Modern Sound Editing from Coursera

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Syllabus

Beginning of Sound Era

Welcome to this first module of Modern Sound Editing. In this module we’ll introduce you to the sound technology inventions that ushered in a new era of motion pictures, and new innovations in sound editing. But in this transitional period some silent film directors found ways to suggest sound with the visual, and they used more close-ups, allowing for subtle performances from actors. As sound technology improved filmmakers would begin to experiment with editing dialogue, which were covered by a variety of shots edited in ways that would strengthen the rhythm and pacing, and even to show the tensions within a scene. In your exercise, we’ll provide you with footage to try your own dialogue editing.

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Explores the use of J and L cuts, which are standard techniques used in narrative film, news, and documentary editing, especially in dialogue exchanges

Examines the work of Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock, whose sound innovations led to the modern era of filmmaking, offering valuable insights into their techniques

Requires basic editing software and skills, which may pose a barrier to entry for absolute beginners without prior experience in video editing

Presented by CU Boulder Journalism Instructor and CU Boulder College of Media, Communication and Information Media Technology Manager, who bring academic and practical expertise

Includes hands-on exercises with provided footage, allowing learners to apply sound editing techniques and experiment with dialogue editing, J and L cuts, and sound bridges

Explores the role of Foley artists and music scores, teaching learners how to recreate sound, cue themes, and edit to music, which are essential skills for sound design

Reviews summary

Modern sound editing: history, theory, and practice

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive introduction to the history and theory behind sound editing in film, covering fundamental techniques. Students found the blend of historical context and practical application highly valuable. Many highlighted the well-designed exercises using provided footage as particularly helpful for applying concepts like J and L cuts and sound bridges. While providing a solid foundational understanding, some reviews suggest it might be too basic for those with significant prior experience in audio or video editing.

Material is presented in an understandable way.

"The concepts were explained very clearly, making it easy to grasp."

"Liked how the modules were broken down into bite-sized, digestible parts."

"The course is well-structured and easy to follow from start to finish."

"Content is presented concisely and effectively."

"Found the explanations straightforward and helpful."

Instructors are knowledgeable and engaging.

"The instructors are clearly knowledgeable and passionate about the subject."

"Enjoyed the teaching style; the lectures were easy to follow."

"Instructors provided good insights based on their experience."

"Paul Daugherty and Emilie Johnson presented the material very well."

"Competent and clear instruction."

Covers essential techniques like J/L cuts effectively.

"The explanations and demonstrations of J and L cuts were particularly clear and helpful."

"Understanding sound bridges and lightning mixes adds great tools to my editing skillset."

"Specific techniques like Foley art and working with music scores were well explained."

"The module on J and L cuts was a standout - very practical info."

"Covers key techniques used in modern sound editing."

Hands-on exercises with provided footage are key.

"The exercises with the provided footage were incredibly useful for practicing the techniques."

"Applying the J and L cuts using their clips solidified my understanding much better than theory alone."

"The practical exercises are well-designed and reinforce the concepts effectively."

"Getting to practice editing dialogue and sound transitions was the most valuable part."

"Found the hands-on work with the clips very beneficial."

Provides valuable historical and theoretical grounding.

"The historical background provided a fantastic perspective on the evolution of sound in cinema."

"Understanding the theory behind why certain techniques are used was very insightful."

"I appreciated the deep dive into the pioneers of film sound and their innovations."

"Learned a lot about the theory and history of sound editing."

"Great overview of the history and how techniques developed."

May be too basic for experienced editors.

"This course is excellent for someone starting out in video or sound editing."

"As someone with some prior editing experience, I found some of the content a bit introductory."

"It provides a solid foundation, but intermediate or advanced users might want more depth."

"Great intro course, but don't expect advanced techniques."

"Perfect for learning the basics of sound editing theory and practice."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Modern Sound Editing with these activities:

Review Basic Film Editing Principles

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Refresh your understanding of basic film editing principles to better grasp the nuances of sound editing and its relationship to visual editing.

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Review articles and videos on basic film editing techniques.
Practice basic cuts and transitions in a simple video editing project.

Read 'The Sound Effects Bible'

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Familiarize yourself with the art of sound effects creation and recording to enhance your understanding of their role in film.

View The Sound Effects Bible: How to Create and... on Amazon

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Read the book, focusing on chapters related to recording and manipulating sound effects.
Experiment with recording your own sound effects using household items.

Analyze Sound Design in a Favorite Film Scene

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Deepen your understanding of sound editing by analyzing how sound is used to enhance a specific scene in a film you enjoy.

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Choose a scene from a film known for its sound design.
Watch the scene multiple times, focusing on the use of dialogue, music, and sound effects.
Write a short essay analyzing how the sound design contributes to the scene's overall impact.

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Practice J and L Cuts

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Master the J and L cut techniques to create seamless and engaging transitions between scenes.

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Find footage with dialogue exchanges.
Experiment with creating J and L cuts to smooth out the transitions.
Review your work and refine the cuts for optimal flow.

Read 'Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects in Film'

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Explore the expressive power of sound in film and how it contributes to the overall narrative.

View Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music,... on Amazon

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Read the book, paying attention to the examples and case studies.
Reflect on how the concepts discussed in the book can be applied to your own sound editing projects.

Remix a Scene with New Sound Design

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Apply your knowledge of sound editing to create a new soundscape for an existing film scene.

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Select a scene from a film and remove the original audio.
Create a new sound design using your own recordings, sound effects libraries, and music.
Edit the new sound design into the scene, paying attention to pacing, rhythm, and emotional impact.
Present your remixed scene and explain your creative choices.

Explore Advanced Sound Editing Techniques in Pro Tools

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Refine your sound editing skills by learning advanced techniques in a professional audio editing software.

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Find online tutorials on advanced sound editing techniques in Pro Tools (or similar software).
Follow the tutorials and practice the techniques on your own projects.
Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for your style.

Career center

Learners who complete Modern Sound Editing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sound Designer

The sound designer is responsible for creating the auditory landscape of a film, television show, or video game. This involves recording or creating sound effects, designing soundscapes, and ensuring that the audio complements the visual elements. Modern Sound Editing helps you understand the difference between diegetic and non-diegetic sound, as well as subjective sound, which is vital for effective sound design. The course also explores the use of music and sound effects, teaching you how to edit them and when to use them, enhancing your ability to create immersive sound experiences. The knowledge of sound transitions gained from this course is essential for seamlessly integrating audio elements into any production.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Designer

Foley Artist

A foley artist creates everyday sound effects for films, television shows, and video games by recording sounds in a studio while watching the picture. This involves using various objects and techniques to simulate sounds like footsteps, clothing rustling, and object interactions. Modern Sound Editing introduces you to the techniques used by foley artists to recreate sound in a film, enhancing your understanding of how to generate realistic and compelling auditory effects. The course's exploration of sound transitions and the use of sound effects to intensify photographs further prepares you to create immersive and believable soundscapes. The course gives you the know-how to become a competent foley artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Foley Artist

Documentary Filmmaker

Documentary filmmakers create films that tell true and factual stories. This involves researching, interviewing subjects, filming footage, and editing the final product to present a compelling narrative. By taking this course, these filmmakers would better understand how sound enhances storytelling. You are introduced to innovations by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. You will explore different types of sound cuts like the J and L cuts used widely in narrative film, news and documentaries, and especially in dialogue exchanges. Documentary filmmakers would learn what can make documentaries stand out.

See salaries and explore the career path for Documentary Filmmaker

Film Editor

A film editor assembles raw footage into a finished product suitable for broadcasting. This role involves making creative decisions about pacing, transitions, and overall narrative flow. This course helps you understand how sound technology transformed filmmaking and the innovative ways directors use sound to bridge scenes, smooth out cuts, and make the editing seamless and cohesive. By exploring sound continuity and sound matching, you can effectively enhance the emotional impact and storytelling of a film. The course's focus on transitions, J and L cuts, and understanding sound effects is essential for achieving a polished final product. It lays a foundation for a career as a film editor.

See salaries and explore the career path for Film Editor

Sound Effects Editor

The sound effects editor creates, selects, and integrates sound effects into a film, television show, or video game. This role requires a deep understanding of how sound can enhance the visual narrative and create a more immersive experience. The Modern Sound Editing course explores how sound effects intensify photographs, evoking a sense of experience to an otherwise still image, which is directly relevant to this role. The course's focus on different types of sound cuts, such as J and L cuts, provides practical techniques for seamlessly and effectively integrating sound effects. In order to create compelling scenes, one should take this course to get acquainted with the fundamentals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Effects Editor

News Editor

News editors work in news organizations to edit video footage, add sound, and add visual elements to generate a cohesive story. A news editor often integrates sound and bridges scenes to communicate a message to television viewers. You can learn how the advent of sound technology transformed filmmaking and how some directors found innovative ways to use sound to bridge scenes, smooth out cuts, and make the editing seamless and cohesive. You will explore different types of sound cuts like the J and L cuts used widely in narrative film, news and documentaries, and especially in dialogue exchanges.

See salaries and explore the career path for News Editor

Podcast Editor

Podcast editors edit audio recordings to produce high-quality podcasts. This involves cleaning up audio, removing unwanted noises, adding music and sound effects, and ensuring a smooth and engaging listening experience. By taking the course, you will understand how to use different sound transitions, and you will learn about sound effects. It explores the use of music scores and how they can be used to cue a theme, character, a place, or even an action. For example, the shark theme in “Jaws” or the Imperial March composed for “Star Wars.” It would give one the know how to create successful podcasts.

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Dialogue Editor

As a dialogue editor, you specialize in cleaning up, syncing, and enhancing recorded speech in film, television, or other media. This often involves removing unwanted noises, adjusting levels, and ensuring that dialogue is clear and understandable. The course delves into the advent of sound technology and how filmmakers experimented with editing dialogue to strengthen rhythm, pacing, and scene tension. The exercises involving dialogue editing can provide practical experience in refining and polishing spoken audio. This course is particularly valuable for aspiring dialogue editors who need to master the nuances of sound manipulation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Dialogue Editor

Video Editor

Video editors assemble raw video footage, audio, and graphics into a cohesive and engaging final product. They work closely with directors and producers to create various types of content, from short promotional videos to feature-length films. The course helps you understand how sound technology transformed filmmaking and how directors use sound to enhance narrative flow, which is crucial for any video editor. The course's exploration of sound continuity and transitions, including J and L cuts, will equip you with the skills to create visually and aurally compelling videos. Knowledge of diegetic and non-diegetic sound, along with sound effects, is essential for enhancing the storytelling power of video content. The course provides the right insight to become a video editor.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Editor

Audio Post Production

Audio post production is the process of editing, mixing, and mastering the sound elements of a film or television show after the video has been shot. This involves tasks such as dialogue editing, sound effects design, and music mixing. By taking the course Modern Sound Editing, you will get an understanding of how sound technology transformed filmmaking and how directors innovatively use sound to bridge scenes, smooth out cuts, and make editing seamless and cohesive. This foundational knowledge is critical for anyone aiming to excel in audio post production. The study of sound continuity and the use of J and L cuts contributes to the nuanced skill set needed for high-quality audio work.

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Filmmaker

A filmmaker writes, directs, and produces films, overseeing all aspects of the filmmaking process from start to finish. Sound is a language of film, and Modern Sound Editing helps you understand sound techniques that keep viewers immersed in a video creation. It explores what film pioneers did to use images for sound in the silent era, and it teaches how sound technology impacted filmmaking in the modern age. The course is beneficial to those who want to direct, produce, and edit films because of its emphasis on sound transitions, sound effects, and the use of music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Filmmaker

Multimedia Artist

Multimedia artists create animation, visual effects, and other imagery for various media, including film, television, and video games. The course can help you understand how sound technology has transformed filmmaking and the innovative ways directors use sound to enhance visual storytelling. Exploring the use of music and sound effects, as well as how to edit them, expands your ability to create immersive and engaging multimedia experiences. By taking this course, multimedia artists can create high quality scenes.

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Content Creator

As a content creator, you could produce videos, podcasts, or other digital media for online platforms. Sound is very important in the content that you create. This course can help you understand how sound technology transformed filmmaking and the innovative ways directors use sound to enhance narrative flow. Understanding the difference between diegetic and non-diegetic sound, as well as subjective sound, will enable you to create more engaging content. It gives content creators the tools to be successful.

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Audio Engineer

Audio engineers record, mix, and master sound for various media, including music, film, and live performances. They use specialized equipment and software to manipulate sound and ensure high-quality audio. This course can help you understand how sound technology transformed filmmaking, allowing you to apply these principles to various audio engineering contexts. Exploring the use of music, sound effects, and sound transitions enhances your ability to create a polished and professional audio product. Knowledge gained from this course may be useful for audio engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Engineer

Broadcast Technician

A broadcast technician operates and maintains the equipment used to transmit radio and television programs. This involves setting up and testing broadcasting equipment, monitoring audio and video quality, and troubleshooting technical issues. This course helps you understand the impact of sound technology on filmmaking, which is applicable to ensuring high-quality audio in broadcasting. It ensures you are well prepared and equipped to enter the broadcast industry. Learning about sound transitions and the differences between diegetic and non-diegetic sound will improve your understanding of sound intricacies.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Modern Sound Editing.

Sound Design

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Explores the expressive power of sound in film, covering music, voice, and sound effects. It delves into the psychological and emotional impact of sound, providing a framework for understanding how sound can be used to enhance storytelling. This book is valuable as additional reading, providing a deeper understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of sound design. It expands on the course material by exploring the psychological impact of sound.

Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice...

Paperback

Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice...

Kindle Edition

The Sound Effects Bible

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Comprehensive guide to creating and recording sound effects. It covers everything from basic recording techniques to advanced sound design principles. It valuable resource for anyone interested in sound editing, providing practical advice and inspiration for creating immersive soundscapes. This book will add depth to the course by providing a practical guide to sound effects.

The Sound Effects Bible: How to Create and Record...

Paperback

Modern Sound Editing

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Modern sound editing: history, theory, and practice

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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