I think audio is extremely effective in telling a story.  The words, tones, sound effects, and so much more help to create the story and influence how the listener perceives it.  It makes the story interesting and make sense.  Audio can make ideas clear, emphasize points, grab the listener, create suspense, paint a picture, and so much more.  It tells its own story.

In Words – Radio Lab, the producers use audio techniques to convey their story.  For example:  At the beginning of this show there is a very sad and moving story about a 27 year old with no language and does not even know there is sound in the world.  To help tell the story and make light of some of the parts there are sound effects.  These effects also help to tell the story and explain what is being said.  There is added humor to get across a joke, a low melody background music to demonstrate more seriousness.  One of my favorite parts of this was when the 27 year old understood that everything has a word.  The producers have young children say words.  Not only does this show how language is learned in youth and it was like this man was at that same point, but the joyful tone in the children’s voices help to illustrate how glad and life changing the realization this 27 year old man just went through.

The show goes on to talk about rats and reference to things.  They start with describing an empty room with white walls.  Instead of just speaking to the listener with words to create the setting, the producer creates an echo.  This makes the listener feel like they are actually IN the room not just hearing about it.

Throughout the show, the producers of RadioLab layer show layer sounds.  This causes the listener to stay interested in what is being said as well as how it is being said.  It explained the stories being told and helped the listener truly understand the points and ideas coming across.  The layers move the story along at a faster pace as to not drag out an idea.  I love this technique and I am trying my best to explain it, but to fully understand you have to listen to it.

Each of the techniques and sounds used were there for a reason.  They all have there own impact on the story itself as well as the listener.  They provoke further understanding and take you on a journey you feel a part of instead of one you are simply an outsider to.  I did not even realize how many techniques there were for audio, let alone how many were used here.  There are bumpers through out, layering, sound effects, music, and so much more.  I have always understood the use of music, but layering was completely new to me and may be my new favorite part of audio.