Priorities of Recording

Objectives of the Production Mixer

1. Get usable DIALOGUE

Any way that you can… Crisp, clean for the editor to use Or as good as possible for ADR / “looping” Dialogue is your Number One Priority!

Everything else can be created in Post if necessary.

2. Control Perspective

Audio should match camera point-of-view Intimate = pure voice, less background Wide = voice + background ambiance

Beware Perspective mismatch

Front to back. Side to side. Plant mic vs. primary mic

3. SYNC Sound Effects

Never risk the dialogue for sound effects Be careful about overlaps. SFX are okay

before, after, or in between dialog. ASK the Director to have talent time their

actions in between lines, not during them. Might be temp effects for rough cut, to be

replaced later

4. Wild Lines

Hidden or distant faces. If you cannot read the lips, then sync does not matter. Cheat long shots with dialogue from CU’s

Off-camera lines. Protection tracks. Coverage for looping.

Coverage for profanity or recognizable names, trademarks, etc.

5. Wild Sound Effects

Background tracks Non-sync or easy to sync effects Unique sounds not readily available from

SFX Libraries

6. Ambiance or Room Tone

Used to patch holes in the edited soundtrack Must match the scene precisely. Same

background sounds, same volume. Use same mic, same settings as dialogue Record with actors, crew, and lighting – same

as during scene Fred’s Hint: First take of scene per location Add a few seconds of pre-roll and end-roll

REVIEW of Priorites

Dialogue. Perspective. Sync sound effects. Wild Lines. Wild Sound Effects. Ambiance or Room Tone.