Sound Design

In Sound Design, the skills measured are:
  • An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a sound designer and the technology/equipment to implement and support the design
  • An understanding of the artistic and practical constraints which impact the sound design
  • An understanding of the relationship of sound design to a unifying concept
  • The ability to carry out research into style, period, locale, and genre of the play
  • The ability to present and explain design choices. 
  • See the USITT Sound Portfolio Guide.

Supplies
An artifact binder, which must include a complete set of the following materials:
  • A one page design statement summarizing:
  • Theme of the play
  • Unified design concept
  • Script requirements.
  • The following may or may not be included in the binder, but must be presented:
  • Sources of inspiration
  • Techniques used within the design
  • Representative examples of the sound design to be played on a provided sound system
  • Description of sound cues organized by:  
  • Act and scene
  • Stated purpose of the cue
  • Planned timing of the cue

Download the rubric below.
​
nies_sound_design_2017-18.docx
File Size: 58 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Rules
  • Only one entrant may be involved in the design. No collaborations are permitted.
  • Theoretical or realized designs are acceptable.
  • The entrant must prepare in a presentation no longer than 8 minutes (with an additional 4 minute Q&A) summarizing the work with connections to concept, collaboration, and design decision making.
  • The overall presentation and Q&A should not exceed 12 minutes.
The presentation should include:
  • Sound system plot (two pages maximum), indicating:
  • Speaker plot indicating where on the set and in the performance space loudspeakers will be placed
  • The clear relationship of speakers on the plot to speakers on the block diagram
  • Block diagram indicating signal flow through the sound system following the USITT Sound Graphics Standards
  • Board risers
  • Shop orders
  • Rack diagrams
  • Microphone schedules
  • Pit diagrams
  • Patch assignments
  • Sound effects, both digital and Foley
  • Programming of the playback device
  • Engineering the show in a live microphone setting
  • Training the actors in the use of microphones
  • Setting preliminary sound levels and making adjustments during technical rehearsals
Title block including:
  • Show name
  • Facility
  • Source for drawing
  • Scale
  • Entrant name
  • Date

Entrants must wear all black.
  • Entrants must wear black, shoes.
  • Clothing should be professional yet allow easy movement for the actor to accommodate the action of the performance.
  • Entrants should refrain from wearing anything that might distract the adjudicators. ​