The use of 5.1 Surround sound in this project fitted into to my overall concept as much as the video and audio components did.
I didn’t see surround sound as 6 audio outputs, but in fact, another way that I could support my idea of exaggeration and contrast.
For this reason, I decided early on, that I would only use the full 5.1 system within the middle section of my piece. This localised use would not only contrast with the stereo sections before and after, but using the 5.1 sparingly would actually exaggerate its effectiveness. For example: The LS and RS speakers only contained a small amount of reverb in the rest of the piece, keeping any material as such, out of them until the B section.
During the section where the video’s aspect ratio changes from square to widescreen, this is where I always intended the full 5.1 to come into action. As the screen widens, so does the sonic image and as they both happen simultaneously, they exaggerate one another in the process. This idea happens in reverse at the end of the B section when the aspect ratio of the video comes back to square, almost dragging the audio with it to its previously narrower state.
This idea is demonstrated in the diagram below:
Having these two media change simultaneously also creates an immersive experience for the viewer, which adds to the hyper-realistic feel of the rest of the piece. Using 5.1 in this section, and this section only, is a contrast. However, I didn’t want to make the use of 5.1 feel ‘Mickey Mousey’ as when the sounds follow the path of the models torso. So although the full 5.1 image is only used within this middle section, it is still subtle enough not to jar with the audience or sound out of place. In fact, just like the widening of the screen aspect ratio, not all viewers would necessarily notice what the change was, other than the fact than it now had a different feel and character.
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HYPERBOLE Documentation 