Sound Design (1)

the three elements that effective sound design

1. Music 2. Effects 3. Reinforcement

music

All pre-show, post-show, and intermission music, as well as the themes used to underscore moments or scenes within the play.

How is music often used in a play?

To elaborate the emotional intensity of moments in a play.

Sound effects?

Sound effects include sounds like door bells, telephone rings, and dog barks, and may also include tracks of environmental sounds.

A Foley artist?

A Foley artist creates sound effects for films and plays using various techniques and props.

What is the speed of sound in air at sea level?

Sound moves at about 1,130 feet per second in air at sea level.

What is a compression wave?

A compression wave is transmitted through the air and is converted by the ear into a neurological impulse.

What does frequency refer to in sound?

Frequency refers to the rate at which an object vibrates, often associated with pitch.

What is the difference between intensity and loudness in sound?

Intensity is an objective measure of sound power, while loudness is a subjective perception of sound intensity.

What does timbre refer to in sound?

Timbre refers to the distinctive quality of a sound, differentiating one voice from another.

What are the three basic types of sound systems used in theatre?

1. Sound reinforcement 2. Sound recording 3. Sound playback

What is the purpose of a sound reinforcement system?

To make live or pre-recorded sounds louder and distribute those sounds to a larger audience.

What is sound recording?

The act or process of making a record of sound.

What is sound playback?

The reproduction of already recorded sound or image.

What is a microphone?

A transducer that converts sound waves into electrical energy.

What are the four characteristics by which microphones used in theatre are quantified?

1. Element style 2. Pickup pattern 3. Physical design 4. Connectivity

What is a dynamic microphone and how does it work?

It utilizes a magnet surrounded by a wire coil moving back and forth to generate an induced current that mimics the sound.

What is a condenser microphone and how does it operate?

It is an electrically complex microphone that converts sound waves into voltage variations based on capacitance changes.

What are the three main functions of mixers in sound systems?

1. Signal routing 2. Processing 3. Gain control

What does gain control do in a sound system?

It controls how loud a signal is before it undergoes processing.

What is the function of a power amplifier?

To boost a low-voltage signal to a higher-voltage signal for driving loudspeakers efficiently.

What are pickup patterns in relation to microphones?

The visual pattern illustrating the intensity of a microphone's output relative to sound direction.

Reverb

An electronically produced echo effect.