By Luke Brierley.

*The role of a sound designer.

*Key Roles

* Sound designers have plenty of key roles to ensure the performance sounds right and works well with the performance itself.

* Their main role is to design, Install, and operate the sounds.

* This includes what equipment is needed, and also where it is needed and why is it needed.

* The sound designer has a very creative role working very closely with the director and the choreographer. This is so everything works together perfectly. A sound designer is a major element to the piece which is why they work with the director.

* The sound designer also needs to:Evoke emotion.

* Create the mood.

* Build tension.

* And underscore the action… underline the important parts of the piece.

* Source sounds, or even make the sounds.

* Edit the sounds to improve them.

*Sound Types

*Diegetic sounds.* These sounds would be what both the actor and the

audience can hear. These are sounds like rain falling or wind blowing. They are realistic sounds that improve the piece by adding depth.

*Non – Diegetic sounds.* These sounds are non realistic sounds such as a narrator

talking over the play, or the orchestra. These sounds are sounds that wouldn’t naturally be heard but us as the audience can. These sounds are used to improve tension or the mood of the scene.

*Designing the Sounds*A sound designer will have to take the script and

analyse it. They wound have to work out what sounds are needed and when they are needed.

*They will create the cues for all of the sounds.

*Know exactly where to place them for maximum effect of the sound.

*But most importantly include the choreographer and director to edit and improve the sound for the best sound possible during the right scenes of the play.

*Equipment and Installation

*A sound designer also needs to install the sounds. Wires are needed to plug everything in.

*Speakers to relay the sound and actually play it.

*There needs to be lots of different microphones.

*Radio

*Ambient

*Orchestra

*As the sound designer you have to work out the location. How much and where all of this should go for optimum sound.

*They also have to take into account back stage.