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Home: Video University Forums: Filmmakers & Screenwriters:
Alternative Sound Methods

X-Brian
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Jun 8, 2004, 6:00 PM

Post #1 of 7 (1574 views)
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Alternative Sound Methods	Can't Post

I was wondering how to get a better sound for my film by using more then just the mic on my camera. I need shots from a distance, and I don't want the fog and the other sounds to clutter up. I also don't want my people to have to shout just so I can hear them. Any suggestions?
I know I can take the sound I don't want out with software on the computer, but I just want to know if there are inexpensive methods to getting pure sound from a distance or just in general. Thanks.

X-jim_colman
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Jun 8, 2004, 6:15 PM

Post #2 of 7 (1573 views)
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Re: Alternative Sound Methods	Can't Post

: I was wondering how to get a better sound for my film by using more then just the
mic on my camera. I need shots from a distance, and I don't want the fog and the
other sounds to clutter up. I also don't want my people to have to shout just so I can
hear them. Any suggestions?
: I know I can take the sound I don't want out with software on the computer, but I
just want to know if there are inexpensive methods to getting pure sound from a
distance or just in general. Thanks.
Rent wireless mics. You can then place them on your talent (hidden in clothing) and
get crystal clear audio from any distance. You should also rent a portable mixer as
well. Finally, hire someone who knows audio production to run it for you. You
should be able to rent a couple wireless mics, a mixer and a soundguy for about
$500 a day.
If this is too steep for your budget, you can always "loop" your audio, that is have
the talent re-record their voices in the studio (a quiet room in your house) while
watching and listening to a playback of the original scene.
Jim

X-Brian
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Jun 10, 2004, 6:05 PM

Post #3 of 7 (1573 views)
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CHEAP Alternative Sound Methods [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Jim.
$500 is a bit steep for me, expecially on a day to day basis.
This is my first flick, and I want to get my hands wet in filmmakeing as I am still in high school and look to make a career in film, so, I want to make a good piece, yet focus more on the story and character development, and not have the audience focus on the mistakes of an amature. I have access to mics that you would see a speaker use, the ones that just attach to the person on their shirt or something, otherwise, I am shot for ideas. I was wondering if there was any cheaper alternatives, like a large mic that I can use to cover a large area so all the people talking will be heard evenly. Know what I mean?
As I said, this is my first flick, and I want to focus on it and do a great job by eliminating amature mistakes and make it seem like a more professional film. Thanks so much. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks again.
Brian.

X-jim_colman
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Jun 11, 2004, 7:05 PM

Post #4 of 7 (1573 views)
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Re: CHEAP Alternative Sound Methods [In reply to]	Can't Post

: Thanks Jim.
: $500 is a bit steep for me, expecially on a day to day basis.
: This is my first flick, and I want to get my hands wet in filmmakeing as I am still in
high school and look to make a career in film, so, I want to make a good piece, yet
focus more on the story and character development, and not have the audience
focus on the mistakes of an amature. I have access to mics that you would see a
speaker use, the ones that just attach to the person on their shirt or something,
otherwise, I am shot for ideas. I was wondering if there was any cheaper
alternatives, like a large mic that I can use to cover a large area so all the people
talking will be heard evenly. Know what I mean?
: As I said, this is my first flick, and I want to focus on it and do a great job by
eliminating amature mistakes and make it seem like a more professional film.
Thanks so much. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks again.
: Brian.
I hear ya Brian. I was in your shoes myself a long time ago.
There isn't a cheap mic that will do what you want. There are good mics that you
can attach to a fishpole and capture audio from a ways away, but they're not cheap.
The mics you have acces to are laviliers and will work fine, except that you still need
a mixer (and audio person) if you're using more than one mic (two if you have duel
mic inputs on your camera) The other problem with lav's is that they're hard wired
and you have to hide the wires.
I suggest that you shoot your scenes all in close ups and medium shots first, then
back the camera up and shoot your wide shots. Take the audio from the close ups
(which your camera mic should pick up) and sync it up to your wide shot. You'll be
able to stay in sync (assuming your talent is half-way decent) long enough that the
audience won't notice anything unusual. Don't linger too long on the wide shots
and you'll be fine. Besides, creating a scene with editing is often more effective than
staying on a long wide shot.
Jim

X-Brian
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Jun 12, 2004, 7:41 PM

Post #5 of 7 (1573 views)
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Re: CHEAP Alternative Sound Methods [In reply to]	Can't Post

Excellent advice as always Jim, I appreciate it. I have a guy who could potential take care of sound, but I need to talk to him and define his role a bit. What exactly would a mixer and audio person be doing? Any kind of shortcuts that I can take but still keep it professional.
Great thinking about the shots far and close away, never thought of looping the sound like that. For a while, until I have better means of sound managment, this is a primary means of shooting. Thanks.

X-jim_colman
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Jun 12, 2004, 11:17 PM

Post #6 of 7 (1573 views)
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Re: CHEAP Alternative Sound Methods [In reply to]	Can't Post

: Excellent advice as always Jim, I appreciate it. I have a guy who could potential take
care of sound, but I need to talk to him and define his role a bit. What exactly would
a mixer and audio person be doing? Any kind of shortcuts that I can take but still
keep it professional.
Brian,
A soundman (or woman) is responsible for getting good audio. Typically, they
would set and operate the mics and adjust the mixer so that the signal is the proper
level for usuable recording. Often, on a small production, you'll see the audio
person operating the boom mic while wearing the mixer around their neck. This
works but it doesn't leave the audio person free to adjust the levels during the take.
This is one reason I like to use wireless mics. You don't have a boom mic to worry
about. With a boom mic you have the problem of mic shadows or the boom getting
to low in the frame and ruining a take. On a bigger shoot, you'd have several audio
people, usually consisting of a boom operator or two, cable pullers and a mixer.
There are circumstances where recording a usuable audio track is impossible. For
example, when shooting around loud machiney, airports, traffic etc. In these cases,
the director will usually opt to "loop" the audio in the studio. That is, he'll have the
talent listen to the audio that was recorded in the field while repeating the dialog
until it syncs up with the picture.

X-Brian
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Jun 13, 2004, 9:18 PM

Post #7 of 7 (1573 views)
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Re: CHEAP Alternative Sound Methods [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sounds good. Like I said, I may have a friend to take care of that, but, if push comes to shove, is it possible to teach it to myself? Any kind of shortcuts or whatnot that I could use in order to do something like that, but its a bit easier, but still brings out similar outcomes? Thanks, I do appreciate it.