1. Understanding the
Elements of Sound
and Moving Image

2. Moving Image Production
Moving Image:
A moving image production, could be classified as a film, television
programme, documentary, television advert, music video or any type of
production that involves a sequence of images moving along to make a full
production (similar to a flipbook). Every single year more than 323 new
releases in theatres every year, it is important that they are organised in
categories to suit every individual’s needs, these categories are called
‘Genres’. There are many different film genres including:
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Crime
Erotica
Faction
Fantasy
Historical
Horror
Mystery
Paranoid
Philosophical
Political
Romance
Saga
Satire
Science fiction
Slice of Life
Speculative
Thriller
Urban

3. Soundtrack:
Since the beginning of film, moving image productions have been
accompanied with music (soundtrack), soundtrack is made for the moving
image (film) as without the sound, a motion picture would quickly become
confusing, boring and pointless.
There are different kinds of sound used in film (moving image), and each
kind of sound had its own use:
Diegetic Sounds- Sounds from your location
Non-Diegetic Sounds – Music added through editing (usually to express
emotion)
Foley Sounds- Pre-recorded natural sounds
Digital sounds- sounds made using computer (used in fantasy movies and
video games)
Live broadcast
These mechanisms of sounds are constantly used in the production and
purpose of moving images. Soundtracks are usually added into the moving
image, during the editing process, this is done in order to get a more
accurate and high quality outcome. This means that the people who make
soundtracks to moving images must be skilled in certain areas:
Must be able to choose the correct equipment and use microphones
professionally.
Must be able to mix and edit audio correctly
Must be able to prepare and create sound in a studio or filming location to
a professional standard
There are different types of sounds to be created, such as:
Dialogue
Ambient sounds
Voice over
Diegetic sounds
Non diegetic
Action code
Underscore
Sound effect
Instrumental soundtrack

4. Analysis of Musical Ingredients
Composers can use a number of different musical element to achieve a
certain mood or emotion through a soundtrack, these can include:
Instrumentation
The composition of the instruments used in a track.
Tempo
Tempo is the speed an instrument or sequence should or is played in a
track.
Dynamics
Dynamics is the contrast of the volume of instruments or vocals in a track.
Rhythm
a Sequence or flow of music through a certain duration
Melody
A melody is a sequence or a single note that is musically endearing
Texture
Texture is the feel of an instrument or vocal e.g. (whether it is rough or
smooth).
Harmony/Key
The use of keys at the same time, a key sets the tone of the music
Structure
the basic layout or form of a track, like things that are repeated or
contrasted
Technology/SFX
technology used to devise a track, like a keyboard

5. The Role of Music: The Underscore acts as an
'unspoken language' and can take many forms,
including:
Illustrative Music
this is the kind of music that induces mood or experience e.g (fast up-tempo music for
an action scene).
Evocative Music
This is music that has the power to evoke an emotion e.g (violins for sad scenes)
Pastiche Music
This is music that has been inspired or Interpreted by other artists or pieces e.g (Jason
Derulo 'Don’twant to go home')
Dramatic use to enhance tension
This can be an accumulation of a certain instrument, instrumentals or even vocals that
is played in a scene where tension is accumulating.
Comic Music Literal
Comic music is music that merges or contains elements that are comical to make a
piece that has some comedy (this can be done with use of dialogue or sound effects, it
is a popular strategy in musicals)
Music To Enhance Emotional Impact
This is music that adds on the emotional impact in an emotional scene.
The Use Of Lietmotifs
This is music that is specific to a character or theme, almost like a product with its logo
e.g. (Star wars, Dark Vador Music).
Diegetic Music
This is music that occurs in a certain type of scene.

6. To recording these sounds, composers use microphones, there are many
different types of microphones available for different uses.
Dynamic
Capacitor
Electric
Condenser
Ribbon
Carbon
Crystal
Tie Clip (Lavier)
Rifle
Boom
Radio
PZM (pressure zone microphone)
Polar Patterns –
Omni
Cardioid
Hyper Cardioid
Figure of 8