Ways in which sound is used

Ways in which sound is used:
Sounds can be used in different ways to create realism

Synchronous: when sounds are matching the movements occurring in scenes. This effect is commonly used in movies to make it seem more realistic.

 An example is found in the movie the pianist. In this video at 18 seconds, there is visual demonstration of a man playing the notes on the piano which correspond to the sound we hear of notes played by the piano. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHfQCfUTlXE The contribution of synchronous is to create a realism of the movie (as though the man is actually playing the piano). The effect of this technique in this clip is to show the realism of the movie which also links to the fact that this movie is based on a true story. 


Asynchronous: when sound doesn't correspond to the scene.

This example can be seen in many adverts with thinking about acting. In this video clip at exactly 10 seconds, there is an image of a man on the floor and the sound of a heart beat followed by sirens are being played on the background. This is to show how the scene was an incident and how the person may be dying. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T77JVoRYlM The purpose of this is for the audience to feel shocked at the silence of the man, and sympathising with the fact that he may be dying. 


Diegetic: When the natural sound made in the scene is heard and used. 

Here is a clip from scary movie 4 illustrating a man in the car unlocking the doors of a car. We know that by pressing the unlock in the car, that there will be a natural sound and just like when opening the door of the car. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlGcqKZ6BBA
This imitates a real life situation and makes it realistic. In this particular scene, it makes it ironic because the doors aren't opening. This is for the audience to engage by laughing at the scene. 

Non-diegetic- When the natural sound of the scene isn't heard or portrayed. 

In this episode of the Three Stooges, at precisely 25 seconds, Moe hits Curly and a an the natural sound isn't made- which doesn't correspond to the real life sound. This is used to exaggerate a scene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FRsBa4KRkc The purpose of non-diegetic in this scene is to create humour and for the audience to laugh at the scenes.  

Sound used within structures

Structures:
There are different structures used to; plan, inform and modify sounds and scenes. I will be talking about how sound is planned and used within structures. 

Within music, there is a structure which most songwriters follow which is verses followed by choruses. Usually a song consists of about 3 verses and 2 choruses. The use of this structure is so that the music doesn't last too long and so it maintains interesting for the listener. In this clip is an example of the chorus from an animation of Frozen. There is a repetition of 'let it go' in the song which is common in most songs, which refers to the title of the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKxr2PJ06Y4 For a young audience, it is easy and a simple chorus to remember and gives the opportunity for them to sing a long. 

Storyboard: a structured plan of ideas which demonstrate a sequence of events. This can consist of images or notes. 

Below is a diagram illustrating an example of a table with notes on the first shot of a movie. It includes the sound, the description of the scene, the duration, shot type and the camera movement. In this shot, it demonstrates that there is a sound of a girl coming through the door. This is useful as when it comes to performing the scene, you can reference what sound effects are meant to be used and for how long. 




Title: The name of a game or movie for the audience to be informed. 

In the beginning of the soap 'Eastenders' the title is shown followed by a song. This is to inform the audience of the name of the soap. Here is an example of the title being shown at exactly 30 seconds accompanied by the music theme of Eastenders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Y0dwDEglM The synchronization of the title and music is to keep the audience focused on the screen and to be aware that the episode is about to start. 

Another example is the BBC news round on TV. This clip illustrated the theme music of BBC News with the logo and the title in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by06IJR5AxU The title is important as it demonstrates what news is going on.The purpose of the dramatic sounds like the sound of a heart beat, is to link with how the news announces deaths or threatening stories in the world. It is also for the audience to notify easily that they are about to hear the news. 

Edits: Cutting and modifying scenes such as in an animation or live footage, to match with sound or to cut unnecessary scenes. 

Here is a video clip of the movie Breaking Dawn, with an illustration of Bella being weak and on the edge of death. Bella has been edited however, to look weak by thinning her cheeks, arms and legs as well as the colour of the skin- as in this video, we can clearly see that she is very pale. This is effective for the audience as it makes it look realistic and creates a moment of wonder for the audience, of whether she is going to die. The editing makes the audience feel affected by her weight and paleness in order to sympathise with the characters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox9QsnFM4x0

Another example of an edit is in an advert on Nike football where a cartoon has been edited in a live football pitch among living human beings. At exactly, 2 minutes and 33 seconds, 'Hulk' who is originally from a cartoon series, is defending the goal from a real ball and surrounded by football players. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv09DRd4lsM  The effect of this is to make the commercial more creative and unique to watch. The audience is entertained as they may find it ironic the size of Hulk being the size of the goal. 

Sound used in moving image

Sound used in different products

The following information will consists of how audio is used in visual products such as in films, animation, soaps, adverts etc. and how they affect the audience. 

Visual: actions or pictures used as a form of communication. This can be identified in films, adverts, animations and in logos. 

Voice: sound which is produced by mouth like speech or singing. Voice can be identified in visual components such as; TV dialogue, presentation (when someone is presenting a work), or when singing. It is interesting to see how voice creates atmosphere and portrays emotions.

In the soap ‘Eastenders’ there is constant dialogue taking place because it is a drama and it is therefore expected. In this clip at exactly 20 seconds Stacey (Brown hair lady) shouts loudly and speaks in short sentences to portray her anger towards the other character. This shows that the volume of the voice can portray emotions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtCo6c_O5Lk. As an audience, you grasp tension of the scene and sense the atmosphere of the characters. This is for the audience to feel engaged with the characters and how they are feeling. 

Another example of a dialogue is in a real life situation when travelling on a plane. Here is an example of a pilot informing the passengers about the flight. Advance the video to 4 seconds and listen to the pilot instructing the passengers about where they are heading to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtf4Zma8kMU. You can hear the pilot engaging with the audience by talking in a clear and concise voice about where they are, to show that he is confident about the journey. The audience as a result feels safe and secure as they know that they aren't in any danger.  

Sound effects: are artificial sounds that are unnatural; used to emphasize inventive scenes like in action films, animation and games. 

A sound effect can be used in a motion picture to tell a story without dialogue or music. It is common in an animation to hear sound effects as the cartoons are unreal. In this clip you will see within 4 seconds of the video an animation of Roadrunner in action, pushing a large rock. Different sound effects are used when he is lifting and when the rock hits the ground to synchronize with the unnatural scene (as a bird is unable to physically move a gigantic rock)
The effect of the sound not matching with the natural sound of the scene is called a asynchronous. The use of asynchronous is so that the audience is aware that it is unrealistic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQVr1X8_ps8. This makes the animation more interesting and creative and the audience is entertained. 

However, in video games there is constantly sound effects to show different movements. In this clip from Super Mario at precisely 3 minutes and 1 second, you can identify different sound effects according to Mario's movements. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Mr7q-v-64.  In this clip you can hear and see that different sound effects are used when he is collecting coins and when he is jumping. This lets the player know that he is gaining points and that Mario is jumping. Therefore, the use of sound effects is to not only engage the player in a game by having up-beating sound effects but to also synchronize with the movements of the players.

Music: Instruments played with sometimes voice combined. Music is used in a variety of products such as in adverts to make the product sound exciting for the viewers and to make them buy it.

One of the main reasons why music is used in movie scenes is to channel emotions and feelings from the audience. The music can help create either a content, gloomy or romantic atmosphere and sets the mood of the characters. This example can be seen in the beginning of a battle in Breaking Dawn. At exactly 42 seconds a brutal sound of drums and an orchestra begins to play. Instantly the audience is predicting something dangerous is about to happen and you begin to feel tensed and apprehensive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKUv-rhpRTw. Music makes the audience draw into the movie as if they were there to create an attachment to the story and to sympathies with characters. 

Another example of music used in a product is in logos. The music is used within a logo 
 to make a personal association to a particular company. In the logo of Walt Disney the music represents the mystical fantasy of the movies. In this short clip, within 3 seconds we hear the music being played; a smooth tone and an increase in the volume of the music synchronizes with the slow reveal of the logo 'a castle'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t04_HCL4d-M. This disclosure to the mystical music and the white castle represents the fantasy and a magical land of imagination. As an audience, you instantly recognize it is a Disney movie and associate it with fairy-tales. It is a way for audiences to feel prepared for this fantasy world and especially for children, they become excited about watching the movie and feel engaged.

Introduction

Report on the use of sound in moving image production

Introduction:

This report will present the way sound is used in moving image through given examples, explanation of how it is created, why it is used and how it influences the audience.  I will be comparing different sounds used in different moving image such as in films, videogames and compare the different types of sounds like music, voice and side effects.

To begin with, it is essential to understand the different types of components based on a moving image to be able to analysis how they differ and why they differ.

Three different components which I will be exploring are;

1.     Audio -which include music, sound effects, voice tracks, temp tracks, ambient sounds, silence, narration, interviews, presentations and atmosphere

2.     Visual– such as animation, live footage, stills, logos and titles, games, TV-

3.     Structures –as storyboards, internal structure, pace, edits, titles