Sound Design Foley and Field Recording 2

Question 1

What is a 'hydrophone' used for in sound design?

Accepted Answer

Recording underwater sounds

Answer

A hydrophone is a specialized microphone designed to be submerged in water, capturing sounds that propagate through liquid — used for field recording, film sound design, and scientific research.

Question 2

What technique do Foley artists use to record clothing movement sounds?

Accepted Answer

They physically wear and manipulate garments in sync with on-screen character movement

Answer

Foley artists wear or handle garments matching those on screen and move in sync with the picture, capturing realistic cloth rustle and movement sounds that dialogue microphones miss on set.

Question 3

What is 'wild sound' in field recording terminology?

Accepted Answer

Sound recorded without reference to picture

Answer

Wild sound (also called 'wild track') refers to audio recorded independently without sync to picture — such as ambient atmospheres, background sounds, or effects — for later use in editing.

Question 4

Which recording technique uses two microphones in an X/Y configuration?

Accepted Answer

X/Y coincident stereo

Answer

X/Y coincident stereo places two cardioid microphones at the same point (coincident) angled between 90°–135° apart, capturing a stable stereo image with good mono compatibility.

Question 5

What is 'contact microphone' recording used for in sound design?

Accepted Answer

Capturing vibrations directly through solid objects by physical contact

Answer

Contact microphones (transducers) pick up vibrations conducted through solid materials rather than air, enabling unique sound capture from surfaces like wood, metal, glass, and ice.

Sound Design Practice Test

Sound Design Practice Test

Sound Design Foley and Field Recording 2