Though taken for granted today, sound is one of the biggest leaps forward in cinematic history; the arrival of the talkies was one of the most popular innovations. Most films today have some form of sound attached to them. Sound editing, therefore, has become one of the most important arts in both film and television and, in spite of its lack of fanfare, is still one of the noteworthy accomplishments hailed at the Academy Awards.

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Anyone who has watched an amateur home movie will understand how jarring audible hisses can be. Good audio preparations and sound editing can reduce and remove distracting interference and make the dialogue and events of the film clear and easy to understand.

Beyond audio clarity, however, sound editing also has a hand in establishing the setting and giving a sense of verisimilitude to the visuals. The auditory component helps audiences suspend their disbelief throughout. Every sound must create the impression of a setting while replicating the tendency of the human mind to clearly perceive only that which gets its attention.

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Excellent sound composition in film or canned television usually comprises several layers consisting of dialogue, sound effects, background ambience and even silence that are almost always recorded separately.

Many ambient and featured sound effects are frequently done special in a Foley studio, while others use prerecorded stock sounds or audio recorded from the field. Dialogue, likewise, can be recorded in-studio. Sound editors must then layer these sounds together to create an audio environment (or soundscape) that complements the movie or television scene.

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Sound editing is a key part of the modern television or cinematic experience. Beyond just making things clear, audio is crucial to bringing the worlds presented onscreen to life.

An accomplished stage, screen, and voice actor, Sean C. Cooper is no stranger to the importance of good sound in any production. Visit this fan-run blog for more updates on this actor.