How do I record wind, without it sounding hissy?

I

ironpony

Carbonite Member
When I record wind with the shotgun, it sounds okay, but sounds like maybe it's too directional and I'm not getting enough of it, from all around. When I record with a hyper, it sounds like I get a lot more but it's more of a hissing sound. Is one of these mics better, or do you have any tips on wind particularly? Thanks. I also have a windjammer cover for both.
 
An omni directional mic or even better two of them for stereo is best for recording wind, as it has less proximity effect and gets a better overall sound, you still have to blimp it up though and remember that what you are actually recording is the effect the wind is having on it's surroundings so the type of sound you need may vary hugely.

Wind in a forest for example will sound totally different to wind in a city street.
 
In what environment do you record it, and what speeds are we talking about? Wind in and of itself doesn't sound much unless it's very high. Instead, it makes other things sound, like leaves rustling, flags flapping etc.

Does the hissing sound unnatural? Have you compared your tracks with other fx-recordings? Remember that you can always eq or even pitchshift to get the tone you want.
 
Wind, on it's own is actually silent. What we hear is it's effects on different objects and environments. What you need to decide on is what "effect" looking for. Through trees is different than in the desert with just a few sagebrushes. Same with the suburbs. Or in a town or big city. Or a castle with Dracula living in it.

Where is this supposed to represent?
 
First off...
Foley Police.gif
It's Foley not foley.


Second in films, at least in the US, wind and storms are pretty much never Foley. Maybe for a specific show, maybe. Wind machines were a common thing on old radio shows, in theatre (before everything was recorded - or now as a special effect), and probably in films before field recording was practical and easily portable.

Foley generally doesn't get much time in a modern budget so anything that can be done by FX cutters is.

As to recording wind.

As others have said wind really doesn't make any noise. The noise happens when it has to pass through and over things. It really depends on what kind of wind your looking for. For the classic whistling wind you need abandoned buildings (up a couple of floors) or some other place where you can get some decent wind speed and some holes it has to pass through. Wires are also good, as in high tension wires, or bridge cables. You may be able to fake some in a car with a window or sun roof open. The wind should drown out the car if you do it right we've done a bunch of wind that way.

The other thing you need to do to sell it though, if it's a high wind, is to make sure other things that should be showing the effects (like cloths, flags etc.) are flapping AND have the sound of the flapping. You should also plan on layering the wind to get "the" one you want. A little high whistle goes great over some low howling.
 
Now that is interesting because fresnel is also someones name and it isn't capitalized? So I think if your really looking to explode heads Frez-nel.

Or go Masonic and call it a Fez-nel.


Heads won't actually explode, but people will make assumptions on the quality of your advice based on things like that so, if you want to be taken seriously...
 
Victor Nhat Nguyen said:
just wondering...Is it possible to find the wind noise you want in a sound effect library?
Click to expand...

Maybe, yes. no. It depends on what you need.

There is wind out there, and there is wind in private libraries and you can record your own.

But if you can't record then then look at sound dogs and see if they have what you need.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top