ABSTRACT
The "sound design" arose in the 1970s to describe a difference from how normal postproduction was done. In Hollywood, a team of sound editors led by a supervising sound editor prepared tracks, and rerecording mixers finished the process. The inspiration for use of the "sound designer" seems to have been that live theater had used the term for some time, and Francis Coppola had directed at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco in 1972, where there was a resident sound designer. In 1977 a Special Achievement Award, an Oscar, was given to Ben Burtt for "the creation of the alien, creature, and robot voices featured in Star Wars." A few academic institutions have sound design curricula, but these programs are mostly aimed at live theater and include aspects of music composition. Films and videos have sound styles, which can elevate the story line. The style of a film is important in determining how realistic the track must be.
