ABSTRACT

This book covers everything you need to know to master the fundamentals of location sound recording and postproduction sound in a comprehensive one-stop guide.

This user-friendly book provides real world situations to analyze the many kinds of location recording configurations and postproduction scenarios and offers easy-to-adopt, budget-conscious solutions to some of the most common issues that arise when working with sound. Chapters cover the theory of sound, preproduction with a sound emphasis, microphone selection, testing equipment, how to boom and mix on set, synchronization and time code, and editing sound while doing a picture cut in a traditional picture software platform. Additionally, the book discusses bringing a project into a Digital Audio Workstation and explores basic sound design, dialogue editing, Automated Dialogue Replacement, Foley, sound effects, music for film, re-recording the final mix, and outputting sound to finish a project. Accompanying examples allow readers the opportunity to try out the various techniques and drills on location, in postproduction, or both.

Aimed at students, early career and independent filmmakers, as well as those considering a vocation in location and postproduction sound, Location and Postproduction Sound for Low-Budget Filmmakers makes achieving great sound attainable for all, and is an invaluable tool for anyone wanting to better understand the art of film sound.

chapter 1|7 pages

The modern filmmaker

chapter 2|7 pages

Tech concepts you need to understand

chapter 3|7 pages

Location sound recording

The basics

chapter 4|10 pages

Location recording microphone basics

chapter 6|8 pages

Train your ears … learn your gear

Test your devices all the way through to your final intended output

chapter 7|11 pages

Location sound recording

Preparing for the shoot

chapter 8|12 pages

Booming and mixing techniques

chapter 10|9 pages

Location sound recording in practice

Specimen film – Turn Back Night

chapter 11|6 pages

Sound postproduction

An introduction to sound editing

chapter 15|30 pages

Basic sound design project structure

chapter 17|7 pages

Automated Dialogue Replacement

Sound editing that requires looping or “comping”

chapter 18|4 pages

To Foley or not to Foley …

chapter 19|9 pages

It’s all for effect

An overview on the creation, uses, abuses, and editing of sound effects in film

chapter 20|8 pages

Music – Getting it right and left

chapter 21|10 pages

Putting it all together

Sample sound edit/mix

chapter |1 pages

End note