FOLEY SOUND

 Foley Sound.

Foley sound, invented by Jack Foley in the 1920s, is a sound effect technique commonly used in film/TV; it involves physically creating sounds through the use of different items and recording them in synch to the sound effect needed for a segment of footage post-production. This is usually carried out by a 'Foley Artist' in a recording studio. 

This method is still popular within today's modern world as it allows maximum realism, crafting subtle naturalistic sound, wholly immersing the audience into the piece that they are viewing. Some examples would be recreating horse hooves through coconut shells on compact dirt/sand, or punching meat to replicate fights, or even snapping celery stalks to imitate the sound of breaking bones.

In order to explore my research into foley further, I attempted at creating sound effects for a 30 second clip of Jurassic Park myself. Though I wasn't particularly pleased with the final result, I recognised that I didn't have the correct recording equipment and was limited with my props!

The first thing I did was use my own light switch to recreate the sound in the clip; this was because this was the most realistic match. I did however need to experiment with the order of my switching and direction as there was a certain pattern.

Then I went downstairs and used my microwave to create the sound for the door as it was made of the correct material, providing a nice clanging sound.

I noticed that within the same sound effect, there was a scratching metal sound. So, I used my smooth metal water bottle and a spoon, scraping it across the surface. I placed my hand on the bottle to avoid a ringing noise.

I then used the back of my notebook and hands to replicate the thudding of their footsteps, going from lighter taps to heavier to signify that they were getting closer to the camera. I also dropped a weight on it to craft the sound of their backs hitting the counter.

The sound effect I struggled with most was the bending metal counter as I didn't have the right material, however, I managed to use a piece of card and flapped it. I also used the card by dragging it across my wooden desk to create the dinosaur's breathing.

For the dinosaur growling, I used my weight and dragged it along my heater as I noticed that the sound was similar to that of a heavy object dragging across a rigid edge. I tried my best to avoid ringing but this was difficult due to the size of my radiator. 

Lastly, I sprayed air freshener slowly for the dinosaur's last breath as I noticed that it was slightly more pressurised and louder due to how close it was to the window.

The final result: