Sometimes selling the story isn't about how cool that weapon sounds, how intimidating the monster vocal is, or how eerie the wind feels. Sometimes, the sounds that are needed most are those tiny little touches we take for granted. Getting just the right footfall, the rattle of keys as they're shoved into a pocket, or the gentle rustle of fabric that comes with the turn of a … [Read more...]
The Dialog Re-Assign Workflow
My first exposure to noise reduction processing was with Waves X-Noise, working clip-by-clip, finding a snippet of noise in the clear, setting the noise profile, then processing the clip before moving to the next one. This offline processing method, while effective, would end up taking a lot of time, especially on long-form projects. Similarly, if you had a processed clip that … [Read more...]
Kinokophone – Art & Field Recording
Kinokophone is an art collective with sound at it's heart, producing interesting and unique sound installations and listening experiences. Both Amanda Belantara and Jon Tipler were kind enough to spare some time to talk about their work currently taking place on both sides of the Atlantic. … [Read more...]
Templates and Work-flow
Another month come and gone! Time to move to start shifting to our next subject. If you're anything like me, or that little Lego Man in the image above, the blank canvas can sometimes be a little intimidating. I've found that often the hardest things is simply figuring out where to begin. Maybe that's not the case for you. Maybe you've always got a perfectly clear idea of where … [Read more...]
Considerations for Creative Field Recording
On developing your ear... I purchased my first field recorder in 2010. Ever since it’s become a vital tool in my sound design process. As a result, I now hear the world in a completely different context. I hear a palette of colors, textures, and techniques with which I can capture many weird and wonderful things. Sometimes I record for the sheer joy of it, out of … [Read more...]
Happy Accidents: Embracing the Unexpected
Allow me to share a story with you: It was the weekend before the holiday break. Our horror film shoot had been going on for a few days, and as was typical of December at the base of Cape Cod, the weather was frigid and rapidly getting worse. With reports of an approaching winter storm, we frantically worked in the freezing cold to finish our exterior shots as quickly as … [Read more...]
Field Recording and Music
Guest Contribution by Dan Lyth The story of the 'bedroom producer' recording music at home has been told often and I myself have happily been that character for many years. But recently, a love of field recording (and my day job as a sound designer) tempted me towards doing something a bit different. What would it be like to leave the studio and record an entire album … [Read more...]