So many sounds do come close to our ears each moment. What we allow into our mind and how we interpret what we listen to is what propels our thought and actions”
― The Untapped Wonderer In You: dare to do the undone
How often have you sat back into your theater seat (or your recliner) to watch a movie or any type of animation? What do you hear besides the actor’s voices? Rain gently pattering on a tin roof? The hard strike of high heels on a marble floor? The sizzle of bacon frying? Would you hear those sounds if you were standing next to the actors on stage? Or are they artificial? Have you ever considered the tools used to fool your auditory sense? In the same way your logic can be led down the garden path by surveys, you can’t always trust what you hear.
There are two types of sounds in a movie, television or stage production. One is diegetic and the other is non-diegetic. The former includes the sounds the actors make, of course. Non-diegetic sounds might be the splashing of a child in the bathtub off-stage or the rumbling of a dump truck you hear through an open window. The on-stage microphones pick up diegetic sounds.
To enhance a story’s ambience, advance the storyline, or evoke emotion from the audience, additional sounds are often necessary. As an example, think of the tension spawned by the unexpected creak of an upstairs floor in a house occupied by one person. And the relief that one person downstairs feels when the resident cat enters stage left and begins caterwauling for a treat. That’s where the non-diegetic plays a part. Pun intended.
There’s an art to creating sounds that fit a script’s needs. I am in awe of the talent and creativity required to duplicate everyday noises that might not reach the mic. That’s what Foley artists do. This specialty got its start about 100 years ago when Jack Foley was charged with creating common sounds for radio shows. Modern day (experienced) Foley artists can make up to $450 a day. That isn’t bad, but the work is likely less steady than a 9-5. Perhaps I’m speculating, but the effort spent in the process is a certainty.
As an example, consider the work necessary to enhance a film. First, the artist has to watch an entire film during post-production and catalogue each sound. Once the list is complete, the artist experiments with various objects until realization meets expectations. Next, the artist records each individual item needed. Finally, the producers incorporate the sounds into the finished film. Sounds like a lot of work. (See what I did there?)
To elaborate, the variety of sounds required is extensive and might extend from the sound of someone walking to the screech of an owl to the soft rush of an evening wave against the shoreline. They might use:
- The smack of raw meat against a hard object for a punch
- Walking on crumpled paper to simulate the crunch of dead leaves
- Their own voices to reflect the whine of an injured animal
Artists select microphones specifically for the job being recorded because of the wide range of pitch and volume. That, and they don’t want to pick up any sounds unintentionally made in the room in which they’re recording. A short video, The Magic of Making Sounds, provides a good overview of the process. Another video, included below, is longer and offers different examples.
HookSounds provides a robust list of sounds you can make at home to mimic what you don’t have handy. You know, like a Velociraptor hatching. Seriously, that’s addressed in the article. However, if you’re playing a prank or putting on an amateur production for Christmas, you might want to “hear” a fire crackling or sleigh bells or someone walking in the snow.
No, this isn’t a Christmas edition. While it would be lovely if you contemplated the birth of our Lord over the next few days, you can do that quite well without my commentary. So, to wrap it up, best wishes for a joyous Christmas season, safe travels and good thoughts. Until next week, I’ll be enjoying family time and watching holiday movies. During each one, I’ll be asking myself, “Is that sound real or is it Foley art?” I probably won’t know.
You?
As a sound junkie who taps on everything to hear what it sounds like, I appreciate this blog. Enjoy your family time.
We all have such different tendencies. I have to say that I have NEVER tapped on anything just to see what it sounds like. Except maybe a watermelon. 😉