Recording yells in a small reverberant room at DVinfo.net

Emre Safak · October 15th, 2006, 08:54 PM

I was recently shooting a scene involving four people raising their voices in a small living room (50m^2) with hardwood floors. At the climax of the scene I had trouble keeping the volume under control. My sound mixer (who is not an expert on these issues) said there were lots of echos. I assume the ideal solution would be to have the walls and floors padded. Since this was not an option, I asked the actors to be more quiet and moved the mic as far away as possible for the loud sections. I only have one mic: an AT4073a, but if I had more, what kind of a mic could I have supported it with to get better sound? All the actors were sitting around a table.

Jarrod Whaley · October 15th, 2006, 09:19 PM

I'd bet a hyper would probably work out better in this situation.

Ty Ford · October 16th, 2006, 06:57 AM

1. Direct the talent to act with expression rather than volume.
2. Use a mixer with a good limiter
3. Use a hyper or super cardioid mic and not a shotgun.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Allan Black · October 17th, 2006, 05:21 AM

Hard to ask the actors to cool it, they'd use the sound of the room to assist their loud delivery, timing and to balance themselves.

But I agree you need the right tools for a scene like that and you have to keep the mic. reasonably close otherwise in a reverberant room you'll just lose the actors diction.
Your sound recorder needs a good pair of cans and be stationed far enough away to hear the dialogue clearly without leak from the set. Play every OK take back to check it carefully before moving on.

Ty Ford · October 17th, 2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan Black

Hard to ask the actors to cool it, they'd use the sound of the room to assist their loud delivery, timing and to balance themselves.

Only ones with too much live theater and not enough video and film experience. They have to learn it some where.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Guy Cochran · October 17th, 2006, 11:41 AM

Some moving blankets hung around the room will help absorb some of the echo. Worked wonders around here with our hardwoods and bare walls

http://search.ebay.com/search/search...oving+blankets

October 15th, 2006, 08:54 PM	#1
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Recording yells in a small reverberant room I was recently shooting a scene involving four people raising their voices in a small living room (50m^2) with hardwood floors. At the climax of the scene I had trouble keeping the volume under control. My sound mixer (who is not an expert on these issues) said there were lots of echos. I assume the ideal solution would be to have the walls and floors padded. Since this was not an option, I asked the actors to be more quiet and moved the mic as far away as possible for the loud sections. I only have one mic: an AT4073a, but if I had more, what kind of a mic could I have supported it with to get better sound? All the actors were sitting around a table.

October 15th, 2006, 09:19 PM	#2
Jarrod Whaley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: chattanooga, tn Posts: 721	I'd bet a hyper would probably work out better in this situation. __________________ -->jarrod whaley. www.oakstreetfilms.com

October 16th, 2006, 06:57 AM	#3
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	1. Direct the talent to act with expression rather than volume. 2. Use a mixer with a good limiter 3. Use a hyper or super cardioid mic and not a shotgun. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

October 17th, 2006, 11:41 AM	#6
Guy Cochran DVCreators.Net Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 892	Some moving blankets hung around the room will help absorb some of the echo. Worked wonders around here with our hardwoods and bare walls http://search.ebay.com/search/search...oving+blankets __________________ Guy Cochran DVinfo Sponsor, Cool Gear - DVeStore!

October 17th, 2006, 05:21 AM	#4
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Hard to ask the actors to cool it, they'd use the sound of the room to assist their loud delivery, timing and to balance themselves. But I agree you need the right tools for a scene like that and you have to keep the mic. reasonably close otherwise in a reverberant room you'll just lose the actors diction. Your sound recorder needs a good pair of cans and be stationed far enough away to hear the dialogue clearly without leak from the set. Play every OK take back to check it carefully before moving on.