Sound is everywhere. Birds chirp, cars honk, music plays. Sometimes it’s just in the background, but sometimes it’s used for deliberate effect. Think about how sound functions in gambling casinos. Until recently, slot machines dispensed coins to winners. The noise of coins dropping from the winning machine was deliberately magnified so that other gamblers would notice and be encouraged to continue gambling. Most casinos have shifted to a receipt-based system—the machine generates a receipt that a gambler can turn in for cash. Because the sound of coins dropping out of a machine is so effective, however, machines still make that sound, even though no coins are involved. Sound can convey meaning on its own or enhance meaning when combined with other modes. When analyzing sound, consider the questions in the following chart.
Genre
What kind of sound is it? Is it speech, music, or a noise associated with a particular object, for example?
Features
How would you describe the sound? Is it loud or quiet? Does it have a high or a low pitch? Is its pacing fast or slow? Is it in the background or in the foreground? Are certain sounds louder or quieter than others?
Purpose and audience
What is the purpose of the sound? Does it provide atmosphere? Is it accompanying something else, such as an image? Or is it the main or only mode of communication?
Who is the intended audience for the sound? A single listener with headphones? A room full of people? Children or adults? Experts or nonexperts? Sympathizers or opponents?
Meaning
How do genre, features, purpose, and audience work together to convey a message? How do you interpret the use of sound? (Keep in mind that your interpretation—your take on the meaning—may differ from the composer’s intended message.)