Breakdowns of ways this sound design technique is used in major feature films.
Supervising sound editor Mark A. Mangini reveals his team’s approach to the sound design in Dune (2021) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017) comprised documentary-style sound world-building, largely involving recording and layering sounds in nature. Crucially, director of both films, Denis Villeneuve, involves sound design “organically and symbiotically” in the development, rather than after the completion, of the editing, score, and VFX (via Thomas Flight):
Justin Bieber’s vocals being layered into the sound of the Batmobile’s engine is just one of the reasons Why The Batman Sounds Different:
Nerdwriter examines how legendary editor and sound designer Walter Murch made use of layering “clean” and environmental audio recordings to create an authentic, and at the time pioneering, sound world in the opening wedding reception scene in The Godfather (1972):
Further Listening
Sounds for things and worlds that don’t exist is very much the domain of sound designers in Anime and Games. Here’s a roundup of techniques which go into more detail about layering and shaping sounds:
No exploration of feature film sound design is complete without a look at the work of innovator, on Star Wars among many other films, Ben Burtt:
Related Posts:
Film School: Dune (2021) Breakdowns of form and function in Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's sci-fi fantasy epic.
Film School: The Godfather (1972) It's a miracle this film even exists, much less in the way it does.
Review: The Batman (2022) A hot mess.
Review: A Quiet Place (2018) Masterful filmic storytelling.
Film School: Sound Design Film students should ask: "What do your ears see?"
Film School: the Sound of Emotion How can sound design be used to convey the way characters feel?
Film School: The Insert Shot The dramatic peak of a dialogue scene is often a close-up... of an object.
Film School: Sound Design: Ben Burtt Lessons from the innovative sound designer of 'Star Wars' and many more.