sounding a movie...

A

AlexGg

Active member
Hi Folks!

How actually you guys are doing a sounding for your filmed movies?

I mean all stages of this process including: some recommendations for all equipment(Soundcard, Mic, headphone, soundMixer, cables, special room, etc), way to set presets for an each actors, sinc_lips with original picture, and software itself.

Thanks in advance,
Alex.
 
You ain't from America, are ya?

Anyway, the way most people are doing it (and the easiest way) is to get some type of microphone (boom, wireless lav, etc) and use XLR cables to run it directly into the DVX. With the DVX100A, in 24P or 60i mode, there are no sync issues, the audio should be automatically synced in-camera with the picture. From what I've heard, the DVX100 had some issues with the audio being off by a few frames in the 24p mode, which is something you could fix easily with a NLE such as Premiere Pro, Final Cut, or Avid.
 
Thank you Kevin McCallister!

I am not :( why did you ask me about? :) Does my question was too strange? :)
Actually I am not mind about a live records, I am talking about another aspect, which is after shot recording in the special room... It is (seems to me) very common way in the complicated scenes... also, it necessary if movie has some kind of mix real actors and cartooned actors... How about that?
 
FOLEY and ADR is very common practice in Hollywood. Especially in film because only dialog is recorded and everything is added in later in post. As for video doing the Kevin's method is pretty much standard unless it is a bigger budget then it will go to a DAT machine via mixer in a portabrace bag..carried by the sound boom guy.
 
If you are looking for a booth:

http://www.whisperroom.com/

http://www.markertek.com/Product.as...bcat=&prodClass=SOUNDBOOTH&mfg=&search=0&off=

You can also build your own studio depending on what your studio space is like acoustically.

For other equipment input you need to let us know more about your needs, what you are trying to do, what resources you already have, your budgetary range, and just about anything else that might matter.

Where are you located? If you are not in the US then some reccomendations might not be applicable to your situation.

cheers
 
Thank you guys!

In fact, I am not looking for the booth, I am looking for some advice from people who has done some home-based equipped studio for post production(especially for the "sounding" of movies).
I have a picture what sort of BigBlackBox I need(a mic, a mix, a soundcard), but I need some good advice do not throw a money... I need some minimized configuration, but with good result for the quality.
 
If I understand you correctly. The actors are already shot and your mixing it with cartoon characters. First of all most cartoon voices are done first before any characters are drawn on to paper. This helps in syncing it in post. The voiceover for a cartoon characters can be done with standard voiceover techniques with correct slating before each take so you will know which one to keep. Most likely it will take about 3-5 takes for each dialog to be done to get the right feel for the scene. A basic shotgun mike, mike stand, a music stand to hold the copy, a multitrack mixer for levels and a DAT/MD recorder or anything that will record 16bit/44mhz or better recordings will do. You might be able to getaway with just getting the microphone going straight into the XLR's of the DVX100A and then firewire into you NLE and adjust the sound in post that way. You will have to watch your levels very closely in the camera to avoid clipping. I like to record dialog about -18db or more, since in cartoon V/O's a good actor will need to be able to have a wide range since he/she would have to add in all the effects thru their voice. And with it comes the need for the extra headroom since there is no visual attributes to rely on. Another thing is to have some type of background music that will help shore up the story to add emotion since you will most likely not have much in terms of room tone atmosphere noise when creating such a scene. There are some companies that have royalty-free music or sound FX to help move the scene along that doesn't cost much to get. Hope this helps.
 
smithy said:
If I understand you correctly. The actors are already shot and your mixing it with cartoon characters.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are! and thank you so much b/c you have gave me some missing additional elements of whole amazing picture! :)
Going forward, can you please put some accent or notes in way below:

I have some opinion to use this kind of headphone with a cardioid microphone especially for the voiceover, b/c normally actors prefer to move around during recording a scene...
What do you think about such stuff: http://www.beyerdynamic.com/com/product/sheets/d697.php3

Another "stone" - Multitrack_Mixer. As I know there are so many types... for my old Brain to understand it :(
I have some one recommended, can you please check this model if it's ok: http://www.dbxpro.com/286A.htm

How about the soundcard? I heard that something like CreativeLab is just for games but not for sound_records. Sorry for such detailed requests...

Regarding the royalty-free music/sound sources, can you please recommend some good companies(links), where is good quality stuff?

Thanks you in advance,
Alex.
 
Your question needs a book to be answered.
Just one thing i want to point out: what i can tell you from my experience is that recording voice over or audio dubbing with a boom mic will force you to deal with your room acoustic, to avoid excess of reverb, or get it done in an expensive studio.

what i did is simply using the dvx100 to record audio (and since it comes for free i would also film the video for reference), with a handheld mic, on a stand, xlr, plugged into the camera. the handheld mic (as well as a lav) virtually frees you from getting rid of the reverb. if some reverb is needed to match the audio recorded on location (or to make it sound more 'real'), you can still add it digitally. the drawback is that the talent is not as free to move as he is with a boom, since the handheld kind of mic has to be kept at a reasonably consistent distance from the mouth.

The priority in your investments must be a good monitoring system (speakers and/or headphones). otherwise you dont really know what you're doing.

Andrea
 
AlexGg said:
Yes, you are! and thank you so much b/c you have gave me some missing additional elements of whole amazing picture! :)
Going forward, can you please put some accent or notes in way below:

I have some opinion to use this kind of headphone with a cardioid microphone especially for the voiceover, b/c normally actors prefer to move around during recording a scene...
What do you think about such stuff: http://www.beyerdynamic.com/com/product/sheets/d697.php3

Another "stone" - Multitrack_Mixer. As I know there are so many types... for my old Brain to understand it :(
I have some one recommended, can you please check this model if it's ok: http://www.dbxpro.com/286A.htm

How about the soundcard? I heard that something like CreativeLab is just for games but not for sound_records. Sorry for such detailed requests...

Regarding the royalty-free music/sound sources, can you please recommend some good companies(links), where is good quality stuff?

Thanks you in advance,
Alex.
Click to expand...

NOTE: Remember if your not always going to use this equipment- Then I would rent it for a day and negotiate a good price in one complete package and you will get better products to use and save a lot of $$ on the longrun. Most film studios here rent everything and never own it and just write it off as an expense on their taxes.

Well for headphone- I use the SONY MDR-7506. Pretty much a standard in the recording industry. about $100USD

Multitrack Mixer I would look into for V/O is a tascamDP-01FX (499.00 USD) or a Fostex MR-8 (299.00USD)- if for only voiceover work. If you already have a analog mixer or digital mixer like a Mackie hooked up to your DAW then you could just run a mike straight into the mixer.... then straight into you computer using a program like wavelab, cubase SX or if using a MAC- Garageband or Logic. Afterall it is only V/0 dialog and not music. As for the DBX I think it is a little over the top for standard V/O work. Unless you plan on using it a lot...a analog or digital mixer would be a lot easier to use. IE Mackie 1604 or Digi 002.


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/241107/
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/240281/


Then as for soundcard: M audio 2496 or better is good. I use a 1010 but I needed multiple tracks to go from my mixer to my soundcard. But there are better like RME brand that is excellent. And if your using protools then you will need Digidesign M-box or Digi 002 that will sync up with your computer.

As for royalty free/or sources there are numerous sites that you can google to and will list various prices. I like BMG since it a good source. But you have to pay. I find that most royalty free music is not as good the ones you do pay. And with your project paying a small amount will really show quality.

http://www.mediabeat.com/#list

http://www.bmgmusicsearch.com/splashpage.asp

http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/index.html
 
the dbx unit is not a multitrack mixer. however, if you are only ever recording one source at a time, then a unit like that probably makes more sense. there are several one-channel preamp/compressor/eq units on the market. people like that dbx one. i use a drawmer mx 60 which i like a lot. it goes into my audiophile 2496 and i'm golden.
 
Hi Andrea,

So apparently, the your way is going to be better way to produce a good sound track for movie...:) thank you for this point.
How you btw avoid a noise?
Baluardo said:
what i did is simply using the dvx100 to record audio (and since it comes for free i would also film the video for reference), with a handheld mic, on a stand, xlr, plugged into the camera. the handheld mic (as well as a lav) virtually frees you from getting rid of the reverb...
Click to expand...
Can you please specify the model you are meaning saying the "handheld mic" ?
Do you use an each mic for each person or splitted them between groups?
The priority in your investments must be a good monitoring system (speakers and/or headphones).
Click to expand...
What do you mean exactly? to control whole sound picture against to the movie?

Ones again, thank you!
 
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