A sound designer is responsible for designing, installing, and operating the sound system for a production. They work closely with the director to evoke emotion and set the mood through diegetic and non-diegetic sound. A sound designer analyzes the script to source sounds, music, and effects and add appropriate sound cues. They consider elements like volume, pitch, dynamics, and tempo when analyzing and manipulating sounds to create context, time, place, and atmosphere for the production.

1. UNIT 70:
What is the role of a
Sound Designer?

2. Design, install, operate (practicality of sound desk, speakers and microphones. How
is the sound going to be heard?)
Works extremely closely with the director or choreographer
Most sound designers have come from being composers
Evoke emotion, create and reflect mood, underscore the action
Source the sound/music
Edit the sound/music (allows you to manipulate it)
Diegetic & non diegetic sound (diegetic = what the actors respond to, non diegetic
= what the audience, not the actors, hears)
What equipment is needed and where? (radio/ambient/orchestra microphones?)
Reading/analysing the script and adding sound cues.

3. Natural sound
effects
Silence
Spoken sound
Pitch
Voice
Recorded
sound
When analysing sound,
the designer considers
…
Instruments
Volume
Dynamics
Tempo
Background
noise
Live music
Found sound

4. Create
context
Record
sounds
Dialogue
Manipulate
sound
Create time
and place
Roles &
responsibilities
Source sound
effects
Create mood
Analysing
the sound
and script
Make the show
realistic and
atmospheric