Sound and Recording

Overview

• Soundtracks• Sound Basics• Recording• Dialogue• Effects• Music• Mixing

Soundtracks

• Although most films come with a soundtrack on them, the picture and the sound are recorded, edited, and mixed separately.

• The soundtrack usually consists of dialogue, effects, and music.

• During post-production (mixing) they are “married” back together.

• A clapboard was used traditionally to synch up picture and sound.

• Time-code used in film and video production for editing purposes.

– 01:52:44:12.– Hours, minutes, seconds, frames

Overview

• Film Sound is hyper-real– an exaggeration of reality– it is not a replica of reality.– There are too many competing sounds in real

life.– sound designers accent the important ones.

• Storytelling matters the most

Sound Basics

• Compression and expansion of the sound waves in the medium determine its characteristics

• Sound moves in a way analogous to the ripples in a pond from a dropped stone (Propagation)

Basic Characteristics

• Amplitude is the size of a soundwave• Other names: volume, level, loudness• Measured in Db*

• Frequency relates to pitch• It is the number of waves per second• Measured in Hertz

• Timbre is the quality of sound that comes from its tone rather than its pitch or volume

• the quality or color of tone of an instrument or voice. • Also called tone color

Sound in Film (cont’d)

• Diegetic Sound is sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film: voices of characters, sounds made by objects in the story, music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music).

• In other words, Diegetic Sound is the sound produced by things seen on the screen. For example, you see a man slam a door shut and you hear the sound of door slam.

• Non-Diegetic sounds are all other sounds included in the film. This may include the score and voice-over narration.

Decibels

• The name decibel means a tenth of a bel– Alexander Graham Bell (hence the capital B in dB).

• dB doesn't have to relate to any fixed level of signal– it is simply a convenient way of expressing the ratio between two signal

levels.

• We can pick any power or voltage to be our 0dB level and then express all other values relative to that.

• For example, the record level meter on a tape machine is always set so that the optimum recording level is shown as 0dB.

Audio

• Audio is the representation of sound, electrically or by various methods on media, not sound itself.

• Sound is processed by microphones.• Microphones are transducers, they convert the

sound energy into electrical energy. After that the sound is called a signal.

Boom Operator

Recording

• Recording dialogue and production sounds is done during principle photography, with a sound person (usually a boom-mic operator).

• Record sounds as loudly as possible without distortion. You want the largest possible signal to noise ratio.

• Avoid external noises or voices that interfere with the sounds you are trying to record.

• The pick-up pattern often determines the best microphone to use for each situation.

Microphones

• Basic Microphone types: – Omnidirectional– Bi-directionaly– Cardioid– Hypercardioid

• Chose the mic according to the situation• Isolate the sound source as much as possible• Use a boom for dialogue if possible• Roll the sound before recording the picture• Use a wind-screen whenever possible

Dialogue

• Dialogue is usually recorded using a boom-mic with a boom-mic operator

• Dialogue should be in the -12 to -6 db range• Always check the recording before you break

down the set• Room-tone is useful to have with dialogue

(always record 10 seconds before and after each take)

ADR- Automated Dialogue Replacement or “looping”. This is done to add lines or replace unclear dialogue after the shooting has taken place

Sound Effects

• Effects are recorded occasionally on set and usually in post production

• Hard Effects are sounds that emanate from the action on-screen. For example, you see a man slam a door shut and you hear the sound of door slam.

• Soft Effects are ambient sounds. Off-screen sounds.

• It is not unusual to have hundreds of effects tracks• Many copyright-free sound effects can be found on the

internet• Foley is the act of recording sound effects such as

footsteps and efforts, in a sound studio on a Foley stage.

Music

• This is called a score.• Music can overpower a film if not chosen properly. Song

lyrics can change the meaning of a scene• You can find pre-recorded material or hire a composer.

You can also create your own soundtrack using real or digital instruments

• Garage Band and Logic are excellent software packages for creating original soundtracks.

• If you plan to enter film festivals or sell your film, you need to clear the copyright with the owner of the recording.

Characterization

• Dialogue, sound effects, music contribute• Musical themes often identify characters• Music can underscore characters’ insights

Step by Step Sound Recording• Test the recording equipment before shooting.• Record ambience, effects, and dialogue on set• Use a shot-gun mic on a boom for dialogue• Leave space before and after each take (roll sound first)• Use a clap-board for sync purposes.• Isolate the sounds as much as possible.• Once the picture is locked you should think about effects and music• Go through the movie and make a list of needed effects• Collect or create effects scene by scene• Separate ambience, hard effects, and background effects • Create a rough mix• Hire a composer or acquire music for your film• Mix down for the different media you plan to output to.• Back up all of your work.