The Role of Foley in the Multimedia Experience

In multi-media, we as a collective viewer or listener, are drawn into a reality that needs to be believable for the sake of entertainment or conveying messages — whatever the purpose of the production.

In multi-media, we as a collective viewer or listener, are drawn into a reality that needs to be believable for the sake of entertainment or conveying messages — whatever the purpose of the production. Even if it’s something as surreal as Jan Svankmajer’s 1988 classic, Alice or a simple radio slot where the presenter is trying to convey an abstract competition experience or a storyline, over the airwaves, it will be more immersive for the consumer the more realistic it seems.

Building an immersive experience

Foley artists have found a way to heighten the quality of audio content in various multi-media productions by creating new sounds (using a variety of objects, tools and methods) that masquerade as other noises. In doing so, they solidify an environment and help to create a world that a consumer can fully immerse themselves in.

This could be anything from the sound of a dripping tap, to the noises we would commonly associate with a car driving past or a bustling street. The Foley artist will carefully create these sounds, on their own or with other professionals like them, by using a sort of banking system, as well as a trial and error method. For example, it is not unusual to see a Foley artist throwing various things against a wall or shaking something violently, just to try and get the perfect duplication of a sound.

Foley artistry helps to cut costs and ensure premium audio quality

In some instances, these noises or bits of audio are easily made by a machine or naturally within an environment. For example, if you wanted the sound of a stream, you might just take a recording device to the stream and get it. Of course, this can sometimes be a costly process and can also compromise the quality of the recording, depending on several variables such as the weather, for example. Therefore, recreating the sound exactly in-studio, can cut costs and ensure almost perfect audio, in line with a high quality production.

Timing and time-saving

In film, for example, Foley artists tend to almost “perform” their sounds, for lack of a better word. Most commonly, they’ll be required to recreate things like the sounds that clothing makes as humans move, and other subtle bits of audio that haven’t been picked up during filming. So as they’re watching the visuals, they’ll create corresponding sounds. In some instances, due to a large space etc. there’s a lapse in timing between the action and sound. A Foley session allows this to be rectified easily.

But perhaps one of the most important instances where filmmakers would use Foley is when creating films that will be translated into various languages. So, when you remove the dialogue and replace it, you’ll need to record other sounds in that layer of audio. Here Foley is extremely helpful for recreating sounds, such as footsteps.

As a practical tool, foley artistry has revolutionised the way that we produce sounds for high quality audio content in multimedia. Still, perhaps its most powerful claim to fame, is the way in which it draws the listener in, immersing them in a world removed from their own.