The difference between the role of a Sound Editor and a Sound Mixer
The sound editor finds the sound sources. They are responsible for the finished sound in Films. Th process involves selecting, polishing, and assembling three primary elements – recorded dialogue, sound effects, and music- into a complete, integrated soundtrack.
The sound mixer is the process where the raw materials assembled in sound editing process are combined and balanced into a coherent soundscape. The sound mixer takes the edited products and hones it during post- production.
The Shephard Tone
A Shephard Tone is a sound consisting of a superposition sine wave separated by octaves. When played with the bass pitch of the tone moving upward or downward, it is referred to as the Shepard scale. This creates the auditory illusion of a tone that seems to continually ascend or descend in pitch, yet which ultimately gets no higher or lower.
Diegetic vs Non – Diegetic Sound
diegetic sound – is any sound that the character or characters on screen can hear.
non-diegetic sound – is any sound that the audience can hear but the characters on screen cannot.
In this scene, Arthur and Thomas Wayne are having conversation. This is an example of Diegetic sound as they can both hear each other while being on the screen. You can additionally hear the bathroom door swinging open and shot which creates the sense of the audience knowing what is happening in this scene not just the characters
In this scene, where Arthur is on the bus. This is an example of Non – Diegetic sound as there is a background music ( composed by Hildur Guonadottir ) creating an intense emotion within this scene. This is Non- Diegetic sound because the character on screen cannot hear it however the audience can hear it.
Needle Drop
Synchronous sound is sound that is matched with the action and movements being viewed
Asynchronous sound is not matched with a visible source of the sound on screen.
A needle drop is when a pre-existing song is used in a film to underscore a particular scene. This can be a powerful tool for filmmakers, as the emotions and associations that we have with a particular song can enhance the emotions and associations that we have with a particular scene.
Sound Effects
Sound effects are artificially created or enhanced sounds that are used in artistic works to emphasise or express an action, mood, or feeling. Sound effects were initially used in radio dramas, but can be observed more often today in podcasts, theatre, films, and television shows
Many genres of films use sound effects but the main genres are Science Fiction, Horror, Action and Adventure genres where the soundscape is enhanced to increase dramatic tension.
A Foley Artist
A Foley Artist adds in sound effects to the movie in Post-Production. They make the sounds in a sound studio.
They make sounds like the sound of breaking bones, creaking floors, squeaking doors, footsteps, falling bodies, fire and basically any sound that is not dialogue or music, is Foley
Leitmotif
A leitmotif or leitmotiv is a “short, recurring musical phrase” associated with a particular person, place, or idea.
There is a leitmotif for settings, emotion, Character , evolution
Settings – Harry Potter shows when they are going back to Hogwarts and the surrounding there.
Emotion – In UP the musical phrase changes within different emotions
Character – Jaws, you know when Jaws is coming as the musical phrase is heard whenever the shark is near.
Evolution- Imperial march from star Wars.
Jcut & Lcut
A sound bridge is a type of sound editing that occurs when sound carries over a visual transition in a film.
Voice over/ Narration
Sound device where in one hears the voice of a character and or narrator speaking but the character in question is not speaking those words on screen.
Narration can be first person or ” voice of god ” style.
Score / underscore
Score – the score for a film is the ( theme ) music composed especially for it to enhance the mood / themes of the visuals which appear on screen.
Underscore – the underscore is music which is played ” under ” sequences to enhance mood and this often mixed with dialogue and/ or sound effects.
Sound Perspective
Sound Perspective refers to the apparent distance of a sound source, evidenced by its volume, timbre, and pitch.
If we didn’t know the sound of things we wouldn’t know the climax of the story.
Activity 8
My favourite soundtrack is Mamma Mia 2 as it help brings the emotions more to life when adding the sound to the film. Sound helps the movie shift between emotion through the music and sound effects. Sound helps establish a reality within the film by making it seem more intense and