Sound Production Tools

  • Microphones

    Microphones are often distinguished by pickup patterns. Pickup patterns refer to how sound enters the microphone. A mic can recieve sound via: Unidirectional vs. omni-directional vs. bidirectional vs. shotgun or highly directional microphones

    Types of Microphones: Mics are oftne distinguished by their size, shape and handling:

    Shot Gun Microphones- these are unidirectional misc that can pick up sound from a distance of up to 9 feet. Shot guns are the preferred mic for boom poles because they can focus on one person in a crowded environment and isolate the sound coming from that person.

    Boom pole - is a shotgun microphone that is being held above and in front of person speaking by the boom operator. When the mic drops in the shot you'll often hear the director or camera operator yell, "Boom In Shot!""

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    Lavaliere mic - are unidirectional mics that are placed on an actor's chest and connected to camera, tape recorder or radio transmitter.

     

    Hand Held microphones- are unidirectional mics that are held by a perfomer.

     

  • Method of recording
    • Sound on film, sound on disk, 1/4# magnetic tape or other, analog or digital
    • Sound recorded live during principal photography is not wedded to the image and has to be re-linked during post-production
    • Angle - lines recorded from different camera - hence, microphone - angle
    • XLR connectors- Male Vs. Female-
  • Time of recording
    • Production sound - sound recorded at time and place of shooting
    • Synchronous Sound- Is sound that was recorded during production.
    • Non-synchronous Sound- Is sound that was added after production.
    • MOS - shot silently, "mit out sound"
    • ADR (Automatic Dialog Replacement) or looping - rerecording lost or unsalvageable dialogue as a substitute for recording dialogue on location