Say What? Sound Design 101

What's that sound? Developing Audio Recording Skills.

Media art 2 students recreate sounds for film and video scenes.

Media Arts Student Liz records sounds for her sound design project during Term 2.

The sounds that fill the speakers of movie theaters might not be what they appear. Most films record audio and sound effects in small studios after the film has finished production.

Thankfully the industry hires a specifically trained person to record these sounds, foley artists. Foley artists record sounds for tv, film, and video games in small studios and uses whatever they can find to record their sounds.

For example, the sound of a bone-breaking might be the sound of a celery bunch snapping, or an egg hatching might be the sound of a waffle ice cream cone.

PB jadynn and liz sound project.mp4
Media Arts 2 Students reimagine and recreate the sounds made in Disney's Frozen. Produced by: Liz and Jadynn

During term 2, Media Art 2 students at Fairhaven High School attempted their audio production skills and became foley artists.

Students selected a scene from television or film in small groups and then deleted all the sounds. Next, students identified and replaced those sounds with their own recorded versions.

Finally, students edited their new sounds into the film, added some effects, and finalized their projects. Students chose all sorts of projects to create audio for them, and the final projects are available below.

Student Projects

Clarence .mp4
Media Art 2 Students Josh, Nate, Camron, and Thomas recreates the sounds for this animated cartoon.
Sound replacement project.mp4
In this Community scene, this group reimagine's Ken Jeong's voice with their own. Produced by: Gabe, Erick, and Justin.
Audio Project - Alex B.mp4
Media Art student Alex recorded the sounds of her melodica for this foley project.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation voice over (Jordyn G, Josh B, Marcs C).mp4
Gross alert! Jordyn, Josh, and Marcus recreated the sounds of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and recorded numerous people chewing food.
austin Ally.mp4
Emma, a Media Arts 2 student, recreates the sounds for Disney's Austin and Ally.
elmo balls Landon L Hunter G Austin S.mp4

Students Austin, Landon, and Hunter explore a mashed up world with Sesame Street and Michael Myers in this sound design project.

Behind the Scenes

PB jadynn and liz bts sound project.mp4
Students demonstrate their excitement and strategies used to create the sounds in Disney's Frozen. Produced by: Liz, Jadynn, and Lindsey

Keep Exploring

Media Arts 1 Students Complete Term 1

Fairhaven High School Receives National Student Production Award