What is the sound designer's process?

The sound designer's process includes discussion, collaboration, and research. Sound designers develop a design through careful reading of a text, discussion with the director and creative team, and research. The designer edits the sound samples onto separate discs or tapes or onto one disc or tape, in the order in which the cues are to be played during the course of the show. The designer may use sound systems already in place in the theatre, or he/she may be responsible for acquiring and setting up the necessary sound equipment. The designer creates a sound plot that shows all the equipment the production will use and how the different pieces (microphones, amplifiers, etc.) connect to one another. During technical rehearsals, the sound designer, in consultation with the director, sets sound levels and timing for sound cues, often coordinating sound effects with lights, set changes, and the actors' physical actions. The designer adjusts equipment and balances the sounds coming from the loudspeakers so they reach all areas of the auditorium evenly. He/she adjusts the sound so that the amplified and recorded sounds reach the audience at the same time as live sound from the stage.