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As well as visuals, audio is just as important to captivate the audience. Sound is a powerful element that can help to tell the story, enhance the mood and immerse the audience. I learnt about the types of sound and their effect on the audience so I can understand how to evoke an emotional response based on the pitch and tempo story, the sound equipment to use to create professional quality audio and the importance of dialogue to develop my scriptwriting.
Sound enhances the mood, atmosphere and tone. Music can create an emotional response, which makes the film memorable. The visuals itself are striking enough but when paired with melodic music, it gives the film a hypnotic and engaging quality. Sound can manipulate how we perceive things and how we feel, it gives filmmakers more control over the viewer's experience.
Single system audio is captured directly into the camera, and records simultaneously with the image. Double system sound is captured off the camera and onto a digital audio recorder, delivers greater bit depth. Uncontrollable noise picks up unwanted noise on headphones. It is important to report unwanted noise so filming stops whilst, for example, a car drives past. Acoustic panelling to walls helps to stop echoes.
Boom mic refers to a microphone mounted on a boom pole. They are directional and great for capturing sound without being frame.
Shotgun mic picks up audio without capturing excess environmental noise.
Dynamic mic is good for recording in loud spaces.
A body mic is used if the actor is moving around often.
Ambient sounds are background sounds that create a sense of atmosphere and realism. Ambient music lingers on notes and chords for a long period of time. To create variation, timbre of sounds are shifted by introducing new instruments or applying filters to electronic sounds. Ambient music often overlaps with minimalism, drone rock and new age music.
Diegetic sound is audio in the story, sounds that the characters can hear and you are familiar with in the scene. Non-diegetic is outside of the story, it adds suspense and can signal that the character is in danger. Non-linear sound is an increase in pitch that gets our heart pumping and causes our fight or flight response to activate. For example, the rustling of trees (diegetic), alongside a gradual drum beat (non-diegetic), with a sudden violin string screech (non-linear). Soundtracks can be used to create a chilling mood and when it begins to get louder, it can make you feel uncomfortable and stressed.
Spatial audio creates a sense of distance and direction, if the sound is on the right, it will come out on the right speaker. Spatial audio creates a realistic world, it is how we hear sounds in the real world. Horror films generate scares by placing sound in unexpected places and the effect is much stronger when it feels like something is behind you. Non-spatial audio is flat as it is in the centre of the stereo, it doesn't create a surround sound system.
Sound effects can affect an audience’s emotions just as powerful as an actor’s performance. They can convey a certain message or meaning. They can tell you a lot about the scene’s location and character. Sound effects make the scene realistic, engaging and dramatic. Layering sounds gradually, is an easy way to build tension before a dramatic moment.
Dialogue shapes the story, tells us about the characters, shows conflict, advances the plot, sets the mood and adds emotion. It is important to write dialogue that feels legitimate to the character to make them feel realistic to the audience. Things to consider with dialogue is how the character should say their lines, how to make the dialogue memorable and don’t overuse dialogue as it’s better to show the audience rather than tell them.
Voice overs provide information, instructions or narration in the film. A voiceover acts like it is talking to someone do it needs to sound natural and authentic. The tone and style for the voice over needs to match with the theme of the story, for example, a male voice can be used for a sombre or dramatic mood, while a female voice can be used for a soothing and calming mood.
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