Physics of Sound

Sound is a series of atmospheric pressure waves produced by a vibration The height (amplitude) corresponds to loudness and the wavelength to frequency

Physics of Sound
Loudness is determined by the amount of pressure produced by a wave measured in decibels An increase of 10 decibels equals twice the volume Threshold of hearing is the softest audible sound, threshold of pain is 130dB. A normal conversation is 65 dB above the threshold of hearing Dynamic range: highest to lowest point

Physics of Sound
Frequency determines the pitch of a sound The cycles of waves are measured in hertz (Hz) or cycles per second. Western instruments use 440 Hz as a standard for the pitch A Doubling the frequency = octave Ear is more sensitive to midrange frequencies than to low or high frequencies

Physics of Sound
Frequency response refers to how an audio system or microphone responds to various frequencies Good audio recorders are capable of flat or equal response to all frequencies, consumer camera mics may not be Using equalizers to change the frequency response for given ranges of any sound changes the nature of that sound

Sound Equipment
Camcorder mics work well for short distances, the inverted square rule Professional camcorders give you audio level control, consumer ones often dont Using mics outside the camcorder offers more flexibility in shot choice and the chance to have a master soundtrack

Sound Equipment
Microphone types - dynamic or moving coil are quite rugged, resistant to hand noise, require no battery - condenser mics are more sensitive and require a power source - electret condenser mics have a permanently charged capacitor and may be small and require no power supply

Sound Equipment

Microphone directionality - omni-directional mics respond equally to sounds from any direction - cardioid mics are most sensitive to sounds comimg from the front, less to the sides, and least to the back - super-cardioid mics are insensitive to sounds not coming from the front

Sound Equipment
Microphone directionality - polar diagrams show sensitivity from above - hyper/super cardiod (shotgun) mics do not magnify sound, but exclude it

Sound Equipment
Lavalier mics or lapel mics - useful for recording individuals in noisy environments - the resonation of sound in the chest can make the voice sound low and unnatural

Sound Equipment
Stereo Mics - X-Y configurations are usually built into camcorders - uses two cardioid mics each pointed 45 to the side

Sound Equipment
Stereo mics - M-S (mid-side) mics uses a cardioid mic facing forward and a figure 8 mike for the sides - useful for mixing down if you have good editing equipment

Recording Techniques !
Controlling microphone noise - wind across the microphone creates loud rumbles, crackle, and pops - wind screens and blocking objects help - handling of the microphone or touching of the camera and vibrations from the tripod can also create noise

Recording Techniques
Microphone distance - ideally 1-3 feet, camcorder mics record speech accurately up to about 5 or six feet - too close, breathing, s sounds, pops, bass tone proximity effect - to far away means more ambience sound - compromised sound perspective can be adjusted with reverb

Recording Technique !
Digital recording levels and overmodulation - overmodulated (too loud) analog sounds becomes crackly, with digital recording, it is distorted and clipped off - digital recordings should be concerned more with recording too loud, though camcorders dont overmodulate easily

Recording Technique
Camcorders and Automatic Level Control - ALC or automatic gain control works by adjusting the recording level based on the signal it receives - test the sound signal in your environment to see of any radical level changes take place

Recording Technique
Ambient sound - the background sound in any production can be minimized by turning off appliances, choosing quiet times and spaces, or using sound blankets - record about a minute of room tone at every location - ambient sound should be consistent from one shot to the next

Recording Technique !
Noisy locations - get the mic as close to the source as possible - use lavalier mics - use directional mics like shotgun mics and position your subject outside of a major noise source - ideal to have two sound sources, subject and background

Recording Technique !
Acoustic space - live spaces reflect sound and cause echos, such as empty rooms with hard smooth walls and floors - dead spaces absorb the sound, such as carpeted rooms with lots of furniture and irregular walls. - outdoor spaces can be dead because they have no reflecting surfaces

Recording Technique
Controlling reflected sound - a live room can produce a muddled reverberating sound - you can minimize reverberation: - close directional - deaden walls and floor with curtains/blankets - you may use reflected sound to your advantage

Recording Techniques
Position mics to avoid reflected sound from the camera

Recording Technique
Narration - voice over tracks are ideally recorded in sound proof environments. A make shift one can be made out of sound blankets - off screen narration gives the video a sense of omniscience, objectivity, and predestination

Recording Technique !
Capturing sound effects - sounds directly captured from the environment - sounds from a sound library or from the internet - foley sounds

Sounds Impact on Image

High pitch = tension, suspense Low pitch = less tension, mystery Loud sounds = intense, threatening Quiet sounds = delicate, hesitant Fast tempo = more tension Silence = highlights, isolates image, can represent death, sticks out if a mistake

Sounds Impact on Image !

Sound effects both atmospheric and diagetic Off screen sounds can expand the film world beyond the frame Sounds can be used like motiffs and serve symbolic functions Sounds can be used as to aid transitions and foreshadow action

Sounds Impact on Image !

Music - sets a mood - suggest historical references, a time period - can suggest locales, classes or ethnic groups - used as foreshadowing and musical warnings - atonal music can create anxiety - can reference other settings of music - music can provide ironic contrasts with image