Image from Creative Field Recording In this article, Paul Virostek gives an overview of the challenges which field recordists face while recording quiet outdoor spaces and how he deals with "the threat of noise." [It] is the more subtle atmospheres that prompt one of the most perplexing questions of the craft: how can you record quiet wilderness sounds? Read the full article … [Read more...]
Interview: Dan Olmsted on the Saul Zaentz Film Center and Fantasy Studios
With the announced closure of Fantasy Studios on September 18, 2018, I thought it would be fitting to talk to someone who was there at the time of it being a film center. I tracked down Dan Olmsted, who worked at the Saul Zaentz Film Center on films such as The English Patient, Amadeus, Boogie Nights, K-19: The Widowmaker, and Fern Gully 2. Dan still works in the Zaentz Media … [Read more...]
Making a Plasma Gun from a Beer Can
Designing sounds for really large or complex objects can be really intimidating especially for younger sound designers and those with limited access to sound libraries. I’ll be showing you how I go about breaking down complex sounds into simple little sounds that we can easily access with household objects, and then we will build our complex sound using these techniques. This … [Read more...]
Sigi Klar: The Audio Mentoring Project
Though 'Mentorship' was last month's theme, we saw the following post on Sigi Klar's blog and asked for his permission to post it here, which he happily permitted. Last year I was lucky enough to be accepted into the Audio Mentoring Project (click here for details) and I undertook a very enriching mentorship that helped me grow a lot as a Sound Designer. What is the AMP … [Read more...]
Recording Fluids: Foley Magic
Some of the most challenging, rewarding, and fun sounds to record are those within the vast spectrum of fluids. Wet, sticky, viscous, mushy; the tactful use of fluid sounds can reinforce the realism and impact of a scene, or just be the punchline of a joke. In order to effectively communicate an idea to an audience, there are a few challenges in recording fluids to … [Read more...]
Audio Mentoring Stories: Leonard Paul and Rachel Dziezynski
Leonard Paul, MSc (Director of the School of Video Game Audio) and Rachel Dziezynski (Audio Coordinator at Riot Games) were matched as mentor and mentee through the Audio Mentoring Project last year. They had such a great time with the mentorship that they wanted to share their experiences - so without further ado, here's Leonard and Rachel: Adriane Kuzminski: Why did you … [Read more...]
Interview with Robert Dudzic
I recently had the privilege to speak with Robert Dudzic and, during the course of our casual discussion, we touched on topics such as his thoughts on the creative process, how to gain access to sites and the power of inspiration. What was your motivation for creating How I use What I use? Everything happened around 2 years ago. A friend of mine had a brother in film … [Read more...]