Sound enhances storytelling in three key ways: 1. It establishes the setting, mood, and unseen actions to transport the audience. 2. Music can gain attention, create mood, and establish location to direct the story. 3. Sound enhances but should not repeat visuals; writing should complement rather than conflict with sound effects and music.

1. Sound Advice Jeanine Howard-Cherry

2. Sound Effects Sound, when carefully and well integrated into script, enhances the message Establishes the setting Sets a mood Establishes time Represents the unseen action Refrain from using sfx that have no purpose Transitions Silence is golden

3. Music Gains attention Create mood Establishes a location Creates an effect with purpose Theme Carries the direction of script and can bring it full circle Intro Conclusion Transition Must pay copyright fees to BMI, ASCAP and SESAC

4. Elements of Strength Sound v. Photo/Video: Video Wins Sound enhances the video/photo Sound provides for transitions and depth. Sound v. Words: Sound Wins Write to the sound Sound tells part of the story Words explain, not repeat. Sound is subjective. Words are objective.

5. Recording Rules Bad audio in is bad audio out Learn to use microphones Set appropriate recording levels Vocals 40-60% on V.U. Meter Pre-recorded Music/SFX 60-80% Music/Sound beds at FULL 60-80% Music/Sound Beds fade under 15-20%

6. File Formats Broadcasting studios: Windows PCM.WAV Standard digital audio file format Allows for sampling and compression MP3 Audio encoding format Compresses audio: less info=less space Audio Interchange File Format: AIFF Developed by Apple Uncompressed format Advanced Audio Coding: AAC Audio encoding format Compresses

7. Mic Basics Microphones are transducers Change sound waves into electrical energy The electrical impulses can then be utilized by other technological devices: Consoles, recorders, players, Computers Sound reproduction is affected by the mechanical and electronic means used within the mic to change the acoustic or motional energy of sound into electrical energy. www.Scivee.tv/node/11123 (video explanation) www.vimeo.com/2433559 (mic demonstration)

8. Dynamic Microphones Thin diaphragm vibrates in response to sound energy. The attached coil moves through a magnetic field, electrical current is generated with a pattern that corresponds to the pattern of the original sound Also called Moving Coil Mics

9. Ribbon Mics sound energy causes vibrations of a metallic ribbon which moves through a magnetic field to produce an electrical current Also called a pressure gradient mic because it responds to a difference in pressure in front and back of the corrugated strip of metal

10. Condenser Mic Uses an electrical element called a capacitor. Stores an electrical charge that is applied to the back plate Diaphragm vibrates according to the sound energy As the diaphragm vibrates, it changes the distance between itself and the back plate And the amount of the charge held by the back plate changes accordingly Need batteries or phantom power to supply charge to back plate

11. Pickup or Polar Patterns Mic electronics affect the pattern in which it picks up sounds. Omni-directional--All directions Bidirectional--Front and back only Cardioids— front or unidirectional, sometimes called directional. Supercardioid– Provides tighter curve in front and a lobe in the back Hypercardioid are used for highly directional applications where it is important to reject unwanted noises (boom mics in studios.)

12. Frequency Response Different mics respond differently to sound frequencies Frequency Response is determined by range and shape Range: the amount of the frequency spectrum a mic can hear Shape: the form of the graph that indicates a mic’s sensitivities at various frequencies Flat response: responds well to all frequencies. High fidelity=high accuracy

13. In the Field Sound transports audience to the scene Use wireless: MIC the dog Back away from the mic when recording Record twice as much as you think you will need. Listen for the audio clues in story telling.

14. Writing to Sound Write for the ear Explain, don’t repeat Personal, conversational delivery Let the sound carry a portion of the story Avoid throwaway statements Identify the sound source Avoid conflicts between sound, pictures, copy Avoid overwriting