Recording Sound for Film — How to Get Pristine Audio for Film

Summary

Episode 17 of the Short List Production Sound series delves into the intricacies of sound recording on set. It discusses the sound crew's role, from scouting for noise issues to miking scenes. The video covers best practices for interior and exterior sound recording, addressing challenges like reverb, wind noise, and traffic. It emphasizes the importance of capturing high-quality audio and the techniques used to mitigate common issues, highlighting the collaborative effort between sound and other departments to ensure a seamless production process.

Takeaways

• 🎥 Sound recording is a critical part of film production, involving various roles and equipment to ensure high-quality audio capture.
• 🔍 The sound crew's work begins before filming, including tech scouts to identify potential noise issues and rehearsal observations to plan microphone placement.
• 🎙️ Shotgun microphones are commonly used on set, ideally positioned no more than 3 feet away from the subject, with plant mics used to capture additional sounds.
• 🌳 Plant mics are hidden microphones on set used to capture sounds that the shotgun mic might miss, enhancing the overall audio capture.
• 📣 Sound mixers play a crucial role in vocalizing potential sound issues during rehearsals to expedite the shooting process.
• 🎧 Lavaliere (lav) mics are used for actors, with careful placement to minimize clothing noise and maintain invisibility within the costume.
• 🎚️ Audio levels are monitored during recording, with peaks typically kept between -6 and -12 dB to avoid distortion and ensure dynamic range.
• 🏠 Room tone, the natural ambient sound of a set, is recorded to provide a sound bed for scenes, making cuts between dialogue less jarring.
• 🚗 Interior sound recording requires managing controllable noises like HVAC systems and using furniture pads or soft materials to reduce reverb.
• 🌳 Exterior recording involves dealing with uncontrollable noises like wind or traffic, using techniques like blimps or low-cut filters to mitigate issues.

Q & A

What is the first step the sound department takes before recording on set?

The sound department's work begins long before the recording starts, with the sound mixer likely present during the tech scout to look for potential noise issues and communicate them to the locations department.

Why is it important for the sound crew to watch rehearsals?

Watching rehearsals helps the sound crew get a better sense of how to mic the scene, allowing them to position the shotgun microphone ideally no more than 3 feet away from a subject.

What does a sound mixer do during a run-through?

During a run-through, a sound mixer vocalizes potential sound issues to help expedite the shooting process, as addressing problems early can prevent slowing down the production.

How does a sound mixer approach placing a lavalier microphone on an actor?

A sound mixer places the lavalier microphone on an actor in a way that is sensitive and minimally invasive, ensuring it is hidden and has minimal clothing noise, typically right to the edge of the costume.

What is the purpose of capturing room tone in sound recording?

Room tone is captured to provide audio of the set without any other noise, which can be used by the post-production sound team to create a sound bed, ensuring there's never total silence and making cuts between dialogue less jarring.

Why is it beneficial for a shotgun microphone to be close to the slate during a scene?

Having the shotgun microphone close to the slate helps capture the clap, which is essential for syncing footage and audio easily during post-production.

What is the typical audio level range a sound mixer aims to keep audio peaks between during recording?

Sound mixers typically aim to keep audio peaks between -6 and -12 dB to avoid distortion, as hitting 0 dB could cause distortion.

How does a sound mixer reduce reverb in indoor settings?

To reduce reverb, a sound mixer will cover as much of the set as possible in soft materials that absorb sound, coordinate with the art department to build carpets or curtains into a set, or employ furniture pads (feres) to dampen reverb.

What challenges do sound mixers face when recording in vehicles, and how do they address them?

Sound mixers face numerous unwanted noises and limited space in vehicles. They often hide microphones in the car's visors and point them away from the engine to avoid noise, using techniques like destroying and modifying the visor to hide the mic.

What is the difference between controllable and uncontrollable noises in exterior sound recording?

Controllable noises are those that can be mitigated by the sound or locations department, such as traffic noise, while uncontrollable noises include elements like wind or planes flying overhead that cannot be controlled.

How can a sound mixer mitigate wind noise during exterior recording?

To mitigate wind noise, a sound mixer can use a blimp or a dead cat (a furry covering for a shotgun) to reduce wind from hitting the mic, employ smart mic placement, or use a low-cut filter to reduce base-heavy interference.