Ambience is a sound term used in video, streaming, games, and audio content for material that fills in the impression and information of a scene. Separately from the music itself, it conveys place, movement, transitions, and emotion.
What it does
Adding ambience fills in atmosphere, distance, and motion that pictures or words alone struggle to convey. Deciding what you want to convey to the viewer before choosing material makes it easier to use.
Where to use it
It is used for scene transitions in video, the start and end of a stream, game interactions, and shots of streets or nature. Keep the level and length such that they do not get in the way of the leading voice or music.
How to choose it
Check the length, brightness, and density of the sound, and whether it stands up to repetition. Even within the same category of material, a sound that seems close and one that seems distant give different impressions. Judge it against the actual footage and dialogue.
Care when editing
Cutting the start and end abruptly can sound unnatural. Add fades where needed and adjust the level. When layering several pieces of material, check that the low and mid ranges do not get crowded.
Licensing terms
When using distributed material, check the license, including commercial use, credit requirements, and whether redistribution is allowed. Being able to download something is not the same as being free to use it in published work.
The basics of checking
Play the whole thing at close to final level rather than auditioning the material on its own. The basics of organizing and exporting audio material are covered in the audio file format article.
