SUPER LAAF XXVII What’s With All That Noise? How effectively used sound effects can affect your affection for a film.

What is Sound?  Sound is mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearing.

What is Sound Design?  Sound design for film is the artistic joining and unison of aural elements (speech, music, sound FX, ambiance, etc...) in efforts to help tell the story of the film.

What is a Sound Designer?  A sound designer takes all the aural elements of the film and guides their shaping to form an integral part of the storytelling.

What is…a quote? “The sound and music are 50% of the entertainment in a movie.” -George Lucas

Illusions and Immersion: Psychoacoustics  Rumbles, low frequency rumbles  feelings of threat: earthquakes, lion roars  explosions, horror films, Jaws music  Quiet, high frequency sounds  peace and calm: crickets, quiet fields  Field of Dreams, re-closing of the ark (Indy Jones)

Illusions and Immersion: Conventions (or Clichés)  You can always hear speech (through walls, long distances, etc.)  Dial tone after a phone call ends  Acoustic feedback when a P.A. system is un-muted  Single hawk’s cry over a lonely desert scene  Lasers go “PYOO-PYOO!!”

A quick history  Pre-1900s – Live orchestra would play to film  1888 – Thomas Edison synchronizes sound and picture by connecting the two with a belt  1922 – Tri-Ergon: sound is printed on to the side of the sprocket tape of film

A quick history  1927 – ”Jazz Singer” – first talkie  1928 – “Lights of New York” – first all dialogue feature  1928 – “Steamboat Willie” – first film to use post production for the entire soundtrack (dialogue, sound fx, music)

Fantasia (1940)  First film to use multi- track recording  Birth of the pan knob  First surround sound (Fantasound) Important! But why?

A little more history  1977 – Star Wars (Ben Burtt)  1979 – Apocalypse Now (Walter Murch)  Late 1990s and on – Digital age takes over

III. Breaking Down a Film’s Soundtrack Production:  Location Sound Post-Production:  A. Dialogue – ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement)  B. Sound FX 1. Asyncronous i.e. BGs, room tone 2. Syncronous Hard effects Foley  C. Music – score/soundtrack

Foley  The art of recreating and recording sounds made by a body interacting with an object or its environment  Named after Jack Foley  Foley artists/walkers  Performed on a “foley stage”

Foley

Three Types of Foley  Footsteps

Three Types of Foley  Footsteps  Moves

Three Types of Foley  Footsteps  Moves  Specifics

IV. Some Famous Sounds  Lightsaber  Monty Python’s horse coconuts  Wilhelm scream

LAAF Advice Dear Sound Man Dan, I have a date set up with this girl with THE most beautiful pair of ears I’ve ever seen on anyone. After a nice swanky dinner at Cook’s Tortas, we’re going to the movies (she wants to watch some movie called Inception - I think it’s about making babies or something…might be a chick flick). I really would love to impress her somehow. What can I do??? -Mr. Ear Fetish Guy

LAAF Advice Dear Creepy Ear Fetish Guy, Just because she has a fantastic pair…of ears, doesn’t mean she knows how to use ‘em. She could be deaf for all you know. Let’s just assume she’s not though, and discuss some tips for blowing her mind with your aural sensibilities. (And yes, Inception is indeed a chick flick. Go see it anyways.)

Tip for theater seating Here!

Tip for home theaters

THE END.