Making Media, 3rd Edition

CHAPTER 6

Sound

THE IMPORTANCE OF SOUND

In some ways, mediated sound is entirely different from the visual media experience. Images, whether still or moving, produced chemically or electronically, are dependent on light and our sense of vision. Our aural sense engages a different part of our brain and is not triggered by light waves but by physical vibrations of the air.

Audio media can stand alone, such as radio and audio CDs, or be combined with visuals in movies, television, websites, and other interactive media, changing and enriching the experience of visuals alone. Sound by itself encourages us to imagine visuals in our minds, creating a unique experience for each listener. Audio is sometimes the “ignored child” of media production and ...