Audio Production Processes LO2

Rajiv Ariaraj National Diploma Media

Studio Layout

The design of a sound studio is dependant on what kind of sound the studio is trying to record.

For example, what do you think the differences will be for a studio designed to record a band compared to a orchestra, compared to a voice over's?

Generally speaking every studio will have a “live room” and a “control room”.

A control room is where sound engineers monitor the sound levels and record what is happening in the live room.

Recording Formats

Now that the majority of sound recording is digital, the type of computer formats that we use to edit sound is important.

What kind of file format do you have on your iPod?

Mp3 – is a compressed music format that revolutionised the music industry.

WAV – is an older audio format. It is higher quality than mp3 and used in professional environments but it does take up more computer space.

AIFF - ?

Playback Formats

When listening back to sound, you can have different setups to create different experiences. Particularly for home cinemas.

Surround Sound 5.1 Surround 7.1 Surround Quadraphonic Sound

Phone Lines

In live radio shows, you often have guests phoning in to talk to the presenter.

When a standard telephone line is used to in call in shows, you can hear the sound quality difference.

Usually phone lines will be played to the radio on a delay. This is because if someone swears live, the producer has a few seconds to bleep out the sound BEFORE it reaches the audience.

If a guest is needed for a interview, but cannot make it to the studio, you can also use a ISBN (integrated services digital equipment) for a much higher audio quality.

http://radiofail.wordpress.com/

Sound Effects

When recording for a film or TV programme, sounds often have to be created from nothing. There are two major sound effects processes for film: Sound Design and Foley.

Sound Design is creating sounds for special effects. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A6z8QkVHk4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl7lFPZeIOE

Foley Artists – put sounds to images on screen that the microphone didn’t pick up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwBxNj_0B_Y&feature=related

The Sound Production Process

1. Initiation – Recording live sounds.

2. Editing – Putting in fades, cutting clips, checking sounds levels.

3. Mixing – Adding in other sounds, putting the audio into stereo or surround.

4. Mastering – Synching pictures to sound, preparing it for broadcast.

Other Terms

Dynamic Range – The difference between the loudest and softness parts of a audio clip.

Limiting – A device or option that limits the highest volume on a sound device.

Job Roles

Find and summarise at least 7 job roles that are associated with audio production.

Sources you may find useful:

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm

http://www.amps.net/ Your Booklet This PowerPoint

Your Assignment

Find and Summarise Job Roles

Listen to the podcast on legal issues www.soundcloud.com/radio_feature and summarise the legal issues faced by audio producers.

Summarise and conduct your own research on:

Sound Studio Layout Recording and Playback Formats Phone Lines Sound Effects (give an example of how a fictional sound

was created by a sound designer) The Sound Production Process