Understanding Sound Effects in Film

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a function category of sound effects?

Narrative

Background

Synchronized (correct)

Discrete

What type of sound effect requires perfect synchronization with an image?

Hard sound effect (correct)

Soft sound effect

Background sound effect

Ambient sound effect

Which of the following is an example of a soft sound effect?

Footsteps

Wind (correct)

Door closing

Gunshot

Foley is primarily associated with which method of sound effect creation?

Performance-based sound creation Signup and view all the answers

What purpose do background sound effects serve in multimedia?

To provide a sense of location and ambiance Signup and view all the answers

What term describes sounds of footsteps, clothes rustling, and car noises in a film?

Sound effects Signup and view all the answers

Whichtype of sound effect is typically captured through field recording?

Ambient sound Signup and view all the answers

In sound design, the term 'synthesis' refers to which of the following?

Generating new sounds through processing and combining elements Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of discrete sound effects?

To synchronize with specific actions Signup and view all the answers

What technique is most associated with Jack Foley?

Foley recording Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sound effects is typically recorded using Foley techniques?

Footsteps Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of using sound design in audio production?

To produce sounds that do not exist in reality Signup and view all the answers

Which microphone type is known for high directivity and reduced ambient noise?

Shotgun microphone Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical quality of modern digital recorders compared to older models?

They feature better pre-amps and converters Signup and view all the answers

What describes the Mid-Side stereo technique?

A combination of cardioid and figure eight microphones for directional and ambient recording Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an essential accessory for field recording?

Mixer Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended default recording format settings for audio devices?

Uncompressed WAV, 24bit, 44.1KHz or 48KHz Signup and view all the answers

Which accessory is used to minimize handling noise during recording?

Shock Mount Signup and view all the answers

What type of headphones should be used for monitoring sound during recording?

Closed-ear headphones Signup and view all the answers

What should be done when recording in the field to ensure the capture of sound events?

Record at least 3 seconds before and after the intended sound Signup and view all the answers

Why is it essential to remain silent and still while recording?

To prevent interruption in the recording Signup and view all the answers

What is a common source of background noise that should be eliminated before recording?

Air conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What should be checked for each new recording situation?

Recording levels to avoid clipping and noise Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accessories is NOT typically used for field recording?

Laptop computer Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following shoe types is NOT commonly used in Foley to simulate footsteps?

Platform shoes Signup and view all the answers

What materials can be sourced for Foley recording from junkyards?

Various types of metal and glass Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a recommended tip for recording Foley?

Keep electronics on during recording Signup and view all the answers

What should be avoided when editing Foley sounds?

Cutting sounds at random points Signup and view all the answers

Which item is suggested for use in Foley recording to create kitchen sounds?

Plates Signup and view all the answers

What is an important practice when saving Foley recordings?

Back up the original recordings Signup and view all the answers

What should be done if a sound has unwanted silence before it starts?

Crop the silence before and after the sound Signup and view all the answers

When working with multitrack editing, what factor is important to manage pacing and speed?

Manipulating the distance between sounds in the timeline Signup and view all the answers

What should be done when recording with stereo microphones?

Point the microphones at the center of the area being recorded. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it advisable to record more material than ultimately needed?

To ensure a variety of sound options is available later. Signup and view all the answers

What must be logged during a recording session?

The object, location, action, microphone, position, time of day, date, and name of the person. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of recording room tone?

To simulate natural ambiance for isolated recordings. Signup and view all the answers

What is a crucial step before recording in a location with potential traffic noise?

Notify the police if there is a risk of suspicion. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of field recording, what constitutes a copyright violation?

Capturing music playing on a TV or radio. Signup and view all the answers

What describes a foley studio?

A sound studio designed to minimize reverberation and outside noise. Signup and view all the answers

What materials are typically found in foley pits?

Concrete, hard wood, hollow wood, carpet, etc. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the LISTEN mnemonic for editing audio?

Listen Critically Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following filename systems categorizes files based on a specific group or type?

Category-Based Signup and view all the answers

In a Category-Based filename, which of the following is placed last in the structure?

Number Signup and view all the answers

What is the key purpose of metadata for audio files?

To enable advanced searching Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a common structure used in Effect-Based filenames?

Noun-Verb-Description-Number Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of audio editing does the 'T' in the LISTEN mnemonic refer to?

Trim/Crop the File Signup and view all the answers

Which filename format uses a numeric code to refer to an external data sheet or track list?

Numeric-Based Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a category found in the examples for filenames?

GRAPHICS Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sound Effects

Sound effects are all sounds in a movie that are not speech or music.
Examples of sound effects include footsteps, clothes, cars, animals, wind, rain, and weapons.
Sound design is at least half the filmmaking and digital game experience.
The goal is to suspend disbelief and transport the viewer to another world.
Believability is subjective and culture-dependent.
Realistic and believable are not the same thing.
Sound design is crucial for making audio-visual experiences believable and impactful.
Sound has a strong emotional impact.
Example Hollywood clichés that depend on music to work include romantic music for romantic scenes, high-pitched, scratchy, dissonant repetitive chords for suspense scenes, and epic chords, drums, and military marches for heroic scenes.

Sound Effects Context

Sound effects are used many places including film, television, radio, theater, multimedia, digital games, and user interfaces.

Categorization of Sound Effects

By Function

Background: atmosphere or ambience
Discrete: single sound

By Synchronization

Hard sound effects: need perfect synchronization with the image (e.g., gunshot, door closing, punch, footsteps)
Soft sound effects: do not require exact synchronization with the image (e.g., wind, rain, birds, ocean surf, crowd)

By Method

Foley: creating sounds through performance
Field recording: recording in the real world
Sound design: creating new sounds through editing, processing, mixing, and synthesis

Background Sound Effects

Help establish the location and surrounding environment.
Not associated with any specific action.
Typically represent the soundscape of a location.
Often captured through field recording.
Examples include traffic, people talking, ocean surf, wind, birds, and sounds from a train station.

Discrete Sound Effects

Synchronization crucial.
Connected with a specific action.
Typically a single recorded sound (Foley or field recording).
Can also be assembled (sound design).
Examples include door closing, punches, gunshot sounds, sword hits, and objects being placed on a table; hyperdrive activating, entering a trans-dimensional portal.

Foley

Named after Jack Foley (Hollywood sound effect pioneer).
Involves performing actions with objects in a studio recording, near a microphone.
Creates desired sounds much cheaper than field recording in some cases.
Examples include footsteps, car tires screeching sounds, and objects breaking.
Example in the YouTube video: Transformers movies.

Sound Design

Creates sounds that do not exist in the real world (e.g., alien creatures, spaceships, advanced future weapons, physical anomalies).
Involves editing, processing, and mixing recorded sounds and sound synthesis.
Example in the YouTube video: Deadspace 3.

Field Recording

Recording equipment includes: recorder, accessories, headphones, and microphones.
A basic field recording kit includes a handy recorder and headphones.
Microphone types:
- Shotgun: high directivity (except low frequencies), reduces ambient noise.
- Cardioid: less directivity, may feel more natural.
Stereo/multichannel microphones record ambiences; spaced (like A-B, ORTF) and coincident techniques (like X-Y, mid-side) are used.
Stereo techniques: A-B: time-of-arrival stereophony; X-Y; intensity stereophony; mid/side.
Other tools might include: flashlight, umbrellas, blankets, hair rubber bands, food & water, chair, hat/sunglasses, tape, connectors/adapters, cables, Swiss-knife and walkie-talkies

Recording (field recordings)

Take necessary equipment and make sure you have it all.
Recording can be costly if you have to return to an unwanted location and there are associated costs.
Record at least 3 seconds of sound before and after the intended sound. A sound event takes some time to decay; be careful and do not cut it short.
Stay completely silent; do not move during recording.
Make sure everyone on the team is silent.
If needed, talk with your hands.
Make sure you've eaten to avoid stomach sounds.
Eliminate background noise, it can be caused by AC buzz/hum, air conditioning, heating, traffic, clocks, fluorescent lights, insects, airplanes, fridges, TVs and more.
Check your levels - the levels should be high enough to overcome the noise, but low enough that you do not obtain clipping.
Monitor all recording with headphones during the recording session.
Point microphone at sound/object/area.
In the case of stereo mics, point them at the center of the area that is being recorded.
Try from different angles and do not move the stereo mics during the recording session.
Record as much material as possible, more than you anticipate you will use. This allows you to use varying takes.
Choose the time of day, location, and if there is any risk of police interference or suspicion inform the local authorities.

Recording - Location

Choose locations based on the sounds you expect to record.
Select appropriate time of day.
Document traffic situations.
Notify the police if there are any situations that are of suspicion or unlawful.

Recording Information Log

Log information about each recording using paper, or using phones, computers, recorded speeches etc.
Details include: object, location, action, microphone, microphone position, time of day, date, name of personnel.

Recording - Copyright

Watch out for copyright violations (while recording music, speeches etc in field recording)
Do not use recordings that are copyrighted.
Examples: anything playing on TV or radio, bands playing in the street or sounds and ring tones from video games.

Recording - Room Tone

Room tone is constant background noise when all other sources of sound are quiet.
Essential for simulating that the captured/recorded audio, that was recorded in a dry studio environment, is within a given space that you are trying to simulate in post production or in the editing process.
Obtain noise profile which will be used by noise removal software.

Editing - Organization

Use meaningful filenames
Save frequently to your computer
Create copies of primary/initial recordings for editing
Non-destructive editing whenever possible (e.g., multitrack editing)
Keep folders and files organized during a multitrack recording session to prevent unlinking.

Editing - Guidelines for source material

Crop each sound into separate files.
Remove silences at start and end of each sound file.
Ensure sounds start immediately.
Do not cut any attack or decay from sound.
Make sure that files end and begin at zero crossing points.
Fade in/fade outs may be needed for some sounds..

Editing - Using multitrack recordings

For sounds made with multiple multiple recording techniques, cut sounds at zero-crossing points.
Cross-fade where needed.
Adjust pacing and speed by changing distances between sounds.
Correct any mistakes or remove unwanted sounds.

Editing - Stereo Guidelines

Balance the stereo field during editing.

Editing - Mnemonic For Editing

L - Listen Cretically
I - Identify any issues (Clicks, Pops, Errors)
S - Signal Processing (EQ, Compression)
T - Trim or Crop File
E - Examine Fade-ins/fade-outs at zero line
N - Normalize, Name file

Organizing: Filenames and Metadata

Filenames may be Category-based, Effect-based, or Numeric-based
- Using categories and/or subcategories to organize recordings.
- Filenames based on the actual effect or action.
- Using numbers to identify recordings.
Metadata provides supplementary data for sound files.
Metadata enhances search options for the recording files.

Metadata examples

OS comments
External file (spreadsheet)
Proprietary apps like NetMix and SoundMiner

Attribution

Images in the presentation are from Wikipedia and used under Creative Commons License.

Study Resources

"The Sound Effects Bible: How to Create and Record Hollywood Style Sound Effects" by Ric Viers; Michael Wiese Productions; 3rd edition, 2008.

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Description

This quiz explores the vital role of sound effects in filmmaking and digital games. You'll learn how sound design contributes to creating believable audio-visual experiences and its emotional impact on audiences. Discover the importance of sound effects across various media including film, television, and games.