Vocal Tracks without Sound Isolation Booths

G

Gorilla King

Well-known member
Are there any ways to do this and maintain the integrity of the sound quality? Reason I ask is because I'll be recording dialogue for an animated film later this summer and more than likely I'll be driving to where certain members of the talent are to record the tracks meaning I wouldn't have an isolated sound booth to work with. Any tips to get the best sound in a situation like this?
 
Bring plenty of sound blankets, and eliminate as much background noise as possible.

If you're recording interior dialogue, you're in luck: as long as you're recording in rooms that are accoustically simmilar to the locations in the film, you can use the room accoustics to your advantage. Plan the session the way you would a production sound shoot, except you have total control over the set.

If you're recording exteriors, however, you have a lot more work ahead of you. You can either deaden the accoustics of a large room with plenty of sound blankets and down comforters, or you can actually record outside in a quiet location.

Whichever route you choose, it will make things much easier if keep your locations consistant. In other words, all the dialogue for a particular script location should be recorded in the same improvised studio. If you record different characters within a scene in different spaces, you'll have a hard time getting them to sound the same.

Try to organise the sessions so that all the actors within a particular scene are on hand during the recording session. Set up a sepperate mic for each actor (try to use the same mic model for everyone in the scene), and allow them to play off one another. Just be sure that you get clean versions of any lines that overlap.

Just onceptualize this as a location shoot without a camera, and remember to roll your minute of room tone for each location.
 
Sound proofing is not that crucial, specially for dialouge. A booth is mainly to avoid any extra noise to make it as easy as posible to mix the tracks. When you speak into the mic, you won't be able to hear much of the background noise. Make sure you don't have the typical appliances making noises, such as a computer or a fridge. And besides, how good of a mic can you have if you don't have a sound proof studio?
 
Thanks for all the tips SMuir. And P.S.T. my microphone won't be top of the line (1000-1,500 range) but still pretty good. I don't have a sound proof studio because I'm still in college (but not studying filmmaking). The fact is that I want to develop good habits for when I DO have the top of the line mics. I want to have the wisdom to use my equipment well even if a given scenario doesn't neccessarily call for me to go that extra mile.
 
Take the money you would be spending on a mic purchase, and spend the money on mic rental. That way, you'll spend less money up-front, and you'll have a selection of mics that better suit the demands of your recording environment(s).

The lack of an available vocal booth need not be a liability. The dry, small-room sound of a vocal booth rarely sounds as natural or transparent as a larger space with appropriate accoustics, since even exterior recordings won't be completely without reverb. You may also find that some actors are more at ease in a non-studio environment.

Just pay close attention to the sound of a space, and have as many blankets and makeshift baffles as you can get your hands on.

Bring along some extra reading lamps, and make sure that they are absolutely silent. Some lighting fixtures (especially flourescents or dimmer switches) will whine or buzz, and you may have to switch them off in favour of your own smaller reading lamps. If you're recording to a computer, bring enough cables to isolate the computer fan noise from the recording space. If you bring enough XLR, USB, and VGA cables you can setup the monitor, keyboard, and mouse in the recording room while the computer hums away in another room altogether (just be sure the monitor isn't buzzing or whining). Also remember to bring headphones for everyone, including yourself. the talent, the director and producer(s). Don't forget extra scripts, music stands, mic stands, and even grip stands (or anything else that'll hold up the blankets).
 
Well the majority of the film takes place outside in wide open spaces. It actually takes place in and around Egypt in the 15th century BC. Should I then be recording in the most isolated and quiet outdoor environment I can find?
 
15th century Egypt, eh? In that case, you really have your work cut out for you.

You may be unable to record outside altogether. Beyond obvious anachronistic noises (cars, planes, lawnmowers), your tracks can be spoiled by any wildlife (birds, insects, etc.) that is not found in an Egyptian environment. Unless you can take your actors to an open desert area, you're probably better off working inside. Scout locations ahead of time.

When treating a room for exteriors, try to select a room without a low ceiling. Cover the walls (and ceiling, if you can) as much as possible with absorbing material (blankets, drapery, pillows), and make sure the floor is carpetted. You can also further break up reflections by setting up blankets as free-standing baffles in the room. Avoid very small rooms, because when you blanket-up a small room, you'll hear the smallness of the room from the muted reverb off the blankets. You won't be able to achieve a completely dry sound (blankets do not work as well as specially engineered accoustic foam), but you should be able to dampen the accoustics enough to make a passable exterior space.

Try to record exteriors first, since it doesn't take very long to pull down some of the blankets to liven up the room for interiors. In addition to a mic for every actor, you may want to add a cardiod (or even omni) mic on a sepperate track for a longer perspective. Mixing in a bit of that perspective mic will give you much more variety in you perspectives, without having to rely on reverb proccessing.

Beware extremely loud sounds (screams, shouts) because they will tend to cut through the blankets and sound reverby.

This kind of improvised studio space can take a handful of people several hours to set up, so try to get all the dialogue recorded before you break it down. Also, be sure to get plenty of alternate reads so you won't have to bring anyone back for re-shoots.

Once you get a room tricked out to your liking, you may want to record some wild foley before breaking down your setup.
 
I am gonna suggest you abandon this idea of recording at various locations. If you are trying to re-create outdoors (and 3500 years ago) you really need a well treated room and that will range from time consuming to impossible to set-up at different people's homes.

There are a number of portable sound booths you can buy or even make yourself. http://www.whisperroom.com/ but with parrallel walls even these solutions are not 100%.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0070213828/

Great book for building your own studio. There are also lots of websites that give tips to building your own studio.

Good luck
 
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