SYNCHRONOUS SOUNDS IN FILM

Asynchronous sounds are sounds that have not been synchronized to the film actions, movements, or visual environments appearing on the film screen. These sounds are often used for aesthetic purposes to express a previous action or to elicit a sound advance.

For example, an asynchronous sound may come through on a film. As the advanced sound occurs when the editor chooses to show a child that is crying in a crib. But over or instead of the crying. The sound of a loud dog barking from the next scene comes into play.

In this example, a mix of synchronous sound (the baby crying) and asynchronous sound (the dog barking but not yet visible on the screen) is used.

SYNCHRONOUS SOUNDS IN FILM

Synchronous sounds include the sounds that have been synchronized to align with the image that is being viewed on the film screen. Unlike asynchronous sounds, synchronous sounds in film have been closely matched to a visible source of the on screen sound taking place.

For example, synchronous sounds are typically those that directly relate to what you’re seeing on the screen. As in the example given above, when the baby is crying in a crib.

Any sound of the baby crying is considered synchronous. Whereas the sound of the dog barking that was also happening, was asynchronous.

Synchronous sound represents the matching of sound to the movements that are taking place on the screen. For example, if you see a person moving across the screen, perhaps walking in water, then you might hear footsteps and you could also hear splashes as each step is taken. These sounds would align with the appearance of each step, and so with each splash from the foot, the water sound would equally be aligned. Synchronous sounds correspond with what’s happening visibly on the screen.

Unlike synchronous sound, asynchronous sounds in film do not necessarily correspond with what you see on the film screen. Asynchronous sounds in film can still add value to the action being performed, but it’s likely an action that already took place (such as a previous sound) or the sound of an action that is about to occur on the screen.

For example, asynchronous sounds, although they are not precisely synchronized with the actions currently occurring on the screen, add value to the story and help to create a stronger sense of realism. 

Foley Artist: Foley Artists add and create sound effects for the film post-production in their own studio, using a variety of materials. Objects and techniques [such as shoes, sand etc] in order to exaggerate the actions happening on screen, making the scene immersive and ambient. These sounds are usually from one of three groups:

• Props
• Movements
• Footsteps

Some Examples of the sounds they make are:

• High Heeled Footsteps
• Doors Opening/Closing
• Bags Crinkling
• Shuffling
• Glass Shattering

What is a Foley artist?

In filmmaking, Foley is the reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to films, videos, and other media in post-production to enhance audio quality. 

What are examples of sounds that Foley artists would have to make?

A lot of everyday sounds like footsteps, doors opening, wind blowing and glass breaking and other ambient noises.

some sounds that could be created by a Foley artist is walking, the swoosh of a bat or creek of a floorboard. Also a foley artist could use musical intruments for the sound track.

For example in the film ‘school of rock’ a Foley artist could’ve played the musical instruments instead of the student as they were young and may not have acquired the correct amount of skill yet.

Diegetic sound is sound that comes from the setting of the film. Non-diegetic sound is sound that comes from our world that the characters cant hear, such as the soundtrack or scoring.

Diegetic sound could include the voices of characters, utensils clattering in the background, or music coming from a piano being played on-screen.

Diegetic sounds are sounds that can be heard in the universe of the film, most dialogue is diegetic as well as sound effects like footsteps and doors opening.

Non Diegetic sounds are things that the audience can hear that cannot be heard by the characters, this can include things like narration and an underscore. These are often used to emphasise certain concepts with something outside of the things that may be seen on screen.

leitmotif

/ˈlʌɪtməʊˌtiːf/

noun

1. a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation. “There are two leitmotifs in his score marking the heroine and her Fairy Godmother.”

The Shore sound task

https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/ef44eedb-c33c-4019-9672-b13346c0f8d3

noun

a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation.

“there are two leitmotifs in his score marking the heroine and her Fairy Godmother”

(definition from ‘Oxford Languages’)