<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This article looks at surround sound in contemporary cinema, with the aim of discussing practices of sound design and, more particularly, pinpointing a ‘best practice’ of surround sound today – focusing here on the practices in the US. The empirical starting point for the analysis is a study of ten Oscar-nominated movies, analysing their soundtracks and especially comparing their stereo and surround versions. The method can be described as a ‘directional’ listening mode, analysing how the different channels and speakers are used when presenting sonic elements like voices, music, atmospheres and sound effects.</p>
</abstract>

This article looks at surround sound in contemporary cinema, with the aim of discussing practices of sound design and, more particularly, pinpointing a ‘best practice’ of surround sound today – focusing here on the practices in the US. The empirical starting point for the analysis is a study of ten Oscar-nominated movies, analysing their soundtracks and especially comparing their stereo and surround versions. The method can be described as a ‘directional’ listening mode, analysing how the different channels and speakers are used when presenting sonic elements like voices, music, atmospheres and sound effects.

Surrounded by Ear Candy?: The Use of Surround Sound in Oscar-nominated Movies 2000–2012

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This article looks at surround sound in contemporary cinema, with the aim of discussing practices of sound design and, more particularly, pinpointing a ‘best...

Surrounded by Ear Candy?: The Use of Surround Sound in Oscar-nominated Movies 2000–2012

Published Online: Mar 13, 2020

Page range: 251 - 262

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2014-0116

Keywords
film sound, surround sound, immersion, 5.1

© 2014 Svein Høier, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Surrounded by Ear Candy?: The Use of Surround Sound in Oscar-nominated Movies 2000–2012

Published Online: Mar 13, 2020

Page range: 251 - 262

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2014-0116

Keywordsfilm sound, surround sound, immersion, 5.1

© 2014 Svein Høier, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
film sound, surround sound, immersion, 5.1