Sound Design Today…

Sound Design Today… Sound design used to be relatively simple… Specific effects, occasional music, some reinforcement Now sound is an integral part of the design process… Credited by USA (United Scenic Artists) Improvement in equipment and technology has made sound more integral and more available Film and television have raised audience expectations as well

Functions of Sound in the Theatre 3 main categories Music Effects Reinforcement

Functions of Sound in the Theatre • Music • Historically preshow, intermission, & postshow • Comedies historically less music than tragedies/dramas • Modern expansion Themes for characters and/or scenes Constructed sound – Any sound effects created by editing, manipulating, or changing previously recorded sounds Lyrics allowed when appropriate • Focus on supporting psychological intent

Functions of Sound in the Theatre Effects Sole effects – dog bark, phone ring, doorbell – used to be designer’s focus Effects now create a backdrop for scenes – layered effects to create an environment Some effects can be created and/or manipulated by a synthesizer… Synthesizer: A musical instrument that creates sounds electronically, can be used to create a close facsimile of instrumental, natural, or vocal tones.

Functions of Sound in the Theatre Reinforcement Whenever artificial means are needed to boost the loudness levels of actors’ voices – often balancing acoustics of room with voices and/or music… Terminology – Acoustics: The sound-transmission characteristics of a room, space, or material; also, the science that studies these qualities Balance: To adjust the loudness and equalization levels of individual signals while mixing, to achieve an appropriate blend

The Nature of Sound Sound is a pressure wave that moves at 1,130 feet per second (in air and at sea level) A pressure source compresses air – the compression wave travels through the air until it strikes a receptor The human ear is a receptor – it converts the mechanical force of the compression wave into a neurological impulse which is sent to the brain and then interpreted as particular tones and qualities

The Nature of Sound Frequency The rate at which an object vibrates – measured in cycles per second (hertz or Hz) The pitch of a sound is the characteristic tone produced by an object – higher pitch = higher frequency Average Human hearing range: 20 – 17,000 Hz Human with good hearing: 15 – 22,000 Hz

The Nature of Sound Frequency Which is the higher frequency?

The Nature of Sound

The Nature of Sound Intensity Synonymous with loudness (amplitude) Loudness can change without effecting pitch Loudness is measured in decibels Decibels (dB): A unit for expressing the intensity of sounds; an increase or decrease of one decibel is just about the smallest change in loudness that the human ear can detect.

Jet plane at 100 feet Threshold of pain Loud rock band at 5 ft Thunder Loud street traffic at 5 ft Normal conversation at 5 ft Quiet street noise Quiet residence Quiet whisper Threshold of Hearing 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 The relative loudness of certain sounds… Measured in dB

The Nature of Sound Timbre Distinctive quality of a sound that makes it unique (qualitative) Based on harmonics of the sound-producing body Pure sounds rarely occur in nature – most natural sounds produce a variety of overtones Pitch = the fundamental / base frequency The amplitude or loudness of each harmonic is less than that of the fundamental – the amount of each harmonic is determined by the physical structure of the source Harmonics: Frequencies that are exact multiples of a fundamental pitch or frequency

Pure tone Harmonics

The Design Process in Sound Design Commitment Analysis – Consider various questions from budget to schedule to the script & production needs Research – Both music and sound effects – know why each cue is in place – psychological and desired impact! Incubation – Let the design sit unattended Selection – Pick each specific cue Implementation – Record the cues and build them into the space Evaluation

Basic Acoustics Acoustics: The science that studies the absorption and reflection of sound In theatre – focus on understanding how stage and audience space acoustics affect the audience’s hearing and understanding of the sound (language & music) of the play A room’s shape vitally affects the reflection of sound… Reverberation (reflection in a series of echoes) causes garbling of the sound – parallel walls generate large amounts of reverberation However, music likes reverberation while voice does not – contrasting needs for contrasting agendas

Basic Acoustics Shape and materials used in theatre architecture impacts the acoustics of the performance space… Acoustic balancing for both speech and music is a great challenge which more and more theatres are attempting to do by using acoustically adaptable auditoriums…

Acoustic Balancing A well-balanced room for speech has a decay time of ¼ to ¾ second… A well-balanced room for music has a decay time of ¾ to 1 ½ second… Compromise with acoustically adaptable rooms…

Sound Production 1960 to early 1990’s – analog recording with the tape deck 1980’s – introduction of CD technology & the move to digital Digital age also supported by the growth of computer technology – rise of technology signals the end of the tape era in most theatres Tape – analog – ‘softer’ sound – hands on editing CD – digital – crisper sound – shift to digital / visual editing Tape deck: A magnetic-tape transport mechanism used to record an electrical signal on magnetic tape; also used to play back that signal; does not contain playback amplifier and speaker

Basic Sound-System Configuration Sound is picked up by a transducer Transducer converts the sound from mechanical energy into electrical energy Transducer sends signal to a storage device to be recorded or stored

Basic Sound-System Configuration Terminology Transducer: A device that converts energy from one state into another Microphone: A transducer used to convert sound waves into electrical energy Amplifier: Device used to boost the signal received from a transducer to a level that will drive a loudspeaker Loudspeaker: A transducer used to convert an electrical signal into mechanical energy

Basic Sound-System Configuration Signal sent from storage device to an amplifier Amplifier increases the power of the electrical signal so it can drive a loudspeaker Loudspeaker converts energy from electric to mechanical/acoustic

Basic Sound-System Configuration Terminology Tone: A generic term referring to the intensity of the component frequencies contained in any particular sound Equalizer: a.k.a. EQ An electronic device that selectively boosts or attenuates specific frequencies or ranges of frequencies Playback System: Devices used to play recorded sound, usually composed of some combination of turntable, tape deck, CD player, computer, equalizer, amplifier, and speaker Preamplifier: A device that boosts the level of a signal, without alteration or reshaping, to the requisite input signal level of the next piece of equipment in a sound system Graphic EQ: An EQ with individual slide controls affecting specific segments – so called because interface displays picture of the equalization of full spectrum

Basic Sound-System Configuration Recording Playback Adding an equalizer into the system for recording and playback

Basic Sound-System Configuration Creating a basic stereo system for recording / playback Stereo (or more) systems are common – recreates a more lifelike sense of sound and space Stereo is most commonly thought of as left (L) & right (R)

Basic Sound-System Configuration A graphic equalizer – Note the two separate levels (stereo signal) Also note how the controls create a visual (graphic) representation of the wave form as it is affected by the EQ

Planning a Theatre Sound System A basic sound system – Must consider input (devices for recording) Must consider output (devices for playback) Must consider reinforcement (devices for amplification) Speakers, amplifiers, mixers (controls sound routing), CD players, computers, tape decks, microphones… The list can be endless – consider what your theatre needs to accomplish and what types of productions it does

Planning a Theatre Sound System Recording system

Planning a Theatre Sound System Playback system

Planning a Theatre Sound System Reinforcement system

Sound-System Equipment Loudspeakers & Speaker Systems Loudspeaker = transducer that converts electrical into mechanical energy Signal activates electromagnet Electromagnet generates magnetic field Field causes voice coil to vibrate Vibration causes speaker cone to move, generating sound

Sound-System Equipment Loudspeakers & Speaker Systems Terminology Woofer: A low frequency speaker, with a frequency range from 20 to approx. 150-250 Hz Mid-range Speaker: A speaker designed to reproduce the middle range of audible frequencies – roughly 200 – 1,000 Hz Tweeter: A high-frequency speaker, generally designed to reproduce from approx. 1,000 to 20,000 Hz Pressure Driver: A unit housing a large magnet that vibrates a very thin metallic diaphragm to create mid-range and high-frequency sounds Horn: A dispersion device attached to the front of a pressure driver to direct the sound emitted by the driver into a specific pattern

Sound-System Equipment Loudspeakers & Speaker Systems A Pressure Driver… Must be used with a horn to disperse the sound

Sound-System Equipment Loudspeakers & Speaker Systems A variety of acoustical horns for use with pressure drivers…

Sound-System Equipment Speaker Cabinets Speaker cabinets not only protect the coil, they provide a reverberation surface for sound, changing the loudness and timbre of the sound… As the speaker works, it causes air compression – the cabinet amplifies these waves depending on how it is designed

Sound-System Equipment Speaker Cabinets Radiation characteristics of various speaker types… Cabinets are designed to compensate for these variances…

Sound-System Equipment Speaker Cabinets Finite baffle (Inefficient – airtight enclosure) Bass-Reflex Enclosure (Port in front to allow frequencies produced on the rear compression to come out in phase with those from the front compression) Ducted Port (Port like bass-reflex but specifically tuned to a particular frequency range)

Sound-System Equipment Crossover Network Optimum speaker performance is gained when a speaker is working with a specific range of frequencies – To aid the speaker in working efficiently, a crossover is placed to filter out unwanted frequencies in the electrical signal Crossovers make sure that woofers receive low frequencies, tweeters receive high frequencies, and so on…

Sound-System Equipment Power Amplifiers The sole reason for the amplifier is to boost the low-voltage input signal received from an input source to a high-voltage signal capable of driving a loudspeaker… Two switches – on/off and loudness… Power needs must be matched by amplifiers – Check you RMS rating to be sure you know the power-load you are working with Amps impact the clarity and quality of the sound!

Sound-System Equipment Equalizers EQs boost or attenuate portions of the signal to affect the loudness of specific segments of the sound spectrum… Analog EQ – older style EQ less used now Graphic EQ – Graphically displays the equalization of the full spectrum Parametric EQ – Similar to the graphic EQ but works with different controls – often used for balancing sound during playback in an auditorium

Sound-System Equipment DJ Pre Mic Pre Preamplifier An electronic device that raises the output of a low-level signal so that it can be read and processed, without distortion, by the next piece of equipment in the sound system. Most mixers require that devices come into their system at line-level (approx. .75 to 1 volt) – preamps boost signals such as microphones or turntables to that level…

Sound-System Equipment Mixer Device designed to mix the output of a variety of sources and route the blended signal on to other devices – one of the most important tools!!! Analog mixer Digital Mixer

Sound-System Equipment Mixer A block diagram of mixer operations

Sound-System Equipment Mixer Mixers can be used for both recording and playback… Allows you to send a stereo feed into your recording device from multiple inputs…

Sound-System Equipment Mixer: Block Diagram for playback & reinforcement

Sound-System Equipment Patch Bay: Allows for cross-connection of various pieces of equipment Outputs and inputs are attached to corresponding receptacles on the patch panel – A patch cord is used to connect the output of one piece of equipment to another

Recording and Playback Equipment Both analog and digital are in use – Digital is taking over slowly Show control allows multiple digital devices to be controlled from one main computer – controls sound, lighting, stage effects, etc. using MIDI

Recording and Playback Equipment MIDI a.k.a. Musical Instrument Digital Interface was developed in the early 1980s to allow synthesizers to communicate… MIDI is a standard digital protocol for transmission of data – communication language for sound equipment! Computers are the top of the digital food chain, controlling other devices that have MIDI capabilities… MIDI has allowed show control to develop and flourish in live performance

Recording and Playback Equipment Computer The heart of most theatre systems Used in every function – recording, playback, editing, storage, and show control

Recording and Playback Equipment Digital Audio Tape (DAT) Cassette tape-based recorders – work much like videocassette recorders rather than traditional analog tape recorders Allows the addition of a marker so an operator can quickly find needed tracks Drawbacks – Temperamental in nature Tape is fragile

Recording and Playback Equipment Compact Disc (CD) Standard storage device for the industry Audio information is stored in binary code – A series of reflective & non-reflective surfaces Uses a laser to ‘read’ the disc Main reason for dominance – cost & equality CD-R vs. CD-RW

Sound Design Today…