Sound matters: audio in video
by Megan Landry
Filmmaking is often regarded as a visual form of storytelling, but the role audio plays in cinema is just as pivotal, and even the best cinematography can be spoiled by poor sound.
There are three main components when it comes to audio in video:
Music
In my opinion, music is the most powerful vessel of emotion in film, and there’s actually some science behind this.
Listening to music triggers certain neurological responses in our brains that activate emotions, hormones, neurotransmitters, pattern recognition, memory processing, and other sensory systems that influence how we feel.
The genre of music, melody, chord progression, tempo, rhythm, lyrics, and instruments being played (or lack thereof) are all contributing factors in building nuance and context.
A slow melancholy violin ballad may paint a sad story, but an upbeat ukulele folksong may paint a happy one. An eery clash of non-harmonic notes may make listeners feel agitated and uneasy, warning them that something bad is about to happen.
See the difference music can make with this clip of a young woman walking in slow motion to Enya’s slow and sombre “Only Time”, versus the exact same clip synced to 50 Cent’s pumped-up hip hop track “In Da Club”. The moods are completely different even though the visual is the same.
Sound effects
Impactful sound effects can transform any boring video footage into an immersive experience.
Auditory ambience often feels so real and natural in film that we don’t notice or think about it, but a lot of time and effort goes into perfecting this craft.
If the audience closes their eyes, they should be able to picture what kind of environment the story is being set in.
What’s the weather like, and what’s the temperature? You may hear low whistling winds in a chilly arctic winter landscape, versus distant buzzing cicadas in a hot and humid desert. Maybe there is rain pattering against a window and thunder cracking overhead.
What’s the mood, and how does it make the audience feel? Spooky sound effects like nails on a chalkboard or metal chains dragging against floorboards evoke fear, whereas soothing sound effects like birds chirping or water lapping against a shoreline evoke tranquillity.
The contextual relationship sounds have with the story is also very telling; a child’s laughter may be sweet in a bright feel-good family comedy, but that same child’s laughter could be terrifying in a dark bone-chilling horror flick.
Spoken word
Whether dialogue, monologue, narration, or a combination of the three, spoken word is the most literal way to deliver information in film.
Strong dialogue drives the plot of a story by building character development, audience engagement, authenticity, and subtext, whereas a narrator will guide a story from a third-party perspective.
The narrator may play a role in the story, or they may be completely removed from it, but their unique mannerisms, diction, culture, age, gender, and other personality traits will influence the delivery of the plot.
All in all — a great film needs to have a great soundtrack. Music, sound effects, and spoken word should work together and compliment each other.
