The Importance of Sound

'[Sound] is a magical thing...it is the thing that can add so much emotion...it's a thing that can add all the mood...It sets the tone...'         

 David Lynch

Silence can arouse emotion in itself, it can feel peaceful, mournful, lonely, moody or sinister, but in film can it mean the same thing?  If you have ever tried to watch something without the sound it can be quite boring and meaningless.  Sound in film, as David Lynch film producer states, can be 100% of the film itself.  Sound relays meaning and mood, giving the viewer a feel for the situation the film is portraying.  Reflecting on this I was reminded of the famous Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho shower scene.  This 1960's classic horror is filmed in black and white, a far cry from modern HD high specification colour films.  However this film is iconic and a perfect example of how sound sets a mood and conveys the emotion of a character.  Try watching the scene without the sound first, then watch it again with the sound, you can see and hear that the appropriate sound makes a tremendous difference to the film.







 

Knowles-Marshall for Film Sound lists three different types of sound that is used in film.

   

1. Voice

Voice adds personality and expression to film.  It can transfer feelings such as fear, hate, love, comedy or simply give dialogue to tell a story. 

2. Sound Effects

Synchronous sound effects will allow the viewer to hear a door opening while watching a door opening of footsteps crunching through autumnal leaves. Asynchronous sound is added to increase emotion or add a touch of realism to a scene.  For example the sound of cars beeping their horns could connote a sense of urgency and also give a realistic view of time of day.

2. Music

Music in film is not normally noticeable but can add mood and emotion to scenes. It can also be used to link different scenes together or be used to recognise the oncoming of danger or happiness.  Music can also be linked to a particular character or area of the set for instant recognition for the viewer.

 

Similarly, in animation sound is used to connote actions, emotions and pace within the story which makes the animation come to life.