Drowning Out the Teacher at DVinfo.net

Dave Frank · December 24th, 2004, 05:48 PM

I have a scene I am finishing the audio on and I am trying to figure out the best way to achieve a certain audio effect. The scene is in a classroom and two students are having a conversation in the back of the class as the teacher is still talking. What should I do to the audio track of the teacher speaking to make sure it doesn't compete with the students talking? I'm guessing maybe something like a low-pass filter might help it sound drowned out. But I am not sure. Any ideas?

Douglas Spotted Eagle · December 24th, 2004, 05:52 PM

Do you have the tracks of the students recorded separate from the teacher?
If so, it's an easy matter to dull down the EQ of the teacher's voice, leaving the student voices articulate.
If not, it's gonna be a challenge, if all 3 voices are on 2 or 1 track.

Dennis Liu · December 24th, 2004, 06:54 PM

Why not just have it so that the teacher is out of focus or out of frame (so that you can't see his/her mouth), then record her dialogue in the same room later, put it on as another track in your editing program. Then you can do whatever you want.

Dennis

Dave Frank · December 29th, 2004, 01:07 AM

I recorded them separately. It would be insanity to do otherwise. I guess I will just EQ it.

Jay Massengill · December 29th, 2004, 09:51 AM

Yes, I would experiment with EQ first.
A wide dip between 2khz and 2.5khz will substantially dull the teacher's voice. Roll-off the highs considerably. Using a low-pass may be too dramatic but you should experiment to find out if it's workable. A lot will depend on the range of settings available in your particular filters.
Set your volume appropriately after EQ to achieve the balance between tracks and it should be achievable.
You can also try reverb on the teacher but use a much higher percentage of the wet signal and very little of the direct sound. This will make it sound muffled and distant. If you take it to the extreme, it will sound like the teacher is outside the room.
Use moderation, if you've shot the visuals effectively it won't take much to convey the idea without the audio effect becoming too obvious.

Ty Ford · January 1st, 2005, 07:25 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Dave Frank : I have a scene I am finishing the audio on and I am trying to figure out the best way to achieve a certain audio effect. The scene is in a classroom and two students are having a conversation in the back of the class as the teacher is still talking. What should I do to the audio track of the teacher speaking to make sure it doesn't compete with the students talking? I'm guessing maybe something like a low-pass filter might help it sound drowned out. But I am not sure. Any ideas? -->>>

Only mic the students.

Smiles,

Ty Ford

Ian Corey · January 1st, 2005, 09:50 PM

If you've got a good digital environment to do post-production sound, I'd suggest applying one of the above mentioned EQ curves and then side chaining a compressor to the teacher's dialog to do some automated dipping on her vocals whenever one of the onscreen subjects is talking. This is the easiest way to have the teacher's voice rise slightly back into focus whenever there is a sizable pause in the (as they called it in my school days) "socializing".
I'll post more about this if I notice your interest.

Best of luck, Dave.

December 24th, 2004, 05:48 PM	#1
Dave Frank Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 244	Drowning Out the Teacher I have a scene I am finishing the audio on and I am trying to figure out the best way to achieve a certain audio effect. The scene is in a classroom and two students are having a conversation in the back of the class as the teacher is still talking. What should I do to the audio track of the teacher speaking to make sure it doesn't compete with the students talking? I'm guessing maybe something like a low-pass filter might help it sound drowned out. But I am not sure. Any ideas? __________________ http://www.sleeptightmovie.com

December 24th, 2004, 05:52 PM	#2
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Do you have the tracks of the students recorded separate from the teacher? If so, it's an easy matter to dull down the EQ of the teacher's voice, leaving the student voices articulate. If not, it's gonna be a challenge, if all 3 voices are on 2 or 1 track. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

December 29th, 2004, 01:07 AM	#4
Dave Frank Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 244	I recorded them separately. It would be insanity to do otherwise. I guess I will just EQ it. __________________ http://www.sleeptightmovie.com

January 1st, 2005, 07:25 AM	#6
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Re: Drowning Out the Teacher <<<-- Originally posted by Dave Frank : I have a scene I am finishing the audio on and I am trying to figure out the best way to achieve a certain audio effect. The scene is in a classroom and two students are having a conversation in the back of the class as the teacher is still talking. What should I do to the audio track of the teacher speaking to make sure it doesn't compete with the students talking? I'm guessing maybe something like a low-pass filter might help it sound drowned out. But I am not sure. Any ideas? -->>> Only mic the students. Smiles, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

December 24th, 2004, 06:54 PM	#3
Dennis Liu Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 136	Why not just have it so that the teacher is out of focus or out of frame (so that you can't see his/her mouth), then record her dialogue in the same room later, put it on as another track in your editing program. Then you can do whatever you want. Dennis

December 29th, 2004, 09:51 AM	#5
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Yes, I would experiment with EQ first. A wide dip between 2khz and 2.5khz will substantially dull the teacher's voice. Roll-off the highs considerably. Using a low-pass may be too dramatic but you should experiment to find out if it's workable. A lot will depend on the range of settings available in your particular filters. Set your volume appropriately after EQ to achieve the balance between tracks and it should be achievable. You can also try reverb on the teacher but use a much higher percentage of the wet signal and very little of the direct sound. This will make it sound muffled and distant. If you take it to the extreme, it will sound like the teacher is outside the room. Use moderation, if you've shot the visuals effectively it won't take much to convey the idea without the audio effect becoming too obvious.

January 1st, 2005, 09:50 PM	#7
Ian Corey Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 45	If you've got a good digital environment to do post-production sound, I'd suggest applying one of the above mentioned EQ curves and then side chaining a compressor to the teacher's dialog to do some automated dipping on her vocals whenever one of the onscreen subjects is talking. This is the easiest way to have the teacher's voice rise slightly back into focus whenever there is a sizable pause in the (as they called it in my school days) "socializing". I'll post more about this if I notice your interest. Best of luck, Dave.