ABSTRACT
Psychologists estimate that more than two-thirds of everything a person knows was experienced through their ears. The other four senses contribute less than 30%. Sound surrounds and can manipulate primitive emotions better than a framed image. The most immediate and compelling use of pictures—breaking news events—is accompanied by voice-over and surrounded by talking heads. There's less visualization in sitcoms, game shows, soaps, and late-night talk shows; most of those shows would need only minor adjustments to work on radio. The earliest adventure films seem crude by standards. But when the first audiences saw them, they thought they were real. When TV was black and white and the sound came out of a tinny speaker, it was easy to accept its technical limitations. Sound effects cost virtually nothing and can add realism to many scenes. A few well-placed actors backed up by a crowd recording costs a lot less than shooting a room full of extras.
