ABSTRACT
If you record narration ‘to picture’ you will record when the final edited version of the picture has been finalised and the other soundtracks have been prepared. You should record before you mix the other tracks together, making the commentary recording on a reel of new stock. The commentator can sit in a soundproof commentary compartment in the dubbing theatre. This time he can see the edited version of the film projected on a screen in front of him and he will have to read at exactly the right places. You can cue him for speaking by using a cue light and by listing the footages of the film alongside the paragraphs of his script. There is always a film footage counter under the screen in a dubbing theatre. This method of recording during a dub is widely used. It is a great time saver and, if the commentary writer is used to writing the correct number of words for a set period of time, there should not be any problem. For optimum accuracy it is best to pre-record and edit.
