Sound Design and Technology
ROP Stagehand Technician
Functions of Sound in Theatre
MusicEffectsReinforcement
Music
Create aural atmosphere to put the audience in the proper mood for the play• Preshow, intermission, postshow• Includes constructed sound (and sound effects
created by editing, manipulating, or changing previously recorded sounds)
Nonspecific musical effects• Musical themes for characters or scenes• To create or reinforce a psychological mood or
feeling
Effects
Barking dogs, telephones, doorbells, train whistles, etc.Background or ambient sounds• Wind, people talking in a bar, street noises,
etc.
Provide clues to location and time period
Reinforcement
Use microphones to boost loudness level of actor’s voicesAcoustics: The sound transmission characteristics of a room, space, or material; also the science that studies those qualitiesMix and Balance voices with music/sound effects• To adjust the loudness and equalization levels of individual
signals while mixing, to achieve an appropriate blend
Nature of Sound
Sound is a pressure wave that moves through the air FrequencyIntensityTimbre
Frequency
the rate at which an object vibrates Measured in hertz (Hz)Pitch is the characteristic tone produced by a vibrating body; the higher frequency of vibration the higher the pitchAs frequency increases, pitch increases
Higher Frequency=Higher Pitch
Intensity
Loudness of a sound aka amplitudeMeasured in decibels (dB)Loudness can change without affecting pitch/frequency
Timbre
The distinctive quality of sound that makes one voice sound different from another or a trumpet sound different from a violinBased on the harmonics of the sound-producing body• Frequencies that are exact multiples of a
fundamental pitch or frequency
Harmonics
Basic Acoustics
Acoustics is the science that studies the absorption and reflection of soundIn theatre, the qualities of the stage and auditorium space that affect the audience’s hearing and understanding of the sound (language and music) of the play.
Acoustics
Shape of walls: If walls are parallel, sound will reverberate, or bounce back and forth between them (to reflect in a series of echoes) reducing intelligibility of words• Curve or slant walls to reduce
Finishing/surface of walls: Hard surfaces reflect sound (wood, metal, plaster)• Soft or open-surface materials absorb sound
(cloth, foam, insulation)
Acoustics
Music sounds better with more reverberationSpeech requires short reverberation Challenge of designing acoustics of a space that is used for both music and speech• Adjustable spaces• Highly complicated and sophisticated sound
system
Sound Production
Basic Sound System ConfigurationSound-system EquipmentRecording and Playback Equipment
Basic Sound System Configuration
Sound is picked up by a transducer, i.e. a microphone The transducer converts mechanical energy (sound wave) into electrical energy (electrical signal)Electrical signal is sent to an amplifier which boosts (amplifies) the power of the electrical signalElectrical signal is sent to a speaker, which converts the electrical energy into mechanical energy (sound waves) which reaches our ears
Basic Sound System Configuration
To control the tone (bass through treble frequencies) use an equalizer, which modifies the signal coming from (microphone) or to (speaker) a transducer
Sound System
Mechanical Sound Microphone (transducer)
Electrical Sound Preamp Equalizer
Storage device/ playback Equalizer
Amplifier Speaker (transducer)
Mechanical Sound Ear
Sound-System EquipmentLoudspeaker and speaker system• Loudspeaker is a transducer that converts the
electrical energy of the signal to a mechanical energy (waves) that we can hear
• Electrical signal activates a magnet which moves back and forth creating vibrations in the speaker cone
• Woofer (low-frequency), mid-range speaker, tweeter (high-frequency)
• Speaker cabinet is designed to enhance the reproduction of a specific frequency
Sound-System EquipmentPower Amplifier• Boosts the low-voltage input signal from input
source (mic, cd player) to a higher-voltage output signal capable of driving loudspeakers
Equalizer• Boosts or attenuates (decreases/lessens)
portions of the signal to affect the loudness of the specific segments of the sound spectrum
• Similar to the bass/treble controls on your car or home stereo
Sound-System EquipmentPreamplifier• 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
Mixers• Devices used to mix the output from a variety of
sources and route the blended signal on to other devices
• Assignable channels for mics, cd, computer, etc.
Sound-System Equipment
Patch Bay• Used to cross-connect between the various
pieces of equipment (CD player, computer, equalizers, amps, speakers)
• Outputs and inputs for each piece of equipment are connected to the corresponding receptacles on the patch panels
• A patch cord connects output of one piece of equipment to the input of another
Recording and Playback Equipment
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)• Allows synthesizers to communicate with each
other, the communication language used between various types of digital equipment used in theatre sound
Computer• Used in every function: recording, editing,
storage, playback, and show controlCD/Tape• For recording and playback
Recording and Playback Equipment
Microphone• Dynamic mic: very good frequency response,
rugged, most commonly used in theatre sound• Condenser mic: excellent frequency response,
reasonably rugged, highest-quality• Needs a power supply (phantom box)
• Microphone pick up patterns• Omnidirectional (wireless mics)• Directional: cardioid (front pick up only),
hypercardioid (front and rear pick up)