I became a sound artist because I wanted to help spin imaginary worlds. Since 1994, I have been working to help elevate immersive experiences and use sound to add credibility to the extraordinary places we collectively create. So when immersive audio systems promise “unprecedented sonic authenticity,” it catches my attention.
Listening to these systems can be an experience in itself. I recognize the enormous potential they offer for sonic realism and guest immersion. But I also believe we do our projects a disservice when considering these systems in isolation. What other factors contribute to sounds that we perceive as authentic? More importantly, how does sonic authenticity contribute to an overall experience that feels authentic to guests?
What do we mean by sonic authenticity?
Sound can reinforce a narrative and articulate an environment. Sound can influence emotions, evoke memories, and adeptly set mood and tone. It can also help guests understand a scene and extend beyond what is visible. Sound is a powerful tool that can profoundly shape a story and help deliver compelling experiences.
Sonic authenticity goes beyond all of this to become something more. Sonic authenticity allows guests to forget that they are hearing a soundtrack and helps transport them into fully-formed worlds.
For location-based experiences, one of my key goals is to leverage sound’s ability to create the illusion of reality — one that is respectful of the experience and credible within the worlds we build.
Consequently, sonic authenticity can mean different things to different projects. An immersive theater experience can become an extravaganza of dimensional sound. An area development soundscape can articulate rich environments in a way that encourages exploration and discovery. An attraction based on a popular film franchise can prioritize the emotional weight of an orchestral score. The on-board-audio of a coaster can help guests suspend disbelief and rocket through space.
These examples prioritize sonic elements differently, but they all strive to transport the guest into an experience. They all benefit from components of the soundtrack that exist to convince guests that what they are hearing is authentic — hooks that tie directly to what the guests are experiencing.
Credible sound is key
With this amount of project diversity, sonic authenticity involves some creative interpretation. What does it mean within each world that we build? What degree of realism is appropriate for each experience that we craft? The answers to these kinds of questions guide our creative process.
Sonic authenticity happens within projects guided by an articulate, creative vision and executed by a collaborative team of disciplines firmly aligned with that vision. It is essential to begin any undertaking with a clear and specific understanding of the creative lead’s broader vision of the experience and the role they expect sound to play.
As we work to support that vision, it is crucial to ensure that the sounds are credible in the created environment. It is entirely possible to make things that sound great but don’t sound real within the context of the experience or story. When the sounds we make conflict with what people are experiencing, we draw their attention to the fact that they are hearing a soundtrack. By doing so, we work against our objective of authenticity.
Incorporating sonic elements consistent with how guests encounter sounds in their everyday lives is one way to address this. These kinds of sounds and sonic treatments can be challenging to describe. When they are working correctly, they are essentially invisible. However, these elements provide a context that helps fool people into believing that our fabricated sounds are real.
Sonic authenticity in action
The boiler room soundscape built for the Disney California Adventure Tower of Terror attraction was a good example of this philosophy.
80% of the sounds heard within that room were designed to provide a context that made the remaining supernatural sounds feel authentic. This 80% consisted of the sounds that conveyed the impression of entering a functional boiler room. These sounds leveraged a creative use of diffusion and reflection, emanating from the show set machinery and filling the space with sound. Sonic elements were tuned to the natural resonances of the room and the natural acoustic cavities of the show set pieces.
With this approach, static set pieces become perceived as working machinery. These place-setting sounds, presented naturally, set a baseline for mood and tone. The extent to which the soundscape impacted the impression people formed in the space became most apparent if the audio was muted, making one aware that so much of their perception of the area had been formed and shaped by the sounds they heard.
Effective sounds blend into the experience
Effective sounds often blend into the experience, changing how guests perceive it. On-board ride vehicle sounds can be an excellent example of this. On Radiator Springs Racers, sounds exaggerate acceleration and help guests believe they are traveling faster than they are. These sounds should not prompt riders to think, “I am hearing car sounds” they should think, “This car is fast!”
In Tower of Terror, the sounds and textures in the elevator shaft build tension. They work to increase the duration of the sensation of falling and help create the impression that the elevator shaft is taller than it is. In general, effective sounds do not draw attention to themselves — they draw attention to the story, the environment, and the experience.
These statements also apply to our application of audio tools and technology. Admittedly, I am more artist than technician, but I believe creative tools are most effective when they serve our creative process, not dictate our creative vision.
Immersive audio systems are stunning and empowering. But by themselves, they do not achieve the level of sonic authenticity that these experiences require. However, as part of a comprehensive, artistic application of sound (one that remains in service to the experience, the story, and the environment), they become powerful tools for shaping worlds.
As we create, prepare, and present sound for these experiences, decisive artistic decisions guided by an articulate, creative vision will remain as critical as ever.
All images courtesy of Sound Sculpture Inc. (SSI), unless stated otherwise. SSI are leading sound artists in themed entertainment, directed by Ben and Roy Herrington.
