Week 5: Sound 101

In-Class Group Exercise: Sound Narrative

In groups of 3–4, develop and shoot a short 30-second narrative in which sound plays an important role. Keep the story simple. The goal is to create a situation in which what we hear helps direct attention, create anticipation, reveal information, or change how we understand the image.

Possible Starting Ideas

• An annoying sound: someone is making a small but irritating sound in a quiet space.
• An unknown sound: a character hears a strange sound and tries to discover where it is coming from.
• The sound that shouldn't be there: someone hears a familiar sound in a place where it doesn't seem to belong.
• Trying to be quiet: a character attempts to do something silently, but every small action suddenly seems loud.
• The misunderstood sound: a sound initially suggests one thing, but its source is eventually revealed to be something completely different.

Visual Storytelling

Although this exercise focuses on sound, continue using the visual principles from our previous assignments. Pay attention to:

• Shot duration and editing rhythm
• Framing and camera position
• Continuity between shots
• Intentional uses of discontinuity
• What is shown and what remains offscreen

Sound Recording

Record sound separately on a second phone whenever possible. The sound recorded by the camera can be used as a reference track for synchronizing the separately recorded audio.

Your group should capture:

• Dialogue: keep dialogue minimal—one or two sentences is enough.
• Room tone / environmental sound: record at least 30 seconds of the natural sound of your location.
• Wild sound: separately record important sounds from the scene without filming them—for example, a door closing, footsteps, a chair moving, a phone vibrating, or another important sound source.
• Foley / close-up effects: make clean recordings of several important actions or objects that can later be synchronized with the image.

At the end of class, share all video and audio files with everyone in the group. Each person will use the same source material to create their own individual edit and sound design.

Sound Design Assignment — 5%

Due October 8.

Using the footage and sound recorded by your group, individually edit a 30-second video with a complete sound design. Your finished soundtrack should combine multiple audio layers and use sound intentionally to direct attention, establish space, create rhythm, and shape the viewer's experience of the scene.

Build Your Soundtrack

Your edit should make use of the following kinds of audio:

• Camera audio: use primarily as a reference for synchronization; keep it only when it contributes useful sound.
• Dialogue: synchronize the separately recorded dialogue and make speech clear and audible.
• Foley: synchronize your group's close-up recordings with actions in the image.
• Recorded wild sound: use separately recorded sounds to strengthen or replace sounds from the original recording.
• Additional sound effects: search public-domain sound libraries or create appropriate effects with AI sound-generation tools.
• Room tone / environmental sound: establish the acoustic space and create smooth transitions between shots.
• Music: if appropriate, use public-domain, Creative Commons, or AI-generated music. Music should support the scene rather than overwhelm the other sounds.

Mixing

Do not simply place sounds on the timeline. Mix the soundtrack. Decide what the audience should hear most clearly at each moment.

• Adjust levels so important sounds are clear and nothing clips.
• Balance dialogue, effects, ambience, and music.
• Use audio fades and crossfades to create smooth transitions.
• Raise or lower individual sounds to direct the viewer's attention.
• Use silence or reduced ambience intentionally when appropriate.
• Listen to the entire mix with headphones before exporting.