Use live music in scene or add in post?

[ilikechinesefood]

I have a scene in my short film where 3 people are in a car, loud music is playing, and they're shouting to each other. Should I use live music, or add it in post?

I am using the stock mic on a Canon XL1

 

[Tom Marshall]

Add it in post. That way you can control the music and make sure the levels are good between all different sound elements.

You might have to bring the music up or down to make it sound "normal" or you might have to adjust the timing of the music so that certain parts don't interfere with the dialog.

 

[Steve House]

I have a scene in my short film where 3 people are in a car, loud music is playing, and they're shouting to each other. Should I use live music, or add it in post?

I am using the stock mic on a Canon XL1

Add it in post. Consider using a separate mic - I'm trying to visualize where you could possibly place the camera in such a scene where the on-camera mic would pick up the dialog with decent sound quality and I can't see anything that would work.

 

[Tim Joy]

Yeah, add it in post, but if you know what it will be, you could record it in the car during the shoot to get that *sound*. Obviously, make sure the actors keeps shouting, and maybe do a take with the music blasting so they get a feel for it.

 

[ilikechinesefood]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll add it in post but probably end up recording the song in the car too get the *sound* like yeehaanow said.

 

[RandomHero]

I'd recommend post as well, because there's an effect used often in those scenes where you start it with the music a bit louder than it will be during dialog, say in a shot of the car going by to set up the scene, and then once you cut to being in the car with actors, the music gets a little quieter so although they're 'yelling', it's still extremely controllable audio. Just a thought there.

 

[Humanwire]

The only thing you should be recording during production, is the dialogue. Everything else is added later, for better quality and complete control.

To get "that sound" in post, just play the desired song inside a car and record the entire thing from a mic inside the car and blend them together during your final sound mix.