Day 938: The Mysteries of Sound Editing and Mixing

Every year around Oscar time my friends and family ask me the same question: “What the heck is the difference between Sound Editing and Mixing?

Well… it’s not as complicated as you might think.  Sound Editing and Mixing are two very different skills

And in all actuality, Sound Editing has more in common with the Original Score category, because they are both a specific track of sound that will be combined in the Mixing process.

I will try my best to explain.

Sound Editing (Folly Artists):

I find the title ‘Editing’ a bit misleading for people outside the business.  Instead of focusing on the term ‘Editing’, let’s replace it with the term ‘Creation’: Sound Creation… or more specifically, the creation of a specific sound effect or sound effect sequence/track. 

Let’s use one of my favorite examples: the Star Wars Cantina scene (it’s a bit long, but will illustrate the differences between ‘Editing’ and ‘Mixing’).  I want you to focus on the action of the scene and the corresponding sound effects:

When it comes to Sound Editing (or Creation) you need to realize that certain sounds that help add texture to the film are one-hundred percent originally produced.  Like the sound of the speeder driving, the voices of the aliens, beeping of the droids, the activation of Obi-Wan’s lightsaber, the sound of its impact and the sound of it being idle and sheathed… also, the sound of Han Solo’s blaster shooting Gredo. 

‘Sound Editing’ honors the work of Folly artists who create original sound effect tracks.  Make sense?  Here is a rundown of this year’s nominees courtesy of ‘awardsnazi’… notice the absence of dialogue, music… etc.  This category focuses on the raw sequence of sound effects:

Sound Mixing

Okay… now that we have the Sound Effects track, the Original Score, the actors dialogue, and atmosphere sounds (like rain or a running rivers)… it’s time to put it together.

A Sound Mixer’s job sounds simple enough… but it is essential to the success of a film. 

Have you ever seen a movie where the sound of rain was so over powering that it was hard to hear the dialogue?  Or the music swelled at an inopportune time pulling you out of the moment?  These are examples of poor Sound Mixing. 

Now, scroll back up to the Star Wars seen again… but instead of listening for sound effect… I wasn’t you to close your eyes and listen for the full audio profile.  Be aware of the things you may have taken for granted.  Like the subtle fade of the cantina music as dialogue is about to start.  Or the fade of the speeder sound effect as our heroes approach the Storm Trooper checkpoint.  Or the swell of the music as scenes transition from one to another.  With your eyes closed, you should still be able to follow the sequence of event… and that is because of the Sound Mix.  Are you still with me?  Or have you glazed over?

Now, as you listen to the nominations for Sound Mixing, note the difference in what you’re hearing, especially from the movies also profiled in the Sound Editing category above.  Before, from ‘Inception’ you only heard the sound of an explosion… but now you’re getting the balance of the sound effects track with music and dialogue… which is why Editing and Mixing are two different skills: