What is Foley?

	What Foley Is... Foley is creating and recording 'live' sound effects to be added to a video program in post production, providing a controllable background layer of sound that produces a rich and realistic audio environment. Foley also fills in the gaps between the live recording and studio ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement), smoothing out the sound and creating new sounds where they are missing. The process of filming also creates dips in the sound since each scene is filmed from different angles over several takes for the best look and performance. Once cut together, the picture flows from shot to shot in a fluid motion but the sound can become choppy and overlapped. Once again, Foley provides a foundation that bridges these gaps.
What Foley Isn't... Foley is not the sounds of, for example, car engines, explosions or other mechanical stuff, or sounds like birds, laser blasts, dog barks or rainstorms, helicopters and thunder, which can be found in a sampled Sound FX library, then layered and mixed in to an SFX track by a Sound FX Editor. While sampled SFX is great for very precise and repeatable effects, they are not so great for footsteps for example, since every step is different and unique, the pace changes and the mood of the step is always different.
A Simple Example The Foley Artists, Sound FX Editors, Dialog Editors, Music Editors and Mixers work closely together, sometimes producing hundreds of separate tracks, to create a unique Sound Design for each film. Picture a scene in which an actor grabs a gun, walks to a motorcycle, starts it up and drives away. A Foley Artist would recreate the sound of the leather jacket and jeans as the actor walks (referred to as 'Moves'), sound of heavy cowboy boots as the actor walk (referred to as 'Feet'), the gun pickup and handling, handlebar grab and bike moves - and maybe some key sounds as he puts them in the lock (referred to as 'Specifics'). The Sound FX Editor would create the roar of the motorcycle engine starting and driving away, tire squeals and background ambience (birds, wind etc.). In an ADR studio the actor would re-record his line, "I'll be back...” which was inaudible on location with the motorcycle engine running. The Sound Editor would then conform the production track and ADR into one. When played together, the tracks produce a seamless tapestry of sound.
Next we'll look at the Three Elements of Foley
NEED HELP? Need Help? Contact a Post-Production Specialist
Additional Resources Articles List of Foley Tips Real-Time Sound Effects – The Foley Way How to Record Your Own Foley Tracks How to Record Foley Sound Introduction to Sound Design (with some interesting exercises) Rain is sizzling bacon, cars are lions roaring: the art of sound in movies Videos Foley Introduction to Foley and Sound Effects for Film Caoimhe Doyle – Foley Artist – Sound Effect Demonstration Lesley Bloome – Foley Artist Gary Hecker – Foley Artist – Robin Hood The Secret Art of Foley Sound Design The Sound of The Revenant WALL E – Sound Design Part I WALL E – Sound Design Part II Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring – Sound Design Part I Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring – Sound Design Part II Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers – Sound Design Part I Lord of the Rings –The Two Towers – Sound Design Part II
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What Foley Is...

Foley is creating and recording 'live' sound effects to be added to a video program in post production, providing a controllable background layer of sound that produces a rich and realistic audio environment.

Foley also fills in the gaps between the live recording and studio ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement), smoothing out the sound and creating new sounds where they are missing.

What Foley Isn't...

Foley is not the sounds of, for example, car engines, explosions or other mechanical stuff, or sounds like birds, laser blasts, dog barks or rainstorms, helicopters and thunder, which can be found in a sampled Sound FX library, then layered and mixed in to an SFX track by a Sound FX Editor.

While sampled SFX is great for very precise and repeatable effects, they are not so great for footsteps for example, since every step is different and unique, the pace changes and the mood of the step is always different.

A Simple Example

The Foley Artists, Sound FX Editors, Dialog Editors, Music Editors and Mixers work closely together, sometimes producing hundreds of separate tracks, to create a unique Sound Design for each film.

Picture a scene in which an actor grabs a gun, walks to a motorcycle, starts it up and drives away.

The Sound FX Editor would create the roar of the motorcycle engine starting and driving away, tire squeals and background ambience (birds, wind etc.).

In an ADR studio the actor would re-record his line, "I'll be back...” which was inaudible on location with the motorcycle engine running. The Sound Editor would then conform the production track and ADR into one.

When played together, the tracks produce a seamless tapestry of sound.

Next we'll look at the Three Elements of Foley

Need Help? Contact a Post-Production Specialist

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Videos

Foley

Sound Design

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