Below is a list of documentaries that focus on the sonic world both in terms of its relation to production techniques and its effect on or lived environment. These documentaries provide a comprehensive view of sound design’s many facets, from its role in cinema and music to its application in video games and natural environments.

For a comprehensive list of celebrated music films head to the Rolling Stone 70 Greatest Music Documentaries or the choices of The Guardian’s film critic, Mark Kermode.

The Distortion of Sound chronicles the effect of digital algorithms on sound technology. The full film can be found below. .

Though not specificially about sound technology PressPausePlay offers interesting insight into creativity in the digital age.

In Pursuit of Silence is a compelling film that beautifully documents our relationship with sound, silence and noise. The full film can be viewd below

2014’s I Dream of Wires look at the rise, fall and rebirth of analogue synthesisers.

The Art of Listening from 2017 focuses on the relationship between musicians, producers and their audience and the philosophy of how this occurs. The full documentary can be viewed below.

Sisters with Transistors charts the untold story of the womens role in shaping electronic music.

The story of German pioneers Kraftwerk is told in Kraftwerk and The Electronic Revolution.

Score: A Film Music Documentary. While primarily about film scores, this documentary provides significant insight into the process of creating soundtracks and the role of sound design in enhancing cinematic storytelling.

The Secret World of Foley investigates the unsung heroes who re-imagine and re-create our soundscapes through artifiical means.

Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music (2016) is series that examines the art of recording and the impact of technology on music.

Although a little out of date 2008’s Before the Music Dies Investigates the state of the music industry and the impact of corporate control on creativity and can viewed in full here.

808 (2015) examines the huge impact the Roland TR-808 drum machine had on a multitude of music genres.

Synth Britannia from 2009 chronicles the rise of synthpop in Britain and its cultural impact. The documentary can be watched in full below.

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound” (2019) explores the history, power, and creativity of sound in cinema, featuring legendary sound designers like Walter Murch, Ben Burtt, and Gary Rydstrom.

Sound City (2013) directed by Dave Grohl, chronicles the history of Sound City Studios and its role in producing some of the greatest albums, focusing on the magic of analog recording.

Beep: A Documentary History of Game Sound” (2016) covers the evolution of sound in video games, exploring how sound design has grown from simple beeps to intricate audio landscapes. A small selection of interviews from the documentary can be watched here.

Learn about the unique sound design and electronic music culture that emerged in Belgium, influencing genres like New Beat and techno in The Sound of Belgium” (2012)

Follow sound recordist Gordon Hempton in this documentary in his quest to capturesthe vanishing sounds of nature, showcasing the art of capturing natural soundscapes.

Also recommended are the following documentaries from the BBC. The first two below are part one and two of Sound – The Physics of Sound look at our perception of sound waves. Part One is called Using Sound.

Part Two is called, Making Sound.

BBC Radiophonic Workshop: The Alchemists Of Sound, from 2003, looks at the institution that from 1958 shaped our perception of the audio visual realm with its pioneering work.

John Cage changed our perception of Sound in a manner that inspired generation fo sound designers and artists. This is explored in the documentary, John Cage: Journeys in Sound.