HITHER GATE MUSIC

Image & Sound Relationships:
~ Quick Reference ~

RELATIONSHIP	DESCRIPTION
NATURAL WORLD	actual sound of the real event field recordings: places, people, animals, nature, machines often include ambience period authenticity some transformation work to improve Example: a forest scene with a field recording of a stream and birds
LARGER THAN LIFE	recognisable sound, but somehow magnified for impact, emotional strength and vividness often achieved with close-miking or contact microphones other sounds may be mixed in to enhance the main sound minimal sound transformation, but may employ studio editing for e.g., reverberation Example: many of the sounds in Time Bandits
MORE REAL THAN REAL	the sounds are in fact imaginary: invented but the aim is for them to seem real, very real, powerfully real hugely inventive, often using foley artists done to achieve a clean sound for mixing also done to enhance emotional content involves sound transformations to a significant degree Example: punching a cabbage and then enhancing the recording with sound transformation techniques
COMIC VARIANTS	techniques of caricature are relevant: exaggerating key features 'funny' sounds include boings, tweets, slides, sudden contrasts of volume, style, speed, or type of sound tempo is important, such as faster or slower than normal audio puns that duplicate verbal or visual imagery in an intentionally obvious way Example: the incredible Goon Show or Looney Tune sound tracks
EMOTIONS ONLY	the expected natural sound is not actually present another sound is used to focus on the emotional dimension of the scene viewers 'into' the film often don't even notice that the sound wasn't the natural one plenty of scope here for sound design work in order to craft a sound with the appropriate emotional impact Example: shrill sound of stainless steel mixing bowls when they come upon the scarecrows in Planet of the Apes.
CONTRADICTIONS	even without a direct contradiction, the tone of the music guides the interpretation of the visuals the tone of the music can differ from that of the visuals a different tone can suggest that there is more involved than meets the eye a lighter tone with distressing scenes can be part of how people cope a darker tone with apparently innocent scenes can forbode danger to come harmonies/tonal colours, rhythms, movement + sustaining are some ways to achieve this Example: puffy white clouds in a blue sky accompanied by deep, dark, resonant tones

Last updated: 16 January 2003
Prepared for Workshops in Sound Design

© 2003 Archer Endrich, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England