Sound Advice: The Natural Approach

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Interesting sounds are all around us. From the clatter of a train crossing to the clamor of an auction, mountains of unique sounds await a featured spot in your next video. Of course, if you didn't mean to record it, the sound is just noise. Sorting the desirable audio from the unwanted is a bit of an art and something many video producers either forget about or simply ignore. In this article, we'll explore the world of natural sound, looking specifically at how it can enhance your production and even save your bacon from time to time.

What is Nat Sot?
Natural sound or "nat sot" is simply the sound of the world. More specifically, for the video producer, it's sound that compliments the images on screen. Unlike sound effects, which are manufactured and dropped in for maximum impact, natural sound simply captures an audio picture of the setting. For example, in a dramatic scene with a couple talking on a park bench, the viewer expects to hear a little of the surroundings; birds, kids playing or perhaps some running water, setting the scene for the upcoming dialog. In an industrial training video it's the sound of machinery and workers going through their paces, anchoring the viewer to the environment. And if you're producing a multi-channel project for DVD, nat sot is perfect for use in the surround channels, filling the room with a taste of what it was like at the location.

SOT is the abbreviation for Sound on Tape, thus NAT SOT is Natural Sound on Tape. If you hire your production services to a director, you'll likely see the term spelled out in the shooting script or a post-production edit list. Nat sot comes in more than one flavor too. "Sot Full" means full volume sound, specifically for clips where the audio scenery is as important as the visuals. You may also see the abbreviation "BG" for background sound. This is the glue that ties the other audio elements to…