Sound in Cinema

Heoughttobe
morecareful
abouthis
language

Dialogue
Music
Sound Effects

Youre
telling
me!!

Two Types of SOUND:

DIEGETIC (from inside the DIEGESIS) refers

to sound that BOTH the audience and the
characters can hear. This would be sound
effects or music played in the scene.
NON-DIEGETIC refers to sound that ONLY
the audience can hear. Typically, this would
be Soundtrack music played for effect, to
build tension in the audience but not part of
the scene itself

The Powers of Sound

Sound is a powerful film technique for

many reasons.

To begin, sound engages a distinct

sense which can lead to a
synchronization of senses-- uses a
single rhythm or expressive quality unify
image, mood, tone, genre, etc.

The Powers of Sound

Secondly, film sound can direct our

attention quite specifically within the image
For example, our attention on the foreground
not the background, or vice versa
The soundtrack can clarify image events,
contradict them, or render them ambiguous.
In all cases, the sound track can enter into an
active relation with the image track.
Click HERE for an example of how sound can
change meaning.

The Powers of Sound

Thirdly, sound cues us to form

expectations.
For example, a door creaking would
make us expect someone or something
has entered the room.
The use of sound can creatively cheat
or redirect the viewers expectations.

The Powers of Sound

In addition, sound gives a new value

to silence.
For example, a quiet passage in a film
can create almost unbearable tension,
forcing the viewer to concentrate on the
screen and wait in anticipation for
whatever sound will emerge.

The Powers of Sound

Lastly, sound is full of many creative possibilities as

editing.

The infinity of visual possibilities is joined with the

infinity of acoustic possibilities to create meaningful
relations.

Click HERE for an example of how sound is used to

build tension in a scene.

Fundamentals of Film Sound

Perceptual Properties: The three

aspects of sound we perceive are:
Loudness-volume
Pitch-high or low sound
Timbre-the quality of the sound

Fundamentals of Film Sound

As fundamental components of film sound,

loudness, pitch and timbre interact to define the
overall sonic texture of a film.
At the most basic level, these three acoustic
factors enable us to distinguish the various sounds
in film.
For example, these qualities enable us to
recognize different characters' voices and how
close or far away characters and other elements
are in relation to the current scene.

Selection, Alteration and

Combination

Sound in cinema is categorized into three

types:
Dialogue
Music
Sound effects

Sometimes, a sound may cross categories

and be ambiguous

Choosing and Manipulating

Sounds
Sound guides the viewers attention.

Normally, this means clarifying and

simplifying the sound track so that
important material stands out.
Dialogue, the transmitter of story
information, is usually recorded and
reproduced for maximum clarity.

Choosing and Manipulating

Sounds

Foley work where rerecorded sound is used to

enhance real sound

Important lines should not have to

compete with music or
background noise.
Sound effects are usually less
important and supply an overall
sense of a realistic environment.
However, if they were missing the
silence would be distracting.
Music is also subordinate to
dialogue, noticeable during
pauses in dialogue and
transitions.

Choosing and Manipulating

Sounds
Dialogue does not always rank highest in

importance.
Sound effects are central when there is lack
of dialogue Imagine a car chase without
squealing tires, or if the wrong volume was
used to portray a beasts roar.
Music can dominate dance scenes,
transitions, but is exceptionally useful during
emotional moments with no dialogue. Sad or
scary scenes.

Choosing and Manipulating

Sounds

In creating a sound track, the filmmaker must

select sounds that will fulfill a particular
function.
Usually, the filmmaker will provide a clearer,
simpler sound world than that of everyday life.
This helps the audience to focus on only the
sound which is important and not needless
background noise.

Choosing and Manipulating

Sounds

By choosing certain sounds, the filmmaker

guides our perception of the image and the
action.
If you notice how the filmmakers selection
of sound shapes the viewers perception,
you will also notice that they use sound
unrealistically.
This is to shift the viewers attention to
what is narratively or visually important.

Choosing and Manipulating

Sounds
Today, film sound is

normally reprocessed to
produce exactly the
qualities desired.
A dry recording of the
sound will be changed
electronically to produce
the desired effect.
For example, the voice of
someone on a telephone
will be digitally filtered to
make it more tinny and
muffled.

Sound Mixing

Guiding the viewers attention,

depends on selecting and
reworking sounds.
It also depends on mixing, or
combining them.
The sound track is not a set of
discrete sound units but an
ongoing stream of auditory
information.

Sound Mixing

Today, a dozen or more separate

tracks may be mixed in layers at
any moment.
The mix can be quite dense, like
in a busy airport or very sparse
with an occasional sound
emerging against a quiet
background.
These choices reflect the mood
of the film the filmmaker aims to
achieve.

Layers of Audio built up

to create the right mood

Thisisthemusicthatintroducesa
movie
Whatisthemovieisabout?
Whatkindofcharactersareinit?
Whatisthemood,tone?
Whatisthegenre?

Sound and Film Form

The choice and combination of sound materials can

also create patterns and motifs that run through the
film as a whole.
This is most easily seen by examining how the
filmmaker uses a musical score.
They can select preexisting music to accompany the
images or compose new music for the film.
Opening titles to Spiderman (2002)

Sound and Film Form

The rhythm, melody, harmony and

instrumentation of the music can
strongly affect the viewers emotional
reactions.
Also, a melody, musical phrase or sound
effect can be associated with a
particular character, setting, situation or
idea creating a sound motif.

Sound and Film Form

By reordering and varying sound motifs,

the filmmaker can compare scenes,
trace patterns of development, and
suggest implicit meanings.
A musical score can create, develop, and
associate motifs that enter into the films
overall form.
Sound motifs

Challengeyourpeers!!
Findanopeningscenetoamovie,like
theSpidermanmovie,andemailthelink
tome.
Remembertoincludeanyspecific
instructionsforme,likestopat3:20.
Wewillchallengeyourpeerstopredict
themoviesgenre,tone,mood,andwhat
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15minutes