Guardians of the Galaxy, where Baby Groot is dancing to the song. This was used to detach Groot's world from the world going on around him.
Music
What is meant by a ‘sweetener’ in sound design?
A sweetener in sound design is when an additional sound is mixed into a pre existing sound to give the pre existing sound another emotion or element.
In the film "Backdraft", the sounds of wolves howling were faintly added to the sound of fire crackling to sweeten and give it a haunting, animal like quality to it.
Audio plan
Evaluation:
​My audio plan went well as I was able to not only start thinking about all the different elements I will need for my short film for each shot, but also how and where I will get the different sounds from. This will be useful when bringing my shot audio together. It helped me find an audio style.
I could make my audio plan more detailed, by writing where I will find my sound effect or how I will create it using foley.​
My plan will help me in post production as I can easily see which sounds will be placed where in the film. This means when sequencing my footage I can take into consideration what sounds I will be using. I can also re-record anything if I feel the sound will not work.
Next time I have to plan a film project, I will make the audio plan before recording, this way I can take the audio plan with me and have the characters do whatever needed to create the correct sound. This is because I now feel after knowing the audio better I will need to re-record some scenes, which is time I could have saved.
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