ND writes:

I was interested recently to see onscreen (and hear) an example of what a sound engineer does in helping to make a radio play.

Pete Ringrose gave an example of 'before' and 'after' in a clip from a drama in which he was involved, working for Hooley Productions. The screen displays are shown below. When you click the link, the raw recording plays first, followed by the finished clip.

Pete has been involved in 1,025 radio plays in a long career as a 'studio manager' (SM) . He has often been the pianist or trumpeter in plays with musical storylines, but most often he is sound engineer or sound designer. Unfortunately you won't find many of his credits online or elsewhere because the effects team usually don't get mentioned in the schedules.

Pete writes ...

A few people have asked what a sound designer actually does. So here's a 'before and after' clip from today's afternoon drama 'When I Fall', broadcast 17th July 2025 at 2.15pm on Radio 4. Click on this link to hear it.

Anna Jones wrote about the play at some length, in Radio Times:

"Sometimes a drama goes the extra distance when it comes to sound design, enabling the listener to picture each scene and each location so perfectly. This is one of those productions, and congratulations go to Pete Ringrose for his exemplary work. Zak Ford-Williams is probably best known for his role in Bridgerton but he is also an advocate for inclusivity in the arts. Here he plays Aaron, a man who falls over, a lot, because of his cerebral palsy.

This is not a play about disability, however. It's about a different kind of falling - in love - and it's not just Aaron who falls. His overly protective mother (played by Joanna David) takes a tumble, too. A beautiful, thought-provoking piece". Aaron ..... Zak Ford-Williams, Noah ..... Sam Swann, Nancy ..... Joanna David, Becky ..... Rhiannon Neads, Sam ..... Hasan Dixon. Recorded by Paul Clark at Sonica. Sound Design by Pete Ringrose. Produced by Mary Peate. Directed by Jessica Dromgoole. Indie (Hooley Productions).



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