A Guidebook to Sound Design: What It Is and How It Works

What is Sound Design?

Sound design is the creative act of recording, editing, and mixing varied audio elements and music soundtracks for media productions in film, TV, advertising, and other artistic fields. Sound designers play an important role in crafting an engaging and memorable creative production ranging from enhancing dialogue in a film to placing precise sound effects in a specific clip. Here are the various tasks that are delegated to sound designers within the industry:

What Does a Sound Designer Do?

Sound designers take on massive responsibility during the pre-production, production, and post-production phases of a creative project. Below are the 4 general steps a sound designer will follow during the duration of a film project:

• Meet with the directors and producers. Before taking any action, a sound designer will spend extensive time studying the script of a media production. This helps them understand and determine the varying emotions, tones, and themes that will need to be portrayed using audio techniques. In this stage, sound designers and their team will meet with the project’s directors and producers to ensure everyone is on the same page. If the directors or producers would like certain music or sound design elements added, this is the time they’d inform the sound designer about it. 
• Establish the budget. After meeting with the directors and producers in pre-production, it’s time for the sound designer to set the budget for the production’s sound design. The budget includes the following: sound design team, recording studio, music licensing, sound recording location(s), required sound equipment, and more. 
• Create sound effects. This is the exciting step of creating or recording sound effects, editing sound elements, and synchronizing them to match the project’s visuals. The sound design team will mix and cut audio to get professional results. 
• Lead the sound design team to finish the project with excellence. Throughout the entire process, sound designers are responsible for leading a team consisting of roles such as Foley artists, dialogue editors, music editors, audio engineers, and more. Each position plays a different part in the sound design process, and it’s up to the sound designer to ensure everything runs smoothly. Equipment needs to stay in tip-top shape, deadlines have to be met, and the team has to stay in constant communication. In the end, the sound design team will take the audio files created and match them with the project’s visuals.

Sound designers are an important part of the production team within the film industry and other media projects. If you’d like an exhilarating career, sound design could be the field you need to try out.

How to Become a Sound Designer

Training and years of experience will pave the way for you to become a sound designer. A degree isn’t required to become a sound designer, but it can be beneficial if you feel the need to gain practical education in sound design elements. It’s highly encouraged to obtain hands-on experience and training at a theater, film school, or production company as an intern or work-study. You’ll also need to showcase your work by creating a sound portfolio and sharing it with those in the film industry. 

Although you’ll most likely start with small jobs, they may lead to bigger and better sound design opportunities in your future. It’s important to build connections within film and make sure you’re constantly learning from sound design professionals through conversation, online resources, and more. You can also join a sound design team and work your way up to become the leading sound designer on the next blockbuster hit. As you try out different roles on the team, you’ll begin to see that there are varying types of sound design elements. Let’s take a look at 5 common elements of the sound design process that you’ll need to be familiar with as a sound designer.

5 Core Elements of Sound Design

Common sound design components such as ambiance or audio effects are constantly used within creative production. Oftentimes, there are different individuals in charge of each of these types of sound design, but they’ll always collaborate with the chief sound designer on set. We’ll note what each element is, how they impact production, and when to use them. Here are 5 well-known sound design elements within film production:

 1. Ambiance

Ambiance is the background noise that matches the entirety of a scene. It helps viewers feel like they’re inside the production itself, and the ambiance enhances the reality of the scene taking place. For example, the sound of waves, a crowd cheering, wind blowing, coffee shop sounds, or even a silent room. Ambient noise sets the scene and is the base that all other sound design elements build upon.

 2. Foley Sounds

Foley sounds are additional audio elements that enhance the sound of actions to make them more interesting and life-like. Think of Star Wars’ iconic lightsaber hum or the sound of the excruciating punches thrown in Fight Club. Sound Foley helps certain elements in production stand out and increases the intensity of an action-packed scene.

 3. Audio Effects

Audio effects are a set of sounds created by sound designers that represent an action that isn’t normally heard in real life. Jurassic Park’s terrifying sounds of a tyrannosaurus rex are an electrifying example of audio effects within the film industry. Audio effects can transport audiences into a completely fictional world leaving them wondering what’s real and what isn’t. 

 4. Voice-Over

Sound designers can use the voice of a narrator or cast member to tell the audience what’s happening, what the character’s thoughts are, or how the character is being impacted by a film’s story. Voice-overs can also be used in TV commercials, product launches, and more to invite viewers to invest in a company’s product or vision. Popular Disney movies such as Moana, Tangled, or Beauty and the Beast use voice-overs to bring animated characters to life. Voiceovers give audiences insight into a character’s mind, encourage viewers to take action, and narrate an entire film or creative production.

 5. Music

Musical elements including songs or instrumental pieces are used in film and media to set the tone of a production and communicate a story. A film score can consist of pre-existing music licensed for a film or original music crafted uniquely for the project. Award-winning soundtracks featured in films such as La La Land, The Lion King, Black Panther, and All Quiet on the Western Front reveal the power music has to provoke emotion, connect viewers with characters, and create a long-lasting impact. 

After exploring these 5 elements of sound design, you’re probably realizing how many of your favorite films include various sound design techniques. Sound design completely transforms a creative production and immediately takes it to the next level. Here is a closer look at why sound design is vital within creative projects:

Why is Sound Design Important?

High-quality sound design sets up a story, informs the viewers how they should feel about a given scene, drops hints at what is next, and enhances the tone of a creative production. Without sound design, there is limited emotion within a project and it can be difficult for audiences to connect with the characters or narrative communicated on screen. Sound design magnifies a film project’s already visually stunning elements. 

If you want to upgrade your next film project, it’s time to implement sound design in your creative production. With the right team providing next-level sound design services, your artistic project will go from zero to one hundred . Here’s where Avalanche Studios can take the reins.

Hire Experienced Sound Designers Based in Salt Lake City, Utah

Avalanche Studios’ sound design services are the perfect addition to your upcoming film project. Whether you need a crisp voiceover or want to include a cinematic soundtrack, our team has extensive experience in intentionally crafted sound design. We’ll sit down with you, catch your vision, and partner with you in telling your story with audio and visual capabilities. With our high-end sound design equipment and creative crew, we’ll turn your project into an engaging piece for your intended audience. 

From pre-production to delivery, we promise to capture your dream and run with it. Request a quote from Avalanche Studios to start working with our award-winning team of sound designers, editors, and creatives.