contents Introducing the Sound Designer 4 Sound Equipment 6 Getting Your Ears Tuned In 8 Understanding Sound 10 Working On Set 12 Recording Outside 14 Recording Indoors 16 Getting the Dialogue 18 Voice-overs and ADR 20 Using Music 22 Sound Effects 24 Sound Editing 26 Making Your Name 28 Glossary 30 For More Information 31 Index 32
introducing The Sound Designer Driving into the city you see a railroad yard up ahead The trains are making a loud clanking sound as they move up and down the rails You can hear a metal scraping noise as the brakes start to bite on the wheels This is amazing You jump out of your car and grab your sound recording gear from the trunk This has made your day Sound designers are always on the lookout for new sounds When you watch a movie you may not really think about what you are hearing Obviously it is important to be able to hear what the characters are saying but what do sound designers do for the rest of the movie The answer is Plenty Every tiny sound every piece of music every monster’s roar has been found or created by the sound designer Great sounds are everywhere once you start to tune in 4
Love sound and the movies Have knowledge of the science of sound or acoustics A sound designer has to Be creative Be a good communicator Be able to work to deadlines Be organized Understand how to stay safe Understand sound recording and editing techniques Have excellent listening skills while working on set Cell Phone Movie School Try watching an action scene with the sound turned down Then turn the volume back up again and you will understand what a sound designer’s job involves The music the sound effects and the background noise all help to give the scene its drama and its setting The most important thing you can do as a sound designer is to make the right choice for the right sound at the right moment Ben Burtt 5
