AA1 – Sem2/Week 1: Sound Cues – Form and Function

'It went zip when it moved and bop when it stopped and whirrrr when it stood still,
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will. ' (1)

The above and all further lyric extracts from 'The Marvelous Toy', words and music Tom Paxton.

Maybe Tom Paxton didn't know just what the Marvelous Toy was, but he was impressed enough to write a song about it. Why? Apart from the colour and movement - 'A wonder to behold it was with many colors bright' - (which, at least for me, is hard to resist) it made plenty of noise, each unique and uniquely associated with a movement and part of the body.

'The years have gone by too quickly it seems, I have my own little boy.
And yesterday I gave to him my marvelous little toy
His eyes nearly popped right out of his head and he gave a squeal of glee...
Neither one of us knows just what it is but he loves it just like me.'

They passed Marvelous from generation to generation, not having a clue what it was, but the sonic amusement and whole effect was so endearing how could they not?

'The first time that I picked it up I had a big surprise.
For right on it's bottom were two big buttons that looked like big green eyes.
I first pushed one and then the other, then I twisted it's lid.
And when I set it down again, this is what it did...'

You can guess. If I had a toy that went zip, etc when you pushed two big green eyes on its ass, I'd write a song about it, too. Strange thing; apart from the fact it was colourful and had two big green ass buttons, all other reference describing the Marvelous Toy pertain to sound. The song itself evokes more profound childhood atmospheres and images of the Marvelous Toy.

* Hereby known as the Sinister Doctor Harry & Insane Pet Pals Distorted Flea Repellent Alarm (2) - 10 days til tinny tune awakens neuro-sonic(?) pathways ...

Which brings me to the flea treatment alarm (above) and the sound it emits unexpectedly, startling and puzzling the b'jesus out of all within earshot. Unfortunately, I can't provide a (sound) sample as this only occurs once a month to remind us the dog needs flea chemicals. Even then the exact time of day is unpredictable, but I'll try and describe the psycho-signals the sound design evokes.

Ripping me from the story space of everyday life is a blast from a tenor sax introducing a rendition of the chestnut, 'I Don't Know Why I Love You, But I do,' a Louis Armstrong voice grinding out the lyrics. A micro second later I remember the Sinister Harry device and rush to crush it. Then I remember the reason for the annoyance and things get gooey. Loving my hound as I do, vaseline lense images of the pup come to mind and I'm heading for the flea chemicals.

Annoying enough to get my attention, reminds me of something important and (main purpose) gets me to check supplies and buy more product ... a functional sound design achieving desired results.

* A single, simple sound can evoke a wide array of moods, memories and emotions - psycho-associations with all senses *

1/ "The World Family of John Denver." www.John-Denver.org. 12 28, 2004. http://www.john-denver.org/Default.asp?id=410 (accessed July 26, 2007).

2/ Timer, Australia. 2007. http://www.timer.com.au/ (accessed July 29, 2007).

"Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Sound." FilmSound.Org. http://filmsound.org/terminology/diegetic.htm (accessed July 27, 2007).

Haines, Christian. Tutorial handout: "Week 1 - What is Sound Design?" Audio Arts 1 - Sound Design, July 24, 2007.