Drive Audio Analysis

In the first scene in the film 'Drive', a getaway driver is waiting for two robbers. The driver has a strict rule; he gives the robbers a five minute window to get in and get out before transporting them, otherwise he will leave them.
  In the clip, diagetic and non-diagetic sound is used to create tension, and each have their own purpose; there are many diagetic sound effects such as the ticking watch, the car door sound, the breaking in of the building, the police scanner, the radio and loads more that all have a purpose.
  Audio such as the police scanner, the sirens and the noise of the helicopter all remind the audience that the police know of the crime, and that the robbers are on constant watch by them; it also reminds the audience that the police could catch them at any moment, which creates tension.
  Other sound effects such as the car radio show that the driver is being professional about his work, but also shows that he is mixing business with pleasure. This reflects his lifestyle of being a transporter and a stunt driver.

Ticking Watch

The ticking watch on the cars steering wheel has many purposes; Mainly, it gives off the idea that time is against the robbers; the driver only gives them five minutes between entry and exit of the building before he will drive away, so the ticking watch serves as a constant reminder that time is against the robbers. The ticking continues throughout the entirety of the time the robbers are in the building, which shows that even when the first robber is in the car, that the job isn't over until the second robber is in the car.
  The idea that time is always running out is also brought up by the sound of the ticking which also provides the audience with more tension


The Radio

  The driver in the scene is nonchalantly listening to a basketball game on his car radio during the robbery. This has many purposes; he is being casual, and during this crime, the sound of the game on the radio, brings the character back to the real world, and suggests that robbery is casual. It merges the normal world in with the world of crime which reflects the drivers personality.
  The sound of the radio is referenced at the end of the scene when the driver ends up at the game within the crowd of fans.

The Police Radio Scanner

The police scanner reminds the audience that the driver and the robbers are under constant watch, and also gives them an enemy. This creates tension, as the audience doesn't know if the robbers are going to get away with it or not.
  Another purpose of the police scanner is to show that you don't need to see them to know they are there. Along with the sirens, and police helicopter noises, the police scanner gives the idea that the enemy is always watching you, and they can jump out at any given moment.






Environmental Sounds

There are lots of environmental noises in the clip that help to set the scene, but also to create tension as well. Noises such as crickets, police sirens, the wind, and the sounds of traffic, all produce tension. Mixing the robbers with the police in a public environment with lots of other cars, produces risks of harming the public. This creates more tension.