Thesis (MPhil (Music))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis represents an attempt to explore the use of metadiegetic film sound and its connection with qualities displayed by human physiology. Metadiegesis is chosen as the focus of this study, in order to point out the potential of film sound to be representative and not to slavishly imitate its visual counterpart. Therefore, because metadiegetic sound is deictic in nature, the first hurdle to clear was to navigate through a terminological minefield, allowing a clear glimpse of its true meaning and its connection with the filmic image. The researcher attempts to create hypothetical scenarios in order to analyse and discuss metadiegetic examples from films, convincingly utilised and less-convincingly so. The intention was to understand, clarify and disambiguate terminological uncertainties and inaccuracies. An exploration of asynchronous metadiegetic sound follows as refinement of the first step. This is done by resorting to existing examples in the form of extracts from films for demonstration purposes. As a result, the use of metadiegetic film sound is clearly defined and its use explained by attaching it to three concepts: a ‘story within a story’, external story space, and internal representation. It is argued that through these concepts, sound can be amalgamated with image to create a different realm, where sound and image tell more than an audio-visual story. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis poog die navorser om die gebruik van “metadiegetic” film-klank, en die verband wat dit met die menslike fisiologie hou, te verken. “Metadiegesis” vorm dus die fokuspunt van die navorsingstuk. Hierdie fokus beklemtoon film-klank se verteenwoordigende potensiaal, en die feit dat dit nie net ʼn slaafse nabootsing van die visuele aspek van film is nie. Aangesien “metadiegetic” klank dus deikties van aard is, is die eerste uitdaging om ʼn weg te vind deur ʼn terminologiese mynveld. Dit word gedoen in ʼn poging op ʼn duidelike begrip van die ware betekenis van “metadiegesis” te ontwikkel, en om die verband wat film-klank met die visuele aspek van film het, duidelik te maak. Die navorser poog in die eerste plek om hipotetiese scenario’s te skep om sodoende “metadiegetic” voorbeelde in films te analiseer en te bespreek. Die doel is om terminologiese onsekerhede en dubbelsinnighede te verstaan en te verklaar. Dan volg die verkenning van asinchroniese “metadiegetic” klank as verfyning van die eerste stap. Dit word gedoen deur gebruik te maak van film-uittreksels ter verduideliking van die bogenoemde stappe. Na aanleiding hiervan, is die gebruik van metadiegetiese film-klank duidelik gedefinieer, en die toepassing daarvan gekoppel aan drie konsepte: ʼn “storie binne-in ʼn storie”, “eksterne storie ruimte” en “interne verteenwoordiging”. Deur middel van hierdie konsepte kan klank saamsmelt met beeld om ʼn ander dimensie te betree, waar klank en beeld meer vertel as ʼn oudiovisuele storie.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the occurrences of electroacoustic content in and its relation to cinematic film. Key research questions include: What pioneering techniques and aesthetic positions used by creators of early electroacoustic music have found their way into mainstream cinema? Where and when have they been developed? In which films do they appear, and how are they distributed among film genres? The findings of this study assert the idea that many techniques that are part of sound design of contemporary cinematic film (the process and result of mixing and manipulating sounds) come directly from pioneers of electroacoustic music. Electroacoustic techniques and aesthetics play an important role in the history of sound film in making fundamental contributions to production processes, the relation between directors and sound makers, and film sound theory. On an aesthetic level, electroacoustic music in film has reformed the role of sound in film: a film score can contain 'noise', while speech and sound effects can actually serve as music. The findings also assert that electroacoustic techniques and aesthetics can be found in cinematic film from the beginning of sound film in the late 1920s. Once established, techniques have largely remained the same, regardless of the carrier media and their transformation from analog to digital: modern, digital techniques are refinements of their analog predecessors. Aesthetics have developed along with techniques, albeit much slower; their potential and exploration is far from being exhausted. The use of electroacoustic content for a particular element of film sound is not unusual and often genre-specific (for example in science fiction and thriller). However fully electroacoustic scores are rare. A portfolio of selected original compositions by the author complements this study. Acoustic and electroacoustic pieces for film and multimedia highlight different aesthetics, techniques and practices of film sound and film music.

The aim of this work is to design digital synthesizer and modulator on embedded sys- tems. Work is exploring existing digital synthesizer and modulators in embedded systems and PC and with that gained knowledge is presenting possible solution of design on Field Programmable Gate Array.

Film audiences have expressed continuous criticism about film sound, claiming that in many situations dialogue is difficult to hear. This issue raises questions about the factors that have negative impact on speech intelligibility and points to investigate strategies that maintain dialogue intelligible in a 5.1. This study investigates how listeners, audio engineering students, experience dialogue intelligibility, when different mixing techniques as dynamic equalization and ducking are applied to the sound effect. The results show that both signal processing techniques, dynamic equalization and ducking, are able to improve dialogue intelligibility and furthermore, dynamic equalization has been proved as the most effective.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the addition of music and sound effects to recorded stories increased the comprehension and retention of information for fourth grade students. The data were analyzed by a two-factor analysis of variance, with repeated measures for both comprehension and retention tests, for the total population. Each reading level group was analyzed separately by an analysis of variance. Of eight hypotheses tested, six showed a significant difference. The conclusions drawn from this study indicated that the addition of music and sound effects 1) Increases the listening comprehension and retention of fourth grade students; 2) Is more effective for retention for students with a high reading level; and 3) Is more effective for initial listening comprehension for students with low reading level but the effect is not significant for retention.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M.Mus.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa there has been an increase over the last few years in audio engineering courses which include modules of study in audio post-production or even offer audio post-production as a major focus of study. From an academic standpoint however, and despite the growth in the local film industry, very little study of this field has been undertaken in South Africa until recently. In 2005, a MMus thesis was submitted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal entitled Acoustic Ambience in Cinematography: An Exploration of the Descriptive and Emotional Impact of the Aural Environment (Turner, 2005: online). The thesis briefly outlines the basic components of the soundtrack and focuses on describing and analysing the properties of ambience, a sub-section of sound effects. At Stellenbosch University, research has recently begun in the fields of film music and Foley (sound effects associated with human movement onscreen). The purpose of this thesis is to provide an overview of audio post-production and the contribution of sound to the film medium. It provides an outline of the processes involved in creating a soundtrack for film and includes a description of the components of the soundtrack and recommendations for practical application. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gedurende die afgelope paar jaar was daar ‘n toename in oudio-ingenieurskursusse, insluitend studiemodules in oudio post-produksie, en selfs ‘n aanbod vir modules in post-produksie as hoofstudierigting. Desnieteenstaande, en ten spyte van die groei in die plaaslike filmindustrie is tot onlangs min akademiese studies op dié terrein in Suid-Afrika onderneem. In 2005 is ‘n MMus-tesis aan die Universiteit van KwaZulu-Natal voorgelê, met die titel Acoustic Ambience in Cinematography: An Exploration of the Descriptive and Emotional Impact of the Aural Environment (Turner, 2005: aanlyn). Hierdie tesis gee ‘n basiese oorsig oor die basiese komponente van die klankbaan, en fokus op die beskrywing en analise van die eienskappe van ambience – ‘n onderafdeling van klankeffekte. By die Universiteit van Stellenbosch is onlangs ‘n begin gemaak met navorsing oor die terreine van filmmusiek en Foley, d.w.s. klankeffekte geassosieer met menslike bewegings op die skerm.. Hierdie tesis beoog om ‘n oorsig te gee van oudio post-produksie en die bydrae van klank tot die filmmedium. Dit verskaf ‘n oorsig oor die prosesse betrokke by die daarstelling van ‘n filmklankbaan en sluit ook in ‘n beskrywing van die komponente van die klankbaan en aanbevelings vir die praktiese toepassing daarvan.

Based on previous research into realism in sound effects, this experiment was intended to study the effect of exaggerating minor details as a way of increasing perceived realism in sound effects. To do this, a framework for discussing components and subcomponents of sounds was constructed and a listening test designed using the framework was conducted. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to measure the two main effects exaggeration (yes/no) and sound type (musical/non-musical). There was no effect of exaggeration by itself (p = 0.224). Musical sounds were perceived to be more realistic than non-musical sounds (p = 0.004). There was some evidence (p = 0.102), non-significant but interesting, of an interaction effect but it cannot be declared with confidence.