sound editing

Mood and atmosphere -

Sound can be used to add mood or atmosphere to a film by creating a soundscape that accents or adds another layer to the action seen on screen. The pitch,tone and volume of a sound can be adjusted depending on the response the film maker wants to evoke from the audience. For example, high pitch sounds are often used in horror/thriller films to create a sense of anxiety. Alternatively, low pitched sounds like the sound of waves can be used to create a calming mood or a sense of adventure. Comparatively, the absence of sound is also really effective, silence can be used to build a scenes intensity or foreshadow bad events. 

Film makers might choose to use contrapuntal sound by using an inappropriate song or composition to convey a sense of chaos in a calm scene, or alternatively a sense of calmness in a chaotic scene. An example of using sound to convey a sense of calmness in a chaotic scene can be seen in the ending of 'Finding Dory'. A truck leaps off the side of a cliff, the entire movie slows down as 'What a wonderful life' begins to play. This creates a sense of humanity, as the audience has built a relationship with the characters. 

Audio fade - 

In sound editing, a fade is a gradual increase or decrease in sound levels. 

Dialogue - 

Digetic sound- Sound whose source is clearly visible on screen, or implied by the action on screen...

Voices of characters 

sounds made by objects on screen

music that is coming from an instrument  

Non-Digetic sound - sound whose source is neither implied or visible, often represented as coming outside of the story space..

• narrators commentary 
• sound effects added for dramatic effect 
• mood music 

This clip from 'Skins', when Effy returns from Italy and makes Freddie confused, uses both Digetic and non-digetic sounds. This clip uses ambient sounds that the characters can hear , such as footsteps, the sound of food being eaten, talking in the background and the sound of pulling chairs.  This is effective because it creates a sense of reality, as if the audience are part of the scene. Moreover, this scene also uses non-digetic sound through the use of music to convey the characters emotions to the audience. the choice of music makes the audience feel sympathy for Freddie because of the way Effy left him and randomly came back, making him really confused. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOMwDD-T0HU

This scene in the physiological horror film 'Orphan' also uses a combination of both digetic and non-digetic sounds. the audience can hear things that the characters can hear, such ad the crunch of snow and the noise the car makes as it hits Max. However, high pitch fast pace music is also used to create a dark mood, and to connote the idea that the nunn is in danger.The scene would have been shot and then the backround sounds would have been aded in edited, and the digetic sounds would have been amplified. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6YEqny85ZA

                                           

In this emorional scene from the fantasy film 'Bridge to Terabithia' Jessie finds out that his companion has tragically died. The scene begins using dialogue, the family seem distraught as they tell Jessie the bad news. As he is being told how his Lezlie has died, an ominous tone is being played in the background, this is effective because it reflects the loss that Jessie is feeling in this moment. Jessie stutters as he refuses to believe what has happened which shows his confusion. In this scene ambients sounds such as footsteps and the movement of grass as Jess is running and the sound of sirens are amplified, this is an effective technique because it allows the viewer to be fully immersedd in the film, feeling that they are there. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSTskF55U5s

Ambient sound -

Ambient sound is background sound, the most common ambient sounds might include wind, water, birds, water, crowds or traffic. Ambient sound is important in film work because it establishes or reinforces the mood, provides audio continuity between shots and it prevents unnatural silence when no other sound is present. 

There are several types of ambient sound used in film production...

• Matching ambient sound - Ambient sound recorded to match the scene

• Wild sound - background noise with distinct sounds not synchronized to the action on scene 

• Room tone - the sound of an empty room whilst all actors are silent 

• Buzz track - generic term for ambient sound

Foley sounds -

Foley sounds is the reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to film or other media during post production. These sounds can be created using anything from the movement of clothing, footsteps or a creaking door. Foley sounds are important because they help to create a sense of reality, without them films might feel quiet and uncomfortable. Foley sounds recreate realistic ambient sounds the film might portray, the props and sets of a film often don't react the same way on set compared to real life.  

Foley sounds have been used in this clip so the viewer feels fully immersed in the action seen on screen. Sounds would not be heard under water, these sounds would have been added after filming. The use of foley sound effects help to illustrate the behavior amongst the fish accuratley

Sound Motif - 

A sound motif is combination of sounds or a sound effect that is strongly associated with a particular character,setting,location or situation. Sound motifs often prepare the audience for the arrival of a character or the transition to a location. 

ADR - 

Automated dialogue replacement is the process of re-recording dialogue after filming to improve the audio quality or reflect a change in dialogue. This technique is also known a looping, and it can be used for removing unwanted sounds, changes of script, to improve comedic timing or to correct a mis-spoken word and more. 

The 'Great Gatsby' is a bad example of the use of ADR, audiences said that many lines were clearly looped after filming and didn't match what was being seen to be said on screen.