SONIC SORCERY!

HOW AUDIO DIRECTS YOUR MEDIA EXPERIENCE

- Chris Noel Hidalgo

Audiovisual media rely on both your eyes and ears (hence the term) to transport you from your couch to distant worlds, whether real or imagined. While sound often takes a supporting role to visuals, it is nonetheless a critical part of the entire experience. Imagine having to watch your favorite shows on mute and just relying on subtitles and sound markers such as [BANG], [WIND HOWLS], or [EERIE FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]. Not too immersive, eh?

From the big screen to the gaming console, and even to those annoying commercials that interrupt your latest YouTube binge, sound not only completes the package as an aural filler. Rather, sound has the power to surface emotions, play with our senses, and transport us into the heat of the action. Strap on your headsets, and let us explore how sonic sorcery can bewitch our minds and leave us spellbound.

Lights, camera, audio!