Comments on: Intern Applications – Mute FX Clip

By: tim

tim — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:05:45 +0000

I answered that question here:

http://www.musicofsound.co.nz/blog/gear-for-starting-out-field-recording

By: kristen

kristen — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:55:30 +0000

Great post! I can really hear every sound you describe. In your opinion, what is the most basic field kit that someone right out of college would need?

By: Designing Sound » More than 50 Articles/Tutorials about Sound Design, Recording and more, Plus Wooshes Sound Desing

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:06:11 +0000

[...] Intern Applications – Mute FX Clip [...]

By: jonsfoundsounds

jonsfoundsounds — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:47:01 +0000

This is a great thread. I teach film sound and I struggle with getting students to realize how many opportunities there are for adding sound to their films. Thanks Tim!

By: tim

tim — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:01:46 +0000

In terms of organising tracks, I would spread it across a couple of predubs ie one set of tracks would be primarily impacts (FXA-> 5.1 stem) and another set would be the movement (FXB -> 5.1 stem)

The number of tracks is not a problem, as other moments in the reel will be far more complex so would easily have 32 tracks available for each predub…

In terms of ordering the elements, i think its common sense & you should think about how a mixer will deal with it, working through the material from track 1 first… So you might prioritise it from track 1 = most important elements (& first in time) through to track X which is the more subtle details… Mixers often build up context too, so they listen to track1, set a level etc, then add track 2 (balancing against track 1 ) etc etc…

By: tim

tim — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:51:04 +0000

All the sounds I listed above I would record/edit. I totally agree re foley, we are blessed here in wellington with a very experienced & creative foley team at Park Road Post. I dont attend foley recording myself, but we always have a run through the film discussing it. And when needed I visit to check out surfaces etc early on so we all are in agreement, eg for 30 Days of Night we did a lot of experimenting with various snow surfaces…

I know in the states they often cue foley but I dont feel a need to – I trust both the recordist & artist to deliver full coverage & to provide unique characterful foley…
I also do not mind overlap between FX and foley – the foley editor makes sure we are all in sync & it gives us more options in the mix.

By: borja

borja — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:09:53 +0000

wonderful, I could hear the sounds as I was reading…
any tips on how to keep sounds/ tracks organized? you mentioned that you created a new track for every single sound, that’s at least 7 tracks for this shot alone…

By: Michael Maroussas

Michael Maroussas — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:19:14 +0000

As much as dividing up what will be recorded as opposed to taken from your library is what smaller sounds you take on as an editor / designer or leave to the foley guys (although you’d obviously attend foley sessions too). It’s so important to get a good foley team who take care to get interesting sounds and have ideas to contribute (and a great stock of props or an inclination to get them if they don’t) otherwise you tend to lose trust in the foley and take on almost any detail that warrants any kind of attention in case you’re left with rather limp generic sounds. This can eat into time that may be needed on big action or sound design sequences.
In other words tim – how much of these sounds would you attack as part of your foley session or do as part of your own editing time?

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:03:40 +0000

Nice insight into building and layering effects Tim,

I would be interested in finding out how you handled the rest of the soundtrack, I’ve not seen the finished piece so I am unaware of it’s context and other elements.

How would you handle the atmospheres and/or off screen sounds? would you minimize the rest of the soundtrack to maximize the spot effects or would you still create a strong sense of place with other sounds?

By: Enos Desjardins

Enos Desjardins — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:40:23 +0000

Great stuff! I agree with those assets you’ve pointed out! I have and use ProTools every day but do not have a field recording rig which is my next thing on the list… I also join Jeff in requesting a rant on your field recording rig at some point! ( mixers, recorders,microphones,etc..)

I’d love to buy a Sound Devices recorder like the 788 or 744 but they are so expensive! Maybe a 422 to get the Sound Devices pre’s and then a separate recorder… But I definitely want to get a field recording rig!