According to the dictionary (a great resource for word definitions, by the way), synchronize is "to (cause to) happen at the same time" or " make (motion picture sound) exactly simultaneous with the action ". Example: The show was designed so that the lights synchronized with the music.

So synchronized sound, is sound that is happening at the same time as something else. In the case of movies, it often means that the sound is in sync (short for synchronized) with the picture. So non synchronized sound would mean the sound and picture are not running at the same time.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

certified instigator thank you. I actually know the meaning of the word... I meant to ask for the difference between films shot using synchronized sound and those which don't, in terms od editing and recording. Is non-synched sound recorded on a separate (from the camera) recording device then?
If it wasn't clear then I'm sorry...

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In terms of recording, if you record sound in sync with your picture then it's "synchronized sound". If you record sound not in sync with your picture it's "non-synchronized sound".

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Is non-synched sound recorded on a separate (from the camera) recording device then?

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Yes. But sync sound is also recorded on a separate (from the camera) recording device. Recording sound and picture on the same device is relatively new - say from the 1960's - and currently limited to video tape. On all film cameras only the picture is recorded. Sound is recorded on a separate device. Yes there have been exceptions (as someone will surely point out - Super 8 Sound, some 16mm news cameras) - but in general this is true.

I guess I'm still not clear what you are asking, I apologize for answering with detail you don't need.

Lets see if I can clarify with some examples.

SYNC SOUND - Recorded sound at the same time as picture. Can be recorded by the camera or an external source synced with a slate during editing.

NON SYNC SOUND - Recorded later like ADR. On El Mariachi the camera made so much noise Rodriguez couldn't record sound so he shot the pictures and then stopped the camera and had the actors speak into a mic, hoping to sync things up later. Since it was recorded seperately there was always a drift between the audio and video so he had a lot of cutaways so he could resynch things again in mid sentence if need be. He also shot in Spanish which prevented most Gringo's from noticing.

If I'm incorrect I'm sure someone will point it out but that's the way I understand it.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Thanks alot! It is certainly much clearer now.

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