Michel Chion is a well known voice in film sound theory. A lot of people have heard of, and possibly read, his book Audio Vision. For some reason, The Voice in Cinema is a little less popular. This post isn't really meant to be about Michel Chion or his books though. We're focusing on the idea of "voice" this month, and it's hard to come up with a header image that is relevant. … [Read more...]
Ideas in Sound Design: Deprivation and Barriers – Part 2
Cross-posting from my personal blog. This article is the follow up to Part 1 of Ideas in Sound Design: Deprivation and Barriers. I've gathered a selection of media to discuss the ideas presented in the original article. I will focus on three films and one video game trailer: Saving Private Ryan, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Fight Club and Mass Effect 3's Take Earth … [Read more...]
Ideas in Sound Design: Deprivation and Barriers – Part 1
Cross-posting from personal blog. I've had two ideas take obsessive root in my brain recently. They're not new concepts, nor are they new to me. My first introduction to them was 8 years ago now, but I find myself pondering them with the regularity that my dog wants food. [Now? Now?! ...........Nooooow?] They're worth talking about in a public space, because I hope they'll … [Read more...]
Qualities
"The emotional, physical and aesthetic value of a sound is linked not only to the causal explanation we attribute to it but also to its own qualities of timbre and texture, to its own personal vibration. So just as directors and cinematographers (even those who will never make abstract films) have everything to gain by refining their knowledge of visual materials and … [Read more...]
Speaking the Language of Horror Film Sound, New Book
Time to get yourself a new book, huh? Look at this: "A fascinating behind the scenes look at the previously unexplored territory of horror film sound.. Through in-depth analysis of sound in the films of Dario Argento and discussions with leading practitioners, this book explores our inherent relationship with sound; examining how and why specific sounds are chosen and utilised … [Read more...]
"SOUNDSCAPE: The School of Sound Lectures 1998-2001" Book Reprinted and Available Now
The School of Sound has announced the release of a reprinted version of "SOUNDSCAPE: The School of Sound Lectures 1998-2001", one of the most amazing books to read if you're involved with sound design or sound in general. SOUNDSCAPE is a compendium of presentations given during the first four years of the School of Sound investigating the modern soundtrack and the ways sound … [Read more...]