Module 1: Audio Design I Podcast (Pre)

by Tony DeRose | Oct 31, 2024 | Audio & Video Design | 0 comments

Let’s talk sound. It’s everywhere, from the clatter of your morning train ride to the low hum of your HVAC system keeping things cozy—or at least trying to. Even when you think you’ve found a rare, quiet moment, sound sneaks in. There’s your own breathing, the buzz of your phone, and maybe even the hum of your thoughts refusing to be ignored. But what does all this noise have to do with podcasts? Well, pretty much everything!

In this blog, we’re diving into how sound shapes the world of podcasts and the way it builds atmosphere in video and film. We’ll break down what sound really means in this context, check out a few standout examples, and even dissect a pre-production podcast script using insights from The Podcast Host and Tom Schroeppel’s The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video. Ready to tune in? Let’s get into it.

First we’ll look at chapter 8 in The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video. In his book Schroeppel states it’s all about the recording sound. That’s what makes an impact. Schroeppel begins by explaining the different types of mics and their pickup patterns —like the lavalier, hand mic, and shotgun mic as well as omnidirectional and cardioid (unidirectional) patterns. He then breaks them down into when each one’s the right fit depending on what and where you’re recording. He emphasizes the importance of setting and monitoring sound levels as you record because, honestly, bad sound is way harder to fix than visuals.

Then, he gets into mixing—the art of balancing dialogue, music, and sound effects so they work together instead of fighting for attention. The big takeaway? Great sound recording doesn’t just happen; you have to plan for it. Clean, well-recorded audio, especially for dialogue, is what makes a story feel real, and without it, even the best visuals fall flat.

Next, these articles from The Podcast Host dive into essential elements that can take your podcast from “just okay” to truly engaging. They start with scripting, where the Invisible Script technique emphasizes creating a loose structure—key points, transitions, and timing—so you sound natural but not totally off-the-cuff. Meanwhile, the broader Podcast Scripting article reinforces balancing planned content with flexibility, so it’s both coherent and dynamic.

Adding hooks and taglines is another major focus. Strong, catchy phrases that hook listeners at the start help your podcast stand out, and incorporating these strategically into your script keeps listeners intrigued. Finally, Presentation Skills offers advice to bring your podcast to life through energy, authenticity, and voice modulation, so your audience feels connected and engaged throughout. Together, these tips help create a podcast that sounds structured but natural, polished yet relatable.

I don’t listen to podcasts. I never have but might some day. Therefore, I’ve chosen to stick with films that use sound to invoke emotions from their audience. Thinking about sound there are many good sound effects (Sfx) and music that brought a film, TV show or podcast to life. As I stated earlier sound is everywhere, even when we think it’s not. Therefore, think for a moment about watching or listening to your favorite media and there was no background sounds, no music. How would that feel? I know for me silence is definitely awkward. With that in mind I share with you a few of my favorite movies where sound and music bring the film together.

An American Werewolf in London

First up is John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London. This is a humorous movie on a classic horror tail. What’s interesting from a sound perspective is the choice of sounds. In this short 8:15 clip about the now Oscar winning Sfx transformation by Rick Baker there are a ton of sounds used. From the door closing at the beginning of the clip to the dog barking violently. Then there’s the sounds of the television playing. As we get ready to see the transformation, the choice of music is meant to spark a comical sense as the song Bad Moon Rising by CCR is played in the background. We continue through the scene with hearing the sound of a refrigerator door closing, book as it hits the table, lamp being turned on. As night arrives and the full moon is shown we hear a distant howling in the background. We then see the transformation, the music changes and we hear the rip of the shirt being torn off. At this point we begin seeing and hearing the transformation from human to werewolf take place. The sounds during the transformation are both the actor reacting through screams but more importantly the stretching of Bones, Cartlidge, and Tissue. Lastly, we here the growling of the now werewolf and as we pan to the moon, the howling sound is closer. Each of these sounds drew us the audience into the characters dilemma and made it seem more realistic. Classic!

Saving Private Ryan

Next is the five time Academy award winning movie Saving Private Ryan. The sounds used in this film were meant to bring the reality of war to the audience, not the Hollywood version of we’re the good guys and we win. Although this was a depiction of the storming of “D-Day” on June 6, 1944, and the allied forces did eventually win. What’s interesting and why I chose this particular video was because it not only talks about how the scenes were done, but also to the effect it had on real survivors of that day who saw the film. They said this was the most realistic depiction of that day! To me it says a lot because it wasn’t only the cinematic approach but how they brought in the horror sounds of war. Think about it there were explosions everywhere, bullets whizzing past (and sometimes through) soldiers. The sound of machine gun fire, the moment Tom Hanks character is shell shocked there is silence but carnage and then he slowly comes out of this. The Sfx sound designer explains the technique he used to get this effect. Note it was chosen not to use background music in this scene. All of the sound choices, helped to draw the audience into the reality that is war! Well done!

Star Wars

Another classic in the use of sound and music as a medium to draw the audience in and get them to believe the Tatooine is a real planet, other worldly creatures exists, and the evil empire wanted to rule the galaxy is Star Wars. I will never forget my parents taking me to see this opening weekend in the theater. I was 9 years old but I remember how the sounds and the music made me feel. Intense music when evil was approaching and then subtle happy music when the “good guy” scenes were showing. All of this plus the sound of the robots, X-wing fighters, and different creatures drew me in more and more. The video below is an extensive look into how sound designer Ben Burtt created the epic sounds for Star Wars. For instance the light saber, R2-D2 and C3PO for starters. Between the genius of the Sfx from Ben Burtt and his crew alongside the brilliance of John Williams score brought everything in harmony: cinematics, Sfx, and music. Check out this breakdown of how John Williams created balance in Start Wars.

Now with all this said, it’s time for me to create or plan my podcast. While trying to come up with an idea, I leaned on what I described above about Special Effects (Sfx) and sound. Having recently attended a gaming convention in Manchester U.K called CitizenCon 2954 and my love for all things Sfx (sound and creation), I landed on creating a podcast dedicated to cosplay and Sfx mask creations. Lot’s of pieces needed to be thought out. What was the name of the podcast going to be? How long would the episode be? What is the look and feel of the podcast? Why am I creating this podcast? Who is my target audience? What audio and sound effects (Sfx) would be included? These and many more questions are answered in the creative brief below.

Anderson, K. (2021, January 13). The art of creating an invisible podcast episode script. The Podcast Host. https://www.thepodcasthost.com/planning/the-invisible-podcast-script/

Anderson, K. (2024, June 14). Podcast taglines, hooks, & the power of words. The Podcast Host. https://www.thepodcasthost.com/planning/hooks-taglines-power-of-words/

Cudmore, R. (2023, October 13). Podcast presentation skills: Honing your speechcraft. The Podcast Host. https://www.thepodcasthost.com/presenting-your-podcast/podcast-presentation-skills/

Gray, C. (2024, January 10). Creating a great podcast script: 3 methods top podcasters use. The Podcast Host. https://www.thepodcasthost.com/planning/podcast-scripting/

McLean, M. (2024, July 3). Best podcast tools of 2024: Make, market, & monetise your show. The Podcast Host. https://www.thepodcasthost.com/planning/best-podcast-tools/

Schroeppel, T. (2015). The Bare Bones Camera Course for film and video. Allworth Press.