First Things First: What Is Sound Design?
Sound design is simply the art of creating tracks to add to videos. These tracks can be:
- Music
- Sound effects
- Dialogue
Regardless of what it is, the sound is an important part of engaging the audience and drawing them into your video. Several studies have been conducted that show sound plays a key role in eliciting emotional responses from people.
Whether you’re filming a movie or making marketing content, that makes sound critical to your video.
If you want to understand the basic aspects of this important art form, read on and we’ll tell you what’s essential to know.
Why Is Video Sound Design Important?
By working with sound correctly you’ll be able to set a mood for your videos. Sound can create tension and adds depth to scenes in ways that visual elements can’t do.
Skilled sound engineers know how to use audio to tell stories. This makes it easier for viewers to immerse themselves in their videos.
It’s also possible to use sound design to help viewers connect with important characters. You can do this by choosing the right music and playing it at the right times.
Top Video Production Sound Design Tips
If you want to create emotionally-engaging scenes in your videos, there are several tips and tricks to be aware of. Here are some of the top ways to use sound in your videos.
Pay Attention to Creating the Atmosphere of Your Video
It’s possible to use sound to establish the setting, mood, and feeling of a scene before you offer any visuals. This is because a video’s sound impacts its emotion and dialogue.
This is why filmmakers often choose to blend background noise with dialogue.
For example, if two people are talking in the middle of New York City, it’s a good idea to add traffic sounds and city noises to these particular scenes. This will help viewers to feel as if they were present in the scene.
Less Is More
It can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to work with sound in your videos when there are so many tools and features at your disposal. This causes some people to avoid working with sound.
There are other video creators who get too involved in the process of sound design. They tend to add too many layers of effects that don’t help to tell the stories that need to be told.
This is why it’s better to keep things simple when you’re adding sounds and music in videos. The big question to ask yourself is “how is does sound compliment or take away from the story that I’m trying to tell?”.
By keeping things simple, you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed and won’t feel the need to add too much complexity to the sound design. You’ll also have more time to focus on honing your video production skills.
Use Your Creativity
Many video creators don’t have huge budgets like Hollywood filmmakers do. This doesn’t mean that it’s necessary to create low-grade films. All you need to do is get creative in how you’re working with sound.
For example, if you’re filming a fight scene that takes place in a crowded bus station, you’ll want to include background sounds.
Instead of spending money to rent a studio to record these sounds, consider walking through a nearby bus station while recording the sounds you hear. It’s even possible to use your smartphone’s microphone to record high-quality sounds for your videos.
If you are looking for very specific sounds to add to your videos, consider using a subscription-based service that lets you download and use stock audio. Most services cost no more than fifty dollars per month.
Follow Your Instincts
It’s easy to want to copy what other successful video creators do with their sounds. This can sometimes be helpful. But it’s also possible that you’ll get yourself in a rut.
Before copying what others are doing, you should first reflect on what you’re trying to accomplish in your videos. Make use of the unique ideas that you already have instead of compromising the integrity of your film by trying to do what others are doing.
Ways to Improve Your Sound Design Skills
If you want to become a better sound designer, the best thing you can do is educate yourself. There are many helpful resources that you can find by simply searching the internet and watching videos on YouTube. You can also make a trip to your library to access scholarly resources related to sound design.
You’re also going to need the right equipment. At the very least, you should invest in a quality microphone for doing voiceovers and recording sounds. Consider buying a dynamic or a condenser microphone. Even though the professionals use equipment that costs thousands of dollars, it’s possible to get buy a great microphone for less than one hundred dollars.
You should also find a space to record sounds where there is no background noise. Avoid recording sounds in places that are near busy streets. It’s best to record sounds in rooms that are small and well-insulated.
It’s also important to develop your digital marketing abilities so that you can easily spread the word about the videos you create.
Start Improving the Sound Design for Your Videos Today
If you’re wondering how to use sound design to create better videos, the best way to get started is by making use of the tools that you already have. Try to keep things simple by choosing sounds that help tell the story you’re trying to tell. If you don’t already have a high-quality microphone, consider investing in one.
If you’re in the process of creating a video, we’d love to hear about what you’re up to. Please don’t hesitate to see how sound design fits within the whole video production process or reach out to us with any questions that you might have.