What should I do here? (Traffic in a room)

[rahulvictor]

Here's the short I'm working on: http://youtu.be/7diUZIe_05Y

In the first minute or so, you can obviously hear the traffic but it's leveled way too high. I'm wondering what people would suggest doing in this situation to mimic a noisy apartment (other than just bringing the levels down)? A particular audio effect I can leverage in FCP?

If anyone's bored enough to point out other audio issues with the clip in general I'd be curious to hear...

 

[GaryNattrass]

Its not just levelled too high but it sounds like it is in the room, you need to make it less distinct with a low pass filter (decrease the HF EQ content) or use/record some traffic that has been recorded in a room.

Personally I have traffic tracks that are for use outside and others that are for indoor use with the right perspective, I also have all sorts of room tones that can define a location.

It is better once the dialogue starts though.

For me the fone vibrate is way too high and sounds unreal as you can't hear any of the ring tone, also a stereo room buzz would add some depth to the location and make us realise that we are in an apartment, distant noises such as birds or sirens can add depth too or even the sound of distant music.

It's up to you but you can build up a picture of the location with the sound effects that you add, it may be that you remove all the traffic and create something a lot more interesting to place the scene where you wish it to be.

Have a listen to this scene from a UK cop show I dubbed a few years ago, the only sound I had to start with was the mono dialogue, all the stereo sound space and effects were added in the dub: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSgs4fcFa4E&feature=related

 

[rahulvictor]

Its not just levelled too high but it sounds like it is in the room, you need to make it less distinct with a low pass filter (decrease the HF EQ content) or use/record some traffic that has been recorded in a room.

Personally I have traffic tracks that are for use outside and others that are for indoor use with the right perspective, I also have all sorts of room tones that can define a location.

It is better once the dialogue starts though.

For me the fone vibrate is way too high and sounds unreal as you can't hear any of the ring tone, also a stereo room buzz would add some depth to the location and make us realise that we are in an apartment, distant noises such as birds or sirens can add depth too or even the sound of distant music.

It's up to you but you can build up a picture of the location with the sound effects that you add, it may be that you remove all the traffic and create something a lot more interesting to place the scene where you wish it to be.

Have a listen to this scene from a UK cop show I dubbed a few years ago, the only sound I had to start with was the mono dialogue, all the stereo sound space and effects were added in the dub: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSgs4fcFa4E&feature=related

Ah okay that makes a lot of sense, just deaden the noise instead. Thanks for the heads up.

Very nice work on the audio for the show as well. I can see how you built up the location via sound.