SUPER LAAF XXVII

What’s With All That Noise?

How effectively used sound effects can affect your affection for a film.

What is Sound?

Sound is mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearing.

What is Sound Design?

Sound design for film is the artistic joining and unison of aural elements (speech, music, sound FX, ambiance, etc...) in efforts to help tell the story of the film.

What is a Sound Designer?

A sound designer takes all the aural elements of the film and guides their shaping to form an integral part of the storytelling.

What is…a quote?

“The sound and music are50% of the entertainment in

amovie.”

-George Lucas

Illusions and Immersion: Psychoacoustics

Rumbles, low frequency rumbles feelings of threat: earthquakes, lion roars explosions, horror films, Jaws music

Quiet, high frequency sounds peace and calm: crickets, quiet fields Field of Dreams, re-closing of the ark (Indy

Jones)

Illusions and Immersion: Conventions (or Clichés)

You can always hear speech (through walls, long distances, etc.)

Dial tone after a phone call ends Acoustic feedback when a P.A. system is

un-muted Single hawk’s cry over a lonely desert

scene Lasers go “PYOO-PYOO!!”

A quick history

Pre-1900s – Live orchestra would play to film

1888 – Thomas Edison synchronizes sound and picture by connecting the two with a belt

1922 – Tri-Ergon: sound is printed on to the side of the sprocket tape of film

A quick history

1927 – ”Jazz Singer” – first talkie 1928 – “Lights of New York” – first all

dialogue feature 1928 – “Steamboat Willie” – first film to use

post production for the entire soundtrack (dialogue, sound fx, music) 

Fantasia (1940)

First film to use multi-track recording

Birth of the pan knob First surround sound

(Fantasound)

Important! But why?

A little more history

1977 – Star Wars (Ben Burtt) 1979 – Apocalypse Now (Walter Murch) Late 1990s and on – Digital age takes over

III. Breaking Down a Film’s Soundtrack

Production: Location Sound

Post-Production: A. Dialogue – ADR (Automated Dialogue

Replacement) B. Sound FX

1. Asyncronous i.e. BGs, room tone 2. Syncronous

Hard effects Foley

C. Music – score/soundtrack

Foley

The art of recreating and recording sounds made by a body interacting with an object or its environment

Named after Jack Foley Foley artists/walkers Performed on a “foley stage”

Foley

Three Types of Foley

Footsteps

Three Types of Foley

Footsteps Moves

Three Types of Foley

Footsteps Moves Specifics

IV. Some Famous Sounds

Lightsaber Monty Python’s horse coconuts Wilhelm scream 

LAAF Advice

Dear Sound Man Dan,I have a date set up with this girl with THE most beautiful pair of ears I’ve ever seen on anyone. After a nice swanky dinner at Cook’s Tortas, we’re going to the movies (she wants to watch some movie called Inception - I think it’s about making babies or something…might be a chick flick). I really would love to impress her somehow. What can I do???

-Mr. Ear Fetish Guy

LAAF Advice

Dear Creepy Ear Fetish Guy,Just because she has a fantastic pair…of ears, doesn’t mean she knows how to use ‘em. She could be deaf for all you know. Let’s just assume she’s not though, and discuss some tips for blowing her mind with your aural sensibilities.

(And yes, Inception is indeed a chick flick. Go see it anyways.)

Tip for theater seating

Here!

Tip for home theaters

THE END.