Music

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Music is one of the most important layers of any soundtrack. Film composers watch the edited video in a studio like the one in Figure 2.6, and then create original music that follows the video. Music helps set the tone and emotion for any scene. It can also be the only sound element in, for instance, a music video. There are four basic varieties of music in a soundtrack.

Figure 2.6. The music composition suite of Douglas Thornton. Film scores, jingles, and other musical pieces are created here, using Pro Tools.

The score. The background music you hear in films and commercials is called the score . This music is composed to fit the picture specifically and can really add to the story through the emotions we feel as listeners.
The jingle. The jingle is a piece of music that is composed specifically for a commercial. Typically, the music includes lyrics and singing that relate to the product or service being advertised. When vocals are present, the jingle is usually in the foreground as the focus of the soundtrack. When the vocals are not in the mix, the music functions like a score. It is in the background supporting the dialog and any other sounds that are present.
Environmental music. Music that is part of the actual scene is called environmental music . This takes the form of radios in cars , music in bars, and elevator music, among other things. Environmental music must sound as though it is emanating from the visual image itself. There are many ways this can be done in a mix, for instance, running the music through a small speaker in the studio and recording that to emulate music from a clock radio.
Soundtrack music. Soundtrack music is similar to the score in the sense that it is emanating from somewhere other than inside the picture. Usually, soundtrack music is some form of popular music that is placed during a section without dialog, such as the ending credits or maybe an action sequence. The song is the main focus rather than the dialog or effects. A music video is the best example of soundtrack music as, in a music video, there is usually no other audio except the song itself.

By this point, you might be asking yourself, "This is all fine and good, but how does Pro Tools fit in?"

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