planning out the type of instrument and the vibe of the music- planning

 In my previous post I picked out Musescore as my app of choice. Now I have to decide what type of instrument I will be picking to pay in the background of our film. In a previous blog I went over the sound used in murder-mystery's and now I have come between 2 different options guitar and violin. In our film I want there to be suspenseful music playing in the background the entire time. Starting off soft but as the plot progresses the music will also get louder. Then at the climax (finding the body) I want it to be at the loudest part.

So I wanted to research well how do I do about this?

How To Design Dark and Scary Sounds (For Producers / Composers / Musicians)

What is needed

This video explores advanced sound design techniques for creating scary, dark, and horrifying ambiences beyond traditional music theory like chords and scales. The focus is on manipulating audio reverse effects, reverb, pitch shifting, and time-stretching to craft unsettling atmospheres ideal for music composition, film, or video game sound design. Which is exactly what I want to give in our opening.

Core Concepts and Techniques

Backmasking (Reversing Audio):

• Hiding secret messages by reversing audio clips; the message is only decipherable when played backward.
• Historically done with physical tape or vinyl; used by bands such as The Beatles and Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
• Reversed audio naturally sounds eerie due to unnatural sonic characteristics.

Reverse Reverb:

• Adding reverb to a clip and then reversing it creates a swelling effect that leads into the sound source, producing a truly horrifying and uncanny effect.
• The effect works well because it sits in the uncanny valley of audio, sounding almost like human speech but distorted enough to unsettle the listener.
• Example: Used in the old DOS game Heretic for magical character sounds.

Backwards Reverb Leading into Forward Speech:

• Technique involves:
• Reversing a dry vocal track.
• Adding reverb to the reversed track.
• Reversing the reverb-laden track again.
• Result: only the reverb is reversed, which feeds into intelligible forward speech, creating an ethereal or ghostly vocal effect common in movies and games.
• Can be applied to singing, guitar, piano, or other instruments.

Blending Backwards Reverb:

• Using reversed reverb segments as supplementary layers blended with the original track to enhance mood subtly.

Experimentation with Reverse Audio:

• Different instruments respond uniquely to reversal; guitar harmonics and wind chimes often yield interesting results.
• Emphasizes the importance of experimenting to discover new textural possibilities.

Phonetic Backward Speech Reconstruction:

• Attempting to mimic the backwards phonetic sounds of words, then reversing that to produce distorted but recognizable forward speech.
• Technique notably used by filmmaker David Lynch in Twin Peaks to create unsettling soundscapes.

Slowing Down Audio (Pitch and Time Stretching):

• Slowing audio lowers pitch (an octave drop at half speed) and can transform innocent sounds into eerie textures.
• Software like Ableton Live (re-pitch function) and Paulstretch can be used to manipulate speed and pitch for ambient or disturbing effects.

Combining Techniques with Melody:

• Playing a melody backwards and recording it, then reversing it again to produce the original melody notes with unusual timbral characteristics.
• Adjusting the performance (e.g., playing an octave higher and faster) combined with slowing down the final recording can enhance weirdness and creepiness.
• Examples:
• Dream Theater’s “Misunderstood” uses this reversed performance technique.
• The Beatles’ “In My Life” employs the opposite approach, recording slow and low then speeding up for a distinct sound.

Takeaways

• Reverse audio techniques can transform ordinary sounds into deeply unsettling textures, essential for horror-themed sound design.
• Reverb manipulation, especially reverse reverb, adds a ghostly, uncanny quality that enhances fear and mystery in audio.
• Slowing down and pitch shifting are simple but powerful tools to create atmospheric effects.
• Experimentation is critical; not all sounds work backwards, but some (like guitar harmonics and wind chimes) produce unique results.
• These techniques are accessible with any audio software, including free or mobile apps, making them practical for creators at all levels.
• Applications include enhancing video game audio, film sound design, vocal effects, and musical composition.

How Can This Be Applied To Our Film?

After knowing the vibe was going to be suspenseful I looked up this video. This video has given me a clear understanding into how to achieve this type of vibe. I'm going to use the violin in combination with the piano to create the most unsettling vibe that I can. Also this can be used alongside the app to compose a score that is suspenseful and unsettles the audience.