Acoustic
Acoustic means the way sound behaves in a particular environment. We
talk about the acoustic of a particular space in the Lifeworld. For example,
an empty room with a high ceiling and hard reflective surfaces has a 'bright'
or 'live' sound. A sitting room has a lot of absorbent materials (furniture,
carpet, curtains).
How do we translate these acoustics we know from the Lifeworld into
the fictions of radio drama?
Many of the environments we live in do not have 'peaky' or exciting acoustics
(domestic rooms), but others do (traffic in the street, sports, a factory,
rain, wind).
The acoustic sound effect that is put into many scenes is called 'atmos'.
See Atmos bed (underneath the scene dialogue) -
establishes scene location or scenery
It is important to have a store of atmoses, to gather more, and to record
and create new atmoses. The atmos is balanced against dialogue, and though
sometimes the listeners will not particularly foreground the atmos, it
is essential for the whole sound picture of the scene (the 'mise-en-scène').
The acoustic for a livingroom scene in a radio play is minimal, just
a touch. But it is not a 'neutral' acoustic. There is enough there so that
we notice as listeners that it this atmos is not neutral. Neutral would
give the wrong signal as the dialogue does have a setting. Even unconsciously,
we would be nudged by the illogicality, and just enough to make us feel
a bit uncomfortable, and a bit unwilling to commit ourselves to the fiction
and to the entertainment.
Many radio drama scenes used to be in a neutral acoustic in decades
before FM and stereo. Listeners accepted the convention for the good reason
that otherwise dialogue could not be easily heard against an atmos. There
were scenes with an atmos of course, as storms, and at sea. But there is
a long history of complaints against atmos and effects ('booming' and 'clanking').
See Analysing radio drama
To Analysing radio drama
To Radio Drama Theory Lesson Plan
This site is 'Radio Drama - directing, acting, technical, learning &
teaching, researching, styles, genres'.
This is part of a complete curriculum of scripts, techniques (acting
& directing & post-production & genre styles), advice, sound
files - effects and atmoses (with no copyright and so free to use), detailed
script commentaries, etc. You are welcome to use these sites with no copyright
restriction.
See also Alan Beck's site on 'MAKING A RADIO SOAP (SERIAL DRAMA) - a
fixed-end soap' at http://www.savoyhill.co.uk/soap/index.html
ADVICE ON HOW TO USE THIS SITE
This site is in development, for teaching and research. It was started
first for BBC project 'Voices' - workshop conducted by Alan Beck for BBC
local radio producers 28-4-2003 with Matthew Linfoot, Senior Lecturer,
Westminster University, London.
Use this cluster of sites for learning about radio drama production.
If you are a student, and you need also to write reflectively about your
practical work (a critique), you will find ACADEMIC advice too (theory
terms and explanations, and guidance). Additions will be made to this site
regularly.
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Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed in this site are the personal opinions of the
owner of the site. IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS, PLEASE EMAIL TO : radio@savoyhill.co.uk