When you get into your car, the first thing many people do
is turn on the radio to their favorite station. The radio waves today are
filled with a variety of options from county, pop, and talk radio. Radio is
seen by most people as a way to fill the time or keep them preoccupied when
driving. The television has become today’s main source of entertainment. Few
would think of tuning in at a specific day and time to hear their favorite
radio program like they would their favorite television show. During the 1940’s and 1950’s radio was
the main source of entertainment. Like today popular sitcoms, people all over
would dial in at a scheduled day and time for their favorite programs. To keep
the shows exciting, sound effects were added along with the dialogue to help
the listener better understand the story. Today, getting sound effects is very
easy. Many music computer programs come with thousand of options or sound
effect CDs are easy to find. This was not the case during the 1950’s. The sound
effects had to be made from scratch. The team at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop were pioneers in
sound effects creation. Using a variety of techniques and technology, the team
created sound effects that some said sounded too realistic. Dr. Louis Niebur
Department head of UNR Department of Music is author of Special Sound: The Creation and Legacy of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
The book covers the history of the workshop and some of the tech used.
Sound of all kinds is present in our daily lives. A car driving past, water running from a faucet or the click of Bic Lighters are all sounds people hear every day. These sounds happen in most movies or television shows. Without these little details, the impact of the scene could be lost. To create these diverse sounds, it is up to sound engineer to record them. Just like the BBC Radiophonic Workshop during the 1950’s a verity of techniques and equipment is used. The next time you watch your favorite television show, listen for background sound. Would the story or scene be missing something without them? The answer is most likely yes.
Sound of all kinds is present in our daily lives. A car driving past, water running from a faucet or the click of Bic Lighters are all sounds people hear every day. These sounds happen in most movies or television shows. Without these little details, the impact of the scene could be lost. To create these diverse sounds, it is up to sound engineer to record them. Just like the BBC Radiophonic Workshop during the 1950’s a verity of techniques and equipment is used. The next time you watch your favorite television show, listen for background sound. Would the story or scene be missing something without them? The answer is most likely yes.
BBC Sound from Timmy Chatwood on Vimeo.
Project 4 from Timmy Chatwood on Vimeo.
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