Episode 196 | Sound Design of SXSW True Crime Documentary, Citizen Sleuth, w/ Nathan Ruyle - Part 1

Documentary First

Get ready for an engaging episode of the podcast, where Christian and Jason chat with Nathan Ruyle, the sound designer behind the hit film "Citizen Sleuth." With over 100+ credits to his name, Nathan has an impressive BIO and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to sound design. In part one of this deep dive, Nathan discusses his creative approach to sound design and how it helped to bring the mystery of the film to life.

Nathan Ruyle - IMDb

Nathans Company “This Is Sound Design” website:

This is Sound Design

At 01:53, Nathan sums up the unique sound design in "Citizen Sleuth" and how it was used to create an experiential feeling for the audience. Without relying on reenactments, Nathan used sound to immerse the audience in the experience of the crime, making them feel as though they were right there at the scene.

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Christian shares at 05:17 how she realized the importance of communicating emotions to the composer and sound department to ensure that the audience is moved through the story by the driving forces of sound and music. Nathan's approach to sound design is from a creative perspective, and he sees it as an opportunity to problem-solve and use his imagination.

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At 08:13, Nathan explains how his work encompasses all facets of post-production sound and how he and his team designed the sound to match the look and feel of the story. Christian asks Nathan to sum up the sound of the film and Nathan gives a captivating answer that will leave you intrigued.

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At 14:29, Christian picks out two examples from the film to discuss how Nathan and his team handled the sound in those moments. Nathan also explains mediated voices and mediated technology.

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At 15:42 and how it adds character and feeling to the story. Jason was curious about how Nathan made the dialogue consistent, even when recorded in different locations, and Nathan explains his technique in detail at 23:35.

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As this episode went a little long, Christian, Jason, and Nathan decided to split it into two parts. Be sure to tune in to part two to hear more about AI-specific tools and other interesting sound design topics. And don't forget to catch the next episode, where DocuView Déjà Vu takes center stage!