Minimising unwanted freezer sound

bifter

bifter

Member
I will be filming captive possums in a few days and want to record their sounds. My problem is there is a freezer near the set that can't be turned off (it is hard-wired to an alarm).

My plan is to use a AT703a shotgun mic with the freezer off to an angle behind the mic. There are black drapes on the walls that should minimise a "roomy" sound.

I can record the freezer sound to use to analyse and minimise the hum in post.

I use Logic Platinum 6, and FCP 4HD. Other than to use my ears and an multiband equaliser to cut the freezer hum, how might I approach this more technically?

Thanks in advance for any hints or tips.
 
Re: Minimising unwanted freezer sound

try throwing a few heavy construction blankets over the freezer - that usually helps.
 
Re: Minimising unwanted freezer sound

Hmmm.... SoundSoap might help in this situation, I'd look into that and run some tests. That said, I think Stationhouse has the right idea, do everything you can to minimize the sound at the source. Are you sure the Freezer can't be turned off? I mean, I know you can't do it, but can someone else? If not, wrap that sucker. I might try wrapping it in an insulator (insulation) first and then wrapping it in blankets. Something to watch out for is sound that you can't wrap and how/where it emits from. Say the freezer is in a corner. Well, you won't actually be able to wrap it, just cover two sides of it. The other two sides are going to have the sound funneled out and will reverb off those walls, so you may also have to hang some sound blankets to absorb that sound. In the end you will have to do some work in post (unless you get it turned off) but you want to minimize that work as much as possible. If you do get it turned off, or even if you are able to stiffle it at the source, I would still record it. You may very well want to add that sound in, albeit at a much lower level as part of your background depending.

Matt
 
Re: Minimising unwanted freezer sound

can you turn the temp of the freezer up while shooting? Freezers will maintain their temp for quite a while.
So; go in the freezer a few hours before and turn the temp way down to get it very cold, then go in just before shooting and turn it up to shut off the compressor for a while and then turn it back down after you are done or during long breaks.
 
Re: Minimising unwanted freezer sound

Turn it off - this will give you the best result - put someone's car keys in it so you dont forget to turn it back on again. 8)
 
Re: Minimising unwanted freezer sound

Hmm, as I say, it cant be turned off without tripping an alarm (Its an ultra-cold biological samples freezer) but perhaps we can turn up the thermostat so it stops - else lots of blankets it is!

Cheers
 
Re: Minimising unwanted freezer sound

If it is biological samples, you need to check with the folks at the lab before adjusting the temp. I was on a shoot in a lab and we turned off a machine that was making lots of noise, and it turned out to set back a calibration more than a week. Oops. ;-)
 
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