Sound

Why does sound matter? Sound Design is extremely important to the success of a show and for the audience to have a “total” experience. Think of your senses.

Interpreting Sound Listen to the following sound clips and write down the following for each: Time Mood Style Characters Costumes Lighting effects Clip #1 Clip #2 Clip #3 Clip #4 Clip #5

Functions of Sound in Theatre Music Pre and Post show as well as intermission Pre-show example: Post-show example: Underplaying action Underscore example: (From Josh’s one-act): Scene Changes Almost, Maine transition piece:

Functions (continued) Effects Recorded From A.M.: Live or Practical Gun from AMS Reinforcement Mics (more later)

How Sound Works Sound is a compression wave. When something compresses air (a speaker woofer, guitar string, drum, etc) the resulting wave travels until it hits a receptor, which interprets the wave as a certain sound.

How Sound Works Frequency: The rate that sound travels - creates the pitch Pitch is the tone of a vibrating body The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch Example: My vocal range as seen in wave-form Intensity: The volume of the sound - measured in Decibels 20 Quiet Whisper 70 Normal Conversation 100 Thunder 110 Rock Band at 5 ft 130 Jet Plane at 100 ft = pain

How Sound Works (continued) Timbre: The quality of sound Different sounds of the guitar Acoustics: The absorption and re flection of sound We don’t want reverberation (bouncing waves) Example: Drums through different reverbs We limit this with absorbers - curves, carpet, curtains, anything soft Example: Zombie Prom

Sound Equipment Hand Held Mics - used when amplification is not trying to be hid. Public Speakers and Lead Singers mostly. Used in situations where there are not a lot of speakers (less than 5 usually). Can cost between $75 (corded) to $400 (wireless). Can be omnidirectional.

Sound Equipment Lavolier or Headset Wireless - used when amplification is trying to be hid and/or there is a lot of movement on the performer’s part. Can cost between $150-$400 per.

Sound Equipment Shotgun Mic - used when amplification is for a large group of people or over a large area (evenly). Can cost between $150-$300 per. Can be omnidirectional.

Sound Equipment PZMs or ‘Mice’ - used when we want a natural sound to the amplification and we can’t or don’t want to body mic the performers. Can cost between $100-$300 per.

Sound Equipment CD Player/Tape Deck/Midi Player - used to play back sound (music and/or effects) at a required time. The more money you put in, the more things you can do. Example: Laptop and Logic

Soundboard Also known as a mixer. Take a look at ours Similar to the lighting board: different channels control different things. You “mix” the different sounds together to create a balance. You can also control the quality of sound with EQ. Low (or bass) Mid High (or Treble) You can also route signals to external devices (typically f0r effects) Known as auxiliary routing Effects are sometimes included in the board itself

Cues Similar to lighting cues Example: Almost, Maine script (see pdf)