MY SOUND DESIGN PORTFOLIO
BY DARIEN SMITH

Abstract

It is said that the sounds we perceive are directly linked to our emotions. We process auditory information about 60% faster than visual information. Our ears are our first line of defence against predators, and the fight or flight response can be triggered instantaneously by sound alone. In a world where the horror genera is so prominent, and fear has become more of means of entertainment than a survival reflex, learning what sounds can create feelings of horror, is valuable.

 

This study is going to look into sounds and the characteristics they are comprised of in order the assess their effectiveness at eliciting horror-based emotions such as alert, shock, anxiety, tension, fear, dread and terror. This study will investigate why certain sounds have the emotional effect they do on people, by breaking down the sounds into their individual, core characteristics, and observing the effects these characteristics have on there listeners. The primary sound characteristics explored in this study are non-linearity, dissonance, and the emotional effect of the different ADR envelopes that shape them. Methods for exploring these sound characteristics include secondary research looking into studies containing existing information on the topic; and primary research in the form of survey-based human testing, whereby participants listen to  sounds containing sed characteristics and give there emotional response to it

 

From the results of these tests, it was observed that sounds containing non-linear characteristics primarily attribute a feeling of alert among its listeners. It was also observed that when non-linear sounds were comprised of an ADR envelope with a fast, sustained attack, the sounds were more effective in eliciting feelings of shock and engagement. Results regarding dissonance suggested that within a sound, dissonance primarily elicits a feeling of anxiety.

 

Further research on the topic outside this paper may include an exploration of suitable visuals and or narrative in combination with non-linear and dissonant sounds, in order to test there effectiveness with more stimuli and determine how these sound characteristic may enhance horror-based visuals and or narrative.

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