Is sound design important for professional video?
Have you played a video game without sound effects? Could you imagine “Star Wars” without the signature introduction? Or Jaws without those memorable two notes that made film music history? Both are proof of how effective music can be for a film! And what is true of great Hollywood films is also true of all types of videos. We will deal with this topic in a little more detail below and explain why sound design is so important in creating a memorable professional video.
Videos have the task of conveying a complex message to an ever-distracted audience. Doing so in a compelling and standalone way, with a lot of creative storytelling. The aim is to create an emotional bond and to address the customer's “pain points”. Well, what role does music play in this?
Music makes it possible to liven up scenes with a certain atmosphere, structure the plot, and influence the perception of a video. It thus serves as a supporting element for generating emotions and can reinforce messages. This is because musical melodies activate special neurons in the brain that affect our emotional center.
The sound effects, in turn, give the video a realistic action: Since certain activities generate very specific noises that are institutionalized in our company, we expect to hear this noise when we see it. But why is it so important?
In all our videos, it is always our goal to convince and grab the viewer in the shortest possible time. The target group should be able to identify with our product or service of focus. How do we best achieve this? Emotional bond, which is reinforced by compelling and relatable narrative, coupled with relevant music/sounds. The following example shows just how effective music really is. This is a mere creative compilation video focusing on the color Blue.
How we choose the right sound design
As already explained, the music enables a stronger bond between the target group and the brand. But provided that it can identify with the music. Well, the starting point is further understanding our client and their business. We start by taking into account the demographic aspects of the target group. Then the corporate image, the product/service, and the goals of the campaign. For a younger target group with a new, trendy product, the music should also create a little “oomph”. For an older audience in a serious industry, a snip of a Cardi B beat would not be entirely appropriate. Understandable, right?
If you work with a professional agency, or an experienced sound designer it is sure to set the right tone and compose individual music to match the topic. But if you create your own video, you can keep the following these next resources in mind with Royalty-Free Music:
Premium Beat offers a database of high-quality music of various genres. You can find both finished songs and shorter loops here.
Audio Jungle offers ready-made music for as little as $ 10, but this can vary depending on the artist. At Audio Jungle you will find both soundtracks and sound effects (SFX) in good quality.
A high-quality clip without any sound is hard to imagine and generally not recommendable since the emotional bond is only made possible through music coupled with creative storytelling. But as everywhere in life, there can of course be exceptions. At this point, it is particularly important to determine the distribution location. For example, on Facebook, around 85% of viewers watch videos without sound. This option can therefore be considered, especially for smaller companies with a limited budget. However, subtitles should not be dispensed with.
Even at a trade fair, it can often get very loud. It can therefore make sense to work with subtitles rather than with a narrator's voice.
Sound design in professional video: Our conclusion
It doesn't have to be an Oscar-winning orchestra, but a little music is essential to build the emotional bond with the audience and to give the central message a stronger meaning.
At Tally Entertainment we also have professional sound designers on the team who proves again and again what music and sound effects are a must in the creation of a memorable video. Interested in setting your brand apart? Well, truthfully there’s never been a better time. Things are kicking back into high gear, and if you don’t take the proper steps to stand out your competition will. They’re actually on the line right now… Do more than stand out, become immortal with your #1 local videographers and all-around multi-media entertainment agency.