ABSTRACT
Music is one area of audio post production that many directors and producers deliberate over most, and it can contribute a large part of the emotional content of a piece. Music is a hugely powerful tool in the hands of the filmmaker, regardless of the type of production. It is also a very versatile tool and can work on a number of levels within the soundtrack. Music editing can be as simple as laying the series opening title and end credits music, and locating a few short pieces of library music from CD to cover certain sequences. At the other extreme, it may involve a music editor working with a composer who will compose and orchestrate original music. From these examples, it will be clear that the production budget will determine what musical options are open to the director. Low-budget film and television work, and fast turnaround jobs such as TV promos, sports features, etc., will often be tracklaid using pre-recorded or library music. Another option is to create ‘original’ music by using a software program such as Apple’s ‘Soundtrack’. This enables the user to compose tracks by combining pre-recorded, royalty-free loops that can be edited to picture. Larger budget productions may commission music from a composer, who may use synthesizers if the budget will not stretch to a live recording session with professional musicians. For most feature-film work, the music budget will be large enough to accommodate live recording and pay for any songs that may also be used as part of the soundtrack.
Music can enhance the mood of a scene.
Music can help to pace a scene, particularly scenes that are actually cut to the music.
Music can work as an atmosphere or ambience – for example, indigenous music is often used in travel documentaries.
Music can assist in establishing time, location and period.
Music can add dynamics to a mix if used selectively – wall-to-wall music loses its impact.
Music can be sympathetic to a character’s feelings within a scene or it can work contrapuntally against a scene to create narrative distance.
The music can act as the director’s voice, and through it he or she may direct the audience towards particular aspects of the story.
Music can punctuate and heighten comedy.
189Music can develop progressively throughout a piece to help generate a sense of moving through the story.
