Audio for feature film: Where do I start? at DVinfo.net

Greg Williams · December 29th, 2008, 06:46 PM

I have no clue of what mic to use for my feature film. I have been shooting music videos for years, so I never used any special audio equipment. If anyone has any tips, please fill me in.

Rick Reineke · December 29th, 2008, 07:08 PM

Hire a pro sound person. This will more than likely save you money in the long run. Fixing poorly recorded audio in post is costly.. and at best, "polishing a turd" . ADR is very costly too, and talent generally dislikes doing that too.

John McClain · December 29th, 2008, 07:18 PM

Mics are to sound guys like lenses are to film guys, one mic is not necessarily going to do it all. If you are a video/film guy then hire a pro sound guy, Rick's advice is spot on. No disrespect intended but a person who knows video or film doing the sound themselves is akin to that person hiring a sound guy to shoot the images. John.

Chris Swanberg · December 29th, 2008, 07:20 PM

To start please don't take offense at my answer.

You say you have done music videos - which suggests you have acquired camera and editing skills, in fact probably some pretty darn good editing skills, to enable you to lip synch multiple clips to a pre-existing sound-track. That's all well and good.

Sound, especially for a feature, is not as simple as "which mic" type of questions or responses. It is which mic for which location, which actor etc, and then what boom pole or poles, what wind protection might I need, what field mixer should I use, what earphones to monitor with, what recorder or am I going to use a camera with a rotten compression scheme <g>etc. So.. A single mic for the entire shebang? Hmmm. Can be done but would be better to tailor the mics to the needs at hand - meaning unlikely just one.

The percentage attributed to sound as an overall part of a movie varies depending on who states it but the usual range attributed to sound is 50-60% of the audience experience in a movie. Don't shortchange your efforts with poor audio.

What I am saying is that your question suggests a lack of real understanding about location audio. The cost of proper equipment (let alone learning how to use it) would more than pay for a pro sound guy in all liklihood... and then you are working with a good sound bed on which to build the rest of the audio for your feature.

PS. You might further check out the FAQ's in the sticky section at the top. It has a lot more info for you to digest along the lines of equipment.

Greg Williams · December 29th, 2008, 09:20 PM

Thank you all for your advice. I think I will go with the "finding a good sound guy" idea. lol

Chris Hanyok · December 30th, 2008, 10:50 AM

Yeah, hiring is the best route. I am currently working on my first feature, for free naturally as the budget is ultra-low, and can share some of my experiences either for entertainment purposes or as lessons that I've learned.

John Willett · December 30th, 2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Williams

Thank you all for your advice. I think I will go with the "finding a good sound guy" idea. lol

Definitely the best option - you won't get any change from £20,000 for a decent sound kit for a feature film - and then you kave to have the knowledge to use it properly.

And the same sort of answer would be given to someone asking "I want to shoot a feature film, what camera should I use?" ;-)

Greg Williams · December 30th, 2008, 11:14 PM

I may save time and money using this route. While at the same time
getting a better product. Because now I can invest more time
with the video.

December 29th, 2008, 06:46 PM	#1
Greg Williams New Boot Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta USA Posts: 12	Audio for feature film: Where do I start? I have no clue of what mic to use for my feature film. I have been shooting music videos for years, so I never used any special audio equipment. If anyone has any tips, please fill me in.

December 29th, 2008, 07:18 PM	#3
John McClain Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV USA Posts: 39	Mics are to sound guys like lenses are to film guys, one mic is not necessarily going to do it all. If you are a video/film guy then hire a pro sound guy, Rick's advice is spot on. No disrespect intended but a person who knows video or film doing the sound themselves is akin to that person hiring a sound guy to shoot the images. John. __________________ The Dog and Pony Show. Sound Design, Mixing, Composing. www.dogandponystudios.net

December 29th, 2008, 07:08 PM	#2
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,038	Hire a pro sound person. This will more than likely save you money in the long run. Fixing poorly recorded audio in post is costly.. and at best, "polishing a turd" . ADR is very costly too, and talent generally dislikes doing that too.

December 29th, 2008, 07:20 PM	#4
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	To start please don't take offense at my answer. You say you have done music videos - which suggests you have acquired camera and editing skills, in fact probably some pretty darn good editing skills, to enable you to lip synch multiple clips to a pre-existing sound-track. That's all well and good. Sound, especially for a feature, is not as simple as "which mic" type of questions or responses. It is which mic for which location, which actor etc, and then what boom pole or poles, what wind protection might I need, what field mixer should I use, what earphones to monitor with, what recorder or am I going to use a camera with a rotten compression scheme <g>etc. So.. A single mic for the entire shebang? Hmmm. Can be done but would be better to tailor the mics to the needs at hand - meaning unlikely just one. The percentage attributed to sound as an overall part of a movie varies depending on who states it but the usual range attributed to sound is 50-60% of the audience experience in a movie. Don't shortchange your efforts with poor audio. What I am saying is that your question suggests a lack of real understanding about location audio. The cost of proper equipment (let alone learning how to use it) would more than pay for a pro sound guy in all liklihood... and then you are working with a good sound bed on which to build the rest of the audio for your feature. PS. You might further check out the FAQ's in the sticky section at the top. It has a lot more info for you to digest along the lines of equipment.

December 29th, 2008, 09:20 PM	#5
Greg Williams New Boot Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta USA Posts: 12	Thank you all for your advice. I think I will go with the "finding a good sound guy" idea. lol

December 30th, 2008, 10:50 AM	#6
Chris Hanyok New Boot Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 23	Yeah, hiring is the best route. I am currently working on my first feature, for free naturally as the budget is ultra-low, and can share some of my experiences either for entertainment purposes or as lessons that I've learned.

December 30th, 2008, 11:14 PM	#8
Greg Williams New Boot Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta USA Posts: 12	I may save time and money using this route. While at the same time getting a better product. Because now I can invest more time with the video.