Glossary of Sound Design

Duration The time during which something continues.

Intensity The measurable amount, levels or strength of a given property (for example sound, light, emotion).

Pitch The particular level (high or low) of a voice, instrument or tune.

Sound design Sound design is the art and practice of creating sound tracks for a variety of needs. It involves specifying, acquiring or creating auditory elements using audio production techniques and tools.

The three categories of sound design are:

• Functional – for example practical sounds such as a gunshot to coincide with an action on stage.

• Atmospheric – the possibility of using underscoring that may include music but which may also be in the form of a soundscape.

• Incidental – where sound can be used to cover moments of transition (for example between scenes or to cover the placing of stage props).

Sound effects Any sound artificially produced or reproduced from a recording, to create a theatrical effect.

There are two types of sound effects:

• Recorded – often abbreviated to FX. May form an obvious part of the action (for example train arriving at station) or may be in the background throughout a scene (for example birds chirping).

• Live – gunshots, door slams and offstage voices (among many others) are most effective when done live.

Sound elements The qualities of sound. They are pitch, timbre, intensity, duration and can apply to music, sound effects, actors’ voices, etc.

Timbre The distinctive character or quality of a musical or vocal sound, apart from its pitch or intensity, such as in a nasal voice quality.