Lately I've been noticing a focus on audio, from podcasts to TV shows to apps. Over the next few posts, I'll highlight some interesting finds surrounding the audio experience.
One of the most memorable talks I attended was one at SXSW 2019, where a panel discussed the importance of sound when designing a physical space. And sound also plays an integral role in the storytelling experience. A moving soundtrack adds to the emotional weight of a dramatic movie scene. Frenzied, cacophonous sounds build tension in a horror film. And appropriately timed sound effects evoke especially vivid imagery within podcasts such as The Grey Rooms or Creepypod, where sound is the only medium in your experience.
I recently came across a podcast called Powered by Audio, which explores the stories behind sounds in our everyday lives. One of the episodes featured Foley artists, who create movie sound effects in post-production. I was fascinated by the artists' creativity to design these sounds using everyday objects. The sound of a car skidding to a halt? That's made by a water bottle rubbing against a piece of wood. The cracking of bones? It's from a frozen celery stalk being broken in half. Although these sounds wouldn't normally be heard or be as loud in their natural context, Foley artists produce the amplified versions of these sounds to add to the dramatic effect and heighten the storytelling to another level.
Try watching a horror film on mute. You'll be devoid of the suspenseful feelings of discomfort and dread. Imagine viewing a high-speed car chase without the sound effects. The scene immediately falls flat without the vicarious rush of adrenaline. Without sound, we not only lose a sense of the storytelling effect, but we also lose the emotional aspect that immerses ourselves into the story. Now that's the power of audio.
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