Unit 17: Soundtrack Production for the Moving Image

Unit 17: Soundtrack Production for the Moving Image

Synthesisers 

Oscillators

Oscillators control the type of wave the sound is released at, therefore controlling how it sound and works every time. There are a few basic waves such as; sine, triangle, saw and square. Analogues only include these waves. There are also a few variations of the waves called pulse and bell waves. These waves are available on digital synthesisers.

Envelopes

Envelopes put a time wrap around sound and control how the sound works over time. There are different types of envelopes such as; amp, filter and modulation envelopes. The envelopes then have 4 faders, A D S and R. These stand for; attack (how long it takes for the sound to first be heard), decay (the time it takes for the note to dull), sustain (how long the sound is sustained for) and release (how long it takes for the sound to be released). Some digital synthesisers have a graph showing the sound has been edited with the 4 effects.

Mod Envelopes

These type of envelopes can be used in any part of the synth to give an extra element to the sound. This gives a vibrato effect and boosts the sound to help create colours and layers in the sound.

Filters

There are a selection of filters on synthesisers which can control what frequencies are allowed through and heard, almost like EQ. There is a low pass filter, which only allows low frequencies through, a high pass filter which lets only high frequencies through and then there is a band pass which allows a set band of frequencies through. A band pass is normally used on a track which has a large range of frequencies in. They are the main types of filters. A notch filter is like a band pass, but much tighter. This filter is used to only let, or block a small range of frequencies in or out. Alternatively there is a comb filter, this is a very interesting filter which is shaped a lot like a comb, it is almost like a series of notch filters.

There are two other effects on the filter section of a synth; drive and resonance. The drive is how much the filter reacts and effect the sound. Whereas, resonance is the process where tones are added to the frequency over time.

LFO

LFO stands for low frequency oscillator. This is usually a sine wave, but a variety of sound waves can be used. This effect is popularly used in dub step music to create a wobbly bass line. This effect can be assigned to many different things, and used to move parameters on a synth. To achieve the typical wobbly bass line used in dub step music, cut off should be low, rate should be high and gain also needs to be high.

Miscellaneous

This feature can be used to connect anything to anywhere else without having to use an envelope attached.

Portamento

This is the sliding of the pitch from one note to another. In Cubase this can be achieve by changing the polyphony note selection to monophony, this only allows one note to be played at a time. When Portamento is turned up, a sliding effect is achieved.

Audio Components for Films 

Studio and Location

The studio and location are important when creating sound for a moving image, sometimes the sound is created at the same location which the film is located. This allows for the sound to suit the feel of the film as it is the actual ambience that naturally occurs with this picture. Whereas most of the time, sounds for a moving image are created separately or in a studio, this is because the sounds produced sound more pure and professional, also unrealistic sounds can be produced in a studio.

Interviews

Sounds for interviews are usually produced at the same location and time that the interview happens. Overhead miss can sometimes be used in an interview, or on occasions hand held mics are used by the interview participants. It is common for location interviews (interviews that take place at the location of an event. e.g. an interview with a singer backstage of their concert), handheld mics are used to capture the sound effectively. Whereas in less noisy environments, like a studio, interview sounds can be captured by using overhead mics. 

Presentation

During  a presentation a radio mic is normally used. This is a portable type of microphone which can easily be clipped on clothing, allowing the speaker to move around while they speak but the sound will not be lost and remain constant throughout. 

Voice Over

Voice overs can be done over any film or moving image, but most often voice overs are used in animation to voice characters. When recording voice overs, a good condenser mic should be used with a good vocal frequency range used and similar principles and processes to what is used when recording a singer should be repeated. 

Drama Dialogue 

Usually dramas like TV programmes use overhead mics to capture dialogue from the voices of their actors. It is important for the audio from the dialogue to be captured whilst the scene is being performed to ensure that the acting is appropriate to the voice being used. Also, dramas usually run quite often and have to meet short deadlines (for example; Eastenders produce at least 3 shows per week), unlike films who have much longer deadlines and do not need to be released as often, so recording sound on set also suits the time available for drama productions. 

Ambient Sound 

Ambient sound is audio used to create an environment which can create a setting for the scene, it can be recorded at the place where the film was shot, or it can be created separately. Most of the time ambient sounds are recorded at several different locations and using an array of techniques to be used to layer up the track. I have used ambient sounds in my work by importing the sound effect of the sea coming into shore, recording the sound of rain and birds, and also in previous work I have recorded footsteps by using gravel. 

Sound Effects (SFX)

These are extremely important, especially in films and productions in the modern day. Sound effects like explosions, cars, thunder, telephones and many more, are commonly used in films and television. Sound effects are usually short and have a direct relation to what is going on in the film/picture. 

Stationary and Moving Sound Sources 

A stationary sound source comes from one person/object and produces a constant quality of noise as the sound waves are always approaching the microphone in the same way. This is a technique used to collect sound to suit a picture which is not moving. 

A moving sound source is one that can move in any direction when being recorded, this is often used when recording sound for cars zooming past. This feature is caused by something called the Doppler Effect. the doppler effect is when the sound waves in front of the moving sound become compressed, which caused a smaller wave length therefore higher frequency. But when the object is moving away from the microphone the opposite happens and sound waves become more spread out, creating a longer wave length and a lower frequency. 

Use of Presence 

Presence is the silence which is recorded at the location or space where the dialogue is recorded. This is used to smooth out any sound edit points. Like dialogue, presence is recorded in mono and the microphones being used must be in the same positions to where the dialogue is recorded. 

Final Production of Audio and Film 

Diegetic 

Diegetic sounds are ones which have their sources being seen on the film, for example a voice is diegetic as you can see the actor on film, sounds made by objects or music coming from instruments which can be seen in the film. These sounds help to create the film and add quality to the moving image. Sounds can also influence how the watcher interprets or focuses on during the film.

Non-diegetic 

Non-diegetic sounds are the complex opposite to diegetic sounds. As you've probably worked out, non-diegetic sounds are the sounds which do not appear in the story world but can still be heard. For example, the voice over of a narrator who cannot be seen or a soundtrack to a movie. Films use non-diegetic sounds to prevent the production from feeling empty and to build on the scenes created. Soundtrack and songs in film are extremely effective as they can create emotion within a scene. These sounds cannot often be heard by the audience.  

External Diegetic

This sound is similar to non-diegetic sound, as the sounds are not included in visual form in the scene shot, but alternatively, external diegetic sounds can be ears by both the audience and the characters too. An example of this could be, foley sounds or a narrators voice which can be heard by the characters as well. This can produce depth into a scene, or make the scene more inclusive and creates conversation amongst the characters, external characters and audience. 

Mood 

Mood can be created by sound through the use of certain keys, instruments and effects in the sound. This helps to create impact in the scenes and can put emphasis on moments throughout the piece. The sounds should compliment the film which is happening at the time. 

Illusion

Illusions can be created with the help of sound. The sound can take some of the attention from what is happening in the film and image to try and make the audience believe that what is happening is not an illusion. The sounds can also make the illusion seem more realistic.