A sound director, also known as an audio director, is the person in charge of sound in a film or television production. He or she can work in television, but he or she is most often associated with the film industry. A sound director is typically responsible for overseeing all aspects of audio in a production, including sound effects, dialog, and music.
This type of professional is typically hired by a project’s producer or manager and starts working as early as the pre-production stage, or before filming begins. In order to plan for all of the ways sound will be used, someone in this field must work well with the main director. A sound director frequently thinks about how much of the budget can be spent on audio, what expenses are necessary, and what resources can be saved. He or she can also hire sound engineers or operators, as well as request all necessary equipment.
Sound effects management is an important aspect of a sound director’s job. Some sounds may need to be artificially reproduced because film cameras do not always capture the right type of audio. A film sound director usually collaborates with a Foley artist, an audio specialist skilled in creating or re-creating specific sounds, to accomplish this. For example, in a movie scene where a man is punched in the face, a Foley artist might hammer a piece of cabbage to make a sound that sounds like the punch, which is then edited into the film. Not only in movies, but also in video games and theater performances, such effects are frequently used.
Dialogue refers to all of the spoken lines in a film or performance. This is usually overseen by the sound director, who ensures that the speech is clear and loud enough for the audience to hear. Some lines of dialogue, like sound effects, may not be captured well during filming, and the actors will have to recite the lines in a studio.
Music is frequently one of the most important aspects of any media project. The soundtrack of a film can include songs, as well as the score, which are instrumental tunes specifically composed to heighten the mood for specific scenes. The score, for example, would be described as creepy music played during a suspenseful scene. A sound director typically recommends a composer for the project and offers advice on which songs should be purchased for the soundtrack.