Last Moments - sound

Last Moments - 45 second - 1 minute film

"In 1944 a young air cadet runs for cover during an air raid; the threat of V1 flying bombs overhead. Little does she know that these are her last moments."

View the finished film here: https://vimeo.com/154870269

There have been enough novels, biographies, movies, dramas and documentaries depicting scenes from the Second World War. Away from the battlefield, millions of people ducked for cover during the Blitz in 1940/41 and in the years afterwards. The British government put precautions in place: air raid sirens, shelters, bunkers, black outs etc. but sometimes even these were not enough to protect the public. 70 years later, we can only begin to imagine what it would have been like. This short film attempts to capture some of those feelings through film and sound.

Sounds:

1. Air raid Siren

   The air raid siren is one of the most iconic sounds of the Second World War. First used in 1939 to warn of incoming enemy planes, its prominent place was during the Blitz in 1940/41 and was also used when the new threat of V1 flying bombs appeared. The sound of an Air Raid Siren was created by a machine.

This sound was created by a violin - which is why it sounds less mellow than the original siren. The tracks were layered three times with different pitches and density, although a real siren only had two tones.

2. Heartbeat
    This rapid sound was created by placing the deadcat (furry windshield) over the mic and tapping the top with two fingers to create the beat.
    Audio Gain: 15db
    Noise Reduction: 89
    Ambience: 11

3. Breathing 1
    The first breathing sound is one of panic and is quick paced. The purpose of it is to accompany the running image and to create a sense of urgency.
    Audio Gain: 20db
    Noise Reduction: 89
    Absorption: 41%
    Density: 37%

4. Breathing 2
    The second breathing sound is a little louder than the first. The sound slows down as the girl starts to breathe calmly.
    Audio Gain: 25db
    Noise Reduction: 36db
    Ambience: 39
    Absorption: 41%
    Density: 37%

5. Radio
    Although a radio would have never been on during an air raid, the sound of the change in frequency and station provides a slightly 'detached reality' effect. The sounds were recorded inside a car and the audio heightened by 8db.

6. V1 flying bomb or 'doodlebug'
   The Fieseler Fi 103 was an early pulsejet-powered cruise missile that was launched against Britain by the Nazis in June 1944. They were termed 'doodlebugs' or 'buzz bombs' by the British because of the strange intermittent buzzing noise they made - unlike its predecessor the V2 which one couldn't see or hear at all. Usually there was about 12 seconds between the doodlebug's engine cut off and the explosion, meaning there was no sound as it fell, allowing less than half a minute to find cover.

This sound was created by recording a blood pressure monitor machine. The same file was overlapped three times to create a more realistic hum. 
Layer 1 -
    Audio Gain: 8db
    Pitch: -10 semi tones
    Treble: -19.7
    Bass: 24db
Layer 2 -
    Audio Gain: 8db
    Pitch: -7db
Layer 3 -
    Audio Gain: 8db
    Pitch: 4db
Once the layers were merged, the audio gain was changed by 5db, and the pitch by -12db.

7. Explosion/Rumble
    These sounds were a mixture of stools being dragged across a wooden floor and bouncing tennis balls. The pitch was lowered considerably and the bass turned up.
    Another sound was downloaded from SoundBible.com under the public domain licence to layer over the top.