General question about audio in films...

A saying about rules I remember from my early days in video production:

"You need to know the rules before you break the rules."
 
davefisk said:
If you want, I can get into a detailed description on workflow, but that's kinda lengthy, and I didn't want to include that here since that kinda gets off topic, but it is important.
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I am quite sure I have a good grasp of how it works now. Your post was informative just like everyone else's. Thanks for the information everyone! This is great!
 
Alex H. said:
Sounds like that, which happen as a result of actors' movements, are typically done with Foley.

In a Foley studio, there's a recording system with video playback. They get a viewing copy of the film and, after organizing a spot list of everything that needs work, go through the film shot-by-shot. As each shot/scene is played back, a Foley artist (who has a closet full of gadgets and noisemakers) creates sounds to match the on-cam action. Walking is done on textured surfaces, usually with one of a broad selection of shoe styles.

Once all the Foley is complete, that session is exported and sent back to the mix stage to be incorporated into the final mix with the dialog, FX, and music.

There's a great video on Vimeo that looks at a Foley artist in action:


But for low-budget/no-budget projects, if you aren't working with an extensive post-production crew in the sound department, this can still be done with simple means. All you need are a good sound recorder, a decent recording environment, a good mic (condenser), and a playback system to watch the movie (and headphones, of course). Even if you record them one-by-one without time code sync... if you are creating the sounds by hand as you watch the video played back, it's Foley.
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Wow this thread has been generally amazing. Lots of knowledge that sort of give you an "of course!" experience when you read / see it. :) After I became a photographer, I've often sat through a movie and sometimes wondering how the hell they recorded this and that sound when there's visibly several meters above the actors head.

I've now have even more respect for the art behind sound, it really is entertaining in itself! Maybe I should chase down my name sake and pester him till he takes me in as an apprentice on Foley :P
 
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