The Blueprint for Sound
A sound cue is the fundamental command that dictates the timing and placement of every audio event in a film, aside from dialogue and music. It is the ‘go’ signal that tells a sound editor or mixer precisely what sound should happen and when it should happen. In its simplest form, a sound cue is a marker tied to a specific frame of the film. The accumulation of all sound cues forms the complete blueprint for a film’s sound design.
These cues are meticulously planned and documented. In early stages, they might appear as a simple parenthetical in the shooting script, like (SOUND of a distant train whistle). As the film moves into post-production, however, these notes are formalized into a highly detailed document known as a Cue Sheet.
The Cue Sheet
The cue sheet is a comprehensive spreadsheet or database that lists every single sound event in the movie. For each cue, the sheet will typically contain:
- Cue Number: A unique identifier for the sound event.
- Timecode In/Out: The precise start and end timecodes, ensuring frame-accurate placement.
- Description: A clear description of the sound (e.g., “Hero’s footsteps on gravel, medium pace”).
- Category: The type of sound (e.g., Foley, Hard Effect, Background).
- Notes: Any creative or technical notes from the director or supervising sound editor (e.g., “Make this gunshot sound overwhelmingly loud”).
This document is the master guide for the entire sound editing team. It ensures that everyone is working from the same plan and that no sound is missed. The sound effects editors use it to know what sounds to cut, the Foley artists use it to know what actions to perform, and the re-recording mixers use it to understand the creative intent during the final mix.
Sound Cue vs. Trigger
A sound cue is the instruction for a sound to happen. A trigger is the on-screen event that motivates that cue. For example, the visual of a character flipping a light switch is the trigger; the resulting ‘light switch click’ sound file placed at that exact moment is the sound cue.