What is Room Tone in Film?
When producing film or video, a variety of terms are used to describe situations which occur on the screen. Room tone is one of the many terms that we commonly hear as a reference to the production or shot, but exactly what is room tone in film? And what does room tone even mean?
As a videographer that’s learning all about how filmmaking works and trying to understand all the different terminology and uses for various descriptions, it can be tough and overwhelming at times to attempt to understand and to recall what all these different terms mean.
Like, what is room tone in film? Well, the room tone in film is the ambience or low volume sounds (or silence) that exists in an empty room or in a room that is full of actors that are all standing in silence.
But, if they’re all silent, won’t the sound be — silent?
Not exactly! Room tone is ambient sound, and every room that has anything or anyone in it has some kind of ambient sound that takes place. For example, even without input, props, or people, there is sound when you step into a room.
It could be the incredibly soft hum of the air conditioner or a fan above, it could be the buzz of electricity going through the lights in the room, or perhaps it’s the sound of a trickle of water that is dripping somewhere several feet or rooms away. It’s quiet — but it’s not silent.
Why is Room Tone Important in Film?
Room tone is recorded for a variety of purposes. In fact, room tone is captured in every room that is used in a video or film during the production so that there is adequate representation when the editor takes over. This is because every room has its own unique sound.
To capture room tone, the videographer will ask the cast to remain in the room for just a few more moments while the recording takes place. This replicates the exact background noise that took place in the area where the recording of the previous scene occurred, but why?
What is the Purpose of Room Tone?
The purpose of room tone is to provide the post-production team with a sound bed that can be used as needed in the post-production editing. Sometimes when you ask, “What is room tone in film?” what really should be discussed is why is room tone even a thing?
The editor may use room tone as background noise in the film during periods of silence in the room when there is nothing else being said by the actor.
Room tone can help to maintain consistency in continuity when necessary in post-production when the change of background noise, although subtle, would be too much to allow for appropriate continuity for the film production.
Room tone creates a matching background sound of the room that was used during the scene so that it can be used for a variety of purposes in the final editing including reinserting it back into the track, using it to fill any unwanted holes in the production, or to remove things like the voice of the Director from an otherwise perfect shot.
