Remember that scene in the popular K-Drama, “Crash Landing on You” when the leading man walks up to the leading lady who is staring out at the rain and a romantic scene ensues, marking a new chapter of their relationship?
The scene was memorable because of the plot build-up, sure, but what made it even more beautiful was the backdrop and mood.
More often than not, romantic scenes in dramas include a gentle rain to set the mood. But how exactly are those rain sounds recorded?
Or are the sounds we hear even actual recordings of rain?
Verdict:
FALSE
Unfortunately for all of us hopeless romantics, the rain sounds we hear on screen are usually created by mixing sound layers.
One user on TikTok - ginman.wav - who is an audio mixer for film and television, claims that most rain sounds aren’t made using water at-all.
In the video he says: “almost every single rain sound in film is actually the sound of frying food.”
He goes on to explain that, “it’s way easier to record frying chicken than to get microphones wet, outside in the rain.”
While Alyson Moore, a Foley artist with over four decades of experience confirms that specific 'rain' microphones do exist, others mention ways to recreate the sound even if they don't use the real deal.
But does this mean frying food is the universal source of rain sounds that we listen to?
Thankfully, it does not.
That would totally destroy the illusion my ‘Calming Rain Sounds’ playlist provides when I go to bed.
A sound designer for "The Boy and the World" said he used the sound of hands clapping with reverb for one of the movie's rain sounds.
Some Foley artists recreate the sound of rainstorms or rain by rustling bubble wrap, using white noise recordings, or gently shaking a rain stick.
The use of unconventional sounds in film is nothing new. From using coconuts to mimic horse hooves to crinkling cellophane for crackling fire, sound designers have a knack for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
These methods often offer more control over the intensity and texture, allowing sound designers to craft the perfect sound.
References:
https://www.instagram.com/p/
https://www.snopes.com/news/
