How to SOUND DESIGN a Video | Step-By-Step Tutorial

Film & Animation

Introduction

Sound is vital to any film, often giving footage its character and personality through meticulous sound design. Footage from production often arrives without sound—known as MOS (Mit Out Sound)—making it the editor's task to breathe life into it. In this article, we’ll dive into the entire process of sound designing a sequence from a dark comedy, providing two versions: a quick initial pass and a refined second version. You’ll see how attention to detail can dramatically improve the soundscape of your video project. Let's get started.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Score

Even if a composer will create the final score, adding temporary (temp) music during editing helps design sound effects in context, facilitating a clearer understanding of the vision for both the editor and others involved.

Step 2: Ambience and Foley

It's essential to hear everything that is visible in the scene, as no environment is truly silent. Even an empty room has some level of ambient noise which should be included to maintain a realistic soundscape.

Step 3: Creative Sound Design

Not every sound must match its visual counterpart precisely. Creative sound design involves adding sounds for off-screen elements such as thoughts, feelings, or camera moves.

Familiarizing with the Footage

First, we reviewed the short film "Overtime" by Craig D. Foster to grasp the initial tone and mood. Ralph, the protagonist, works in his office, and mundane tasks are portrayed menacingly, culminating in an unsettling interaction with his boss, Simon.

Initial Pass

Using stock sound libraries, we created an initial pass incorporating score and sound effects.

Critique of Initial Pass

  1. Score: Some parts aligned with the scene, but the transition into a lighter melody was inappropriate.
  2. Ambience: The atmosphere was missing crucial ambient sound, leaving a noticeable void.
  3. Repetition: Same sound effects were used repeatedly without variation.
  4. Creative Opportunities: Potential moments for creative sound design were missed.
  5. Treatment and Effects: Sound effects lacked environmental reverberation, sounding unnatural.

Improving the Sound Design

Score Adjustments

We cut and rearranged score sections to ensure they matched pivotal actions such as pulling a staple.

Ambience and Foley

For Ralph’s quiet office, we added a subtle air conditioner hum and wind noise for the outdoor scene. These were kept at appropriate volume levels.

Sound Effect Diversity

We replaced single keystroke effects with varied typing sounds, enhancing realism.

Overcoming Gaps and Adding Reverb

Additional sound effects for blinds, watch ticks, and knocks were inserted, and room-specific reverb was applied to the Foley tracks.

Creative Sound Design

To elevate the storytelling:

  • Opening Credits: Added chimes and a drone sound to set the mood.
  • Stapler Scene: Used a reverse impact to add a sinister tone.
  • End Section: Incorporated sound effects like whooshes to emphasize comedic elements.
  • Sound Intensity: Balanced sound effects to avoid overwhelming subtle moments, like Ralph’s hand movement.

Mixing

The final step was adjusting audio levels using these guidelines:

  • Dialogue: Around -12 dB for clarity.
  • Sound Effects: Between -10 dB and -30 dB.
  • Score: Between -20 dB and -30 dB.

Final Version

The polished sound design, with meticulous layering and creative touches, enhanced the film's overall quality, making it engaging and cohesive.

Keywords

  • Sound Design
  • Score
  • Ambience
  • Foley
  • Creative Sound Effects
  • Audio Mixing
  • Film Editing

FAQ

Q1: Why is temp music important in the initial editing phase?
Temp music helps design sound effects in the right context and aids in conveying the editor's vision more effectively.

Q2: How do I create ambient sounds for a film?
Consider the natural sounds of the scene's environment. Use recordings like air conditioner hums or wind noises and adjust their volumes to suit the setting.

Q3: What is the role of creative sound design?
Creative sound design conveys abstract elements like emotions and off-screen actions, adding depth and interest to the film.

Q4: How can I avoid repetitive sound effects?
Use varied sound clips for effects like typing or pen strokes. Editing with visible waveforms helps align these sounds accurately with the on-screen action.

Q5: Should every bright moment in a film be accented with sound design?
No, identifying key moments is crucial. Over-accenting dilutes the impact, so balance is key.

Q6: What are the recommended audio levels for different sound elements?
Dialogue: ~-12 dB, Sound effects: -10 dB to -30 dB, Score: -20 dB to -30 dB.

By following these steps, you can create an immersive, professional sound design that significantly enhances your video project.