Why Cinematic Sound Design Matters More Than You Think
Sound You Can Feel
We spend so much time talking about visuals—camera choice, lenses, lighting setups—that it’s easy to forget one of the most powerful storytelling tools: sound. But if you've ever watched a beautifully shot video that still felt “off,” chances are the problem wasn’t what you saw—it was what you heard.
For a recent short-form piece, I wanted to experiment with this idea in real time. The concept was simple: tell the story of me fulfilling an order from my online shop—start to finish. Receiving the order. Boxing the item. Jumping on my bike. Mailing it out. But while the visuals carried the narrative, it was the sound design that made it cinematic.
Turning a Simple Story into a Sensory Experience
The video is fast-paced, comedic, and intentionally chaotic. Think quick cuts. Fast motion. Rhythmic transitions. To match that tempo, I built a layered soundscape that brought every moment to life.
Nearly all the sound came directly from the shoot. I ran an Audio-Technica condenser mic through the XLR top handle on my Sony FX3, capturing everything from the sound of tape peeling to the snap of a box shutting, the bike wheels spinning to the postal bin dropping. These natural, lived-in sounds gave the film its tactile quality—you feel like you’re in the room, going through it with me.
To round it out, I pulled a few supplemental effects from Artlist.io. The trick wasn’t overloading it—it was knowing where to enhance what was already real. A subtle whoosh here. A punchy pop there. Each moment had to hit just right to maintain the rhythm of the cut.
Music That Matches the Mood
I scored the piece with “Brand New Key” by Meleanie—a playful, upbeat track that undercuts the hustle with humor. The juxtaposition makes the whole thing feel self-aware: it’s a grind, but we’re having fun with it. That contrast is what makes the piece feel alive—not just informational, but tonal.
If It Feels Off, It’s Probably the Sound
You can shoot the cleanest visuals in the world, but if your audio is flat, inconsistent, or disconnected from the action—it breaks the spell. Sound is what ties shots together. It adds impact. It builds rhythm. It gives your visuals weight.
Great sound design doesn’t scream for attention. It feels natural—like it’s always been there. But when it’s missing? You notice.
At Monolith, Sound Is Story
Whether we're building a short-form brand piece, a campaign film, or a creative doc, we treat sound design with the same intentionality as lighting or lensing. Because when story meets cinema, it shouldn’t just look good. It should sound right, too.