Whether we stop to consciously think about it or not, acoustics has a huge impact on the work we do. At the most basic level, knowledge of the playback environment or medium affects how we approach a given project: broadcast, web, theatrical, home video, conference floor, etc. Maybe we add more bass for web distributed pieces, or reduce the dynamic range slightly for a product … [Read more...]
From Wax to Bits: Dynamics of the Film Sound Medium
As dynamics month comes to a close, I thought it would be fun to talk about the evolution of film sound mediums and how they impact dynamics. Since the widespread introduction of sync sound to films in the early 20th century, the technologies involved have changed quite dramatically. From experiments with wax cylinders and phonographs to magnetic tape and Dolby Digital, each … [Read more...]
The Dynamics of Mark of the Ninja
Guest Contribution by Matthew Marteinsson At first listen you can tell Mark of the Ninja is a game with a wide dynamic range. The game is all about being hidden and safe or out in the open with the danger of being seen. A very binary visual contrast between being hidden and visible informs the player clearly which state they are in. When hidden, the player has got time to … [Read more...]
Dynamics…What’s Your Range?
For June, we've chosen to focus on the theme of "Dynamics." As the title of this post implies, we don't think of this topic as narrow or specific. There are two obvious directions this theme can go. We could start a discussion about the use of dynamics processing: compressors, limiters, expanders, or transient enhancers. How do we use these in the design phase to mold a … [Read more...]
The Sound of Looper – Interview with Jeremy Peirson
I contacted Jeremy Peirson, the sound designer for Looper (2012), to talk about his role in the best received time travel movie in a very long time. What follows is a transcription of our phone conversation. Enjoy! DS: For our theme on the site this month we're talking about "time," and I though it would be interesting to talk about Looper (2012) as a time travel movie and … [Read more...]
Sonic/Temporal Ambiguity as Evidence of Psychosis in Martha Marcy May Marlene
"Where are we?" "Connecticut." "No. How far are we?" "From what?" "Yesterday." Directed by Sean Durkin, Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) centers around the damaged psyche of Martha, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen. Martha is a young woman who, through the time spent living as part of a small farm commune, has lost nearly all sense of boundaries...from social through temporal. … [Read more...]
Time
Guest Contribution by Randy Thom I'm on a plane from San Francisco to New York, May 3, and I see that the Designing Sound theme for May is time. Two notions relating to time and sound design come to mind. One is that fiddling with time in storytelling is always a playground for sound. Jumps to the past or the future in a movie swing the door wide open to using sound in … [Read more...]