Audio Statement
The scene I have selected to replace the audio of is Star Trek (2009) – Romulan Vessel Infiltration Scene.
I have selected this scene because I want to research and experiment to recreate the following sound effects: Phaser, transporter, I want to recreate these using Foley rather than just use all pre-recorded sound effects because I want to experiment with techniques used whilst recording foley sounds such as doing a live recording – Aka When sounds are recorded at the same time they happen in the clip. I’ve also selected this scene because of the multitude of sound effects to create such as the different speeds and paces of fast walking and running as well as the phaser impacts into the people, as well as the ricochets off the wall and floor. as well as physical impacts of the body’s onto the hard flooring in various different ways. As well as smoke and head dispersions.
To recreate the foley sounds for the clip above I will be using the zoom 6 recorder, this is because I am limited to this kit and the Marantz kit and because using the zoom 6 will be more appropriate and effective for this because I am more familiar with the zoom than the Marantz kit.
For recreating the sounds I intend upon using Uni and Bi-directional microphones, however, I will not be using an omnidirectional microphone. This is because I want recordings of sounds that are separate so that I can mix them appropriately and chose the sounds that are in there. Whereas with the omnidirectional recording in all directions I will not be able to control all the sounds that are recorded. An example of this is for the ambience I don’t just want one recording with various sounds I will be taking separate individual different hums and then compiling them into a Wild track. I will be using a uni and bi-directional mic because the directional mic has a longer range and is more sensitive but it also has a low angle range of recording vs the stereo which has a wider angle recording range but a decreased recording distance and sensitivity.
– – – Secondary – – – Research – – –
Compression – Makes the quiet bits loud and the loud bits quieter
Reverb – Can make a sound seem right next to the person with the headphones on or on the speakers nearer to the audience or can seem far way emulating the atmosphere of a scene depending on its location.
Pitch – The pitch is how low or high a sound is and can be used to change voices and other sings such as keynotes on a keyboard to make them more resonating at high or quick and base.
EQ – EQ is the levels of the frequency response of an audio signal. it can be used to make voucal sound better and can also be used to make sounds seem loudeer and more present.
ADR – Automated Dialogue Replacement can be used when on location recordings are unusable. ADR is also used because it makes the voice separate letting the audio mixer pick what sounds are in the scene and be in complete control.
1) Unidirectional Microphone Compressed Shot gun Mic
This type of microphone features directionality to the front only and is also known as “cardioid” (because of its heart-shaped directional pattern). Cardioid mics are most often used with PA systems for vocals, instruments, etc. In the diagram, 0°indicates the front of the microphone. These kinds of mics are also used on set/ location filming films, series, documentrys and other related visual media with on location dialogue recording. In the duo logues I used a Compressed Shot gun mic for recording them because it records the vouce of the actor and because of it been uni directional it records the least amount of noise than all of the other mirophones which makes the actors be clearly heard. I have also used it on other projects such as the whitby short film and on some interviews whcih I used it for the same reason I did on the duo logues.
(2) Bidirectional Microphone
This type of microphone features directionality to the front and rear. They are often used to record audio between two people who are face to face, such as during radio interviews.
(3) Omnidirectional
This microphone type has no directionality. “Omni” mics are used to pick up all or wide range audio. For example, they are used for choirs, when many instruments are played at once, or to pick up all audio on the stage. This type of microphone could also be used for recroding a wild track also because it picks up everything anything that is making a sound in the area would have to be delibrate.
Microphone Types
It is often taught that “sound is vibrations in the air.” We are able to enjoy music because we sense these vibrations in the air as sound. Microphones are used to convert these vibrations into electrical signals. Here are the two main types of microphones:
Shotgun mics are normally used for outdoor tasks such as news reporting and wildlife documentation as well as on set recording in films. These mics are known for their unique ability to isolate sound.They do so, using a design known as an interference tube, which features a series of slots designed to reject off-axis noise. The longer the tube, the narrower the pickup angle.Using these mics, you can record further from the sound source, in much noisier environments.
(1) Dynamic microphones – Stereo Mic
Characteristics
Construction is simple and comparatively sturdy.
No power supply is required.
Relatively inexpensive.2) Condenser microphones – Shotgun Mic
Characteristics
The shot gun mic has a good sensitivity at all frequencies a power supply is required and they are Vulnerable to structural vibration and humidity.
Reference: Which type of microphone should I choose?
Condenser microphones may have greater appeal because they have “good sensitivity at all frequencies”. However, they are not always the most practical choice.
Often during recording, a “pop shield” filter is required to protect against noise caused by the vocalist’s breath hitting the condenser microphone. This is because condenser microphones are able to react to more subtle sounds. On the other hand, condenser microphones are not suited for high-volume recording, so dynamic microphones are mainly used in situations where loud audio is to be picked up.
Condenser microphones are used with PA systems in cases where a wide band of frequencies, ranging from low to high, is to be picked up for choir vocals, acoustic pianos, hi-hat cymbals (which are known for their sensitive and high frequency), or for use “overhead” to pick up sounds from the entire drum set.
Possible Problems – Experiments – Primary research
Some problems that may occur whilst recreate sound effects are with the following sound effects – Phaser, Transporter, ambience. Recreating these could be problematic and difficult to recreate. However, after researching into the matter and watching tutorials I found that to make the phaser sound effect a slinky could be used, however, I got the idea that anything with a resonating sound that was metallic could create the same if not a better effect. I experimented doing this, I used the Shotgun mic, stereo mic and to record various different metal ricochets for phaser ricochets as well as experimenting to come up with a phaser firing sound effect.
Phaser Experiment
During this experiment, I found that the shotgun mic was not having the effect I wanted it was just giving a thud but no resonating metal sound afterwards that I was hearing with my ear, not the microphone this is because the unidirectional microphone doesn’t have a wide enough recording range.
So next I tried the same experiment with using a stereo mic (Bidirectional), I did this because I wanted to create more of a resonating sound and felt that the bidirectional microphone would create a more resonating after effect rather than just a thud and nothing. After experimenting with using a bi-directional microphone I found that it did create the resonating sound I was trying to achieve and I then created two different versions using a light and heavy impact which I did by using a thin foil tray and a slightly flexible metal lid whilst recording through a metal tube.
After taking these different sound effects into trying to pitch, reverb and eq them they still did not achieve the recreation sound effect of the phase I was hoping for. So I went into logic pro x and started experimenting with the digital synthesiser using different notes to create the phaser blast sound effects. Although I did, in the end, use the metallic sounds to create the phaser sound effect of it changing from kill to stun.
And for the stun sound effect, I also created a slightly different pitch for the stun setting because I wanted to recreate the sound effects and felt that it would be appropriate for them to be different. I also made the effect resonate a little less and be a bit quicker.
Transporter effect
For the transporter effect, I experimented with using different high keynotes in the in build synthesiser and then took them and exported and reimported them and experimented pitching and eq.
I did not feel this effect was appropriate so I then used a more bright and punchy keyboard in the digital synthesiser. I felt that this was more appropriate for the transporter sound effect.
Wild track – Ship ambience.
I also did some primary research into making the ambient sounds of the ship such as Smoke puffs and different variations of hums I did this by experimenting filming boilers, humidifiers, fridges, basically anything that created a recognisable hum. I alternated filming these sound with a bidirectional mic and a unidirectional mic, I did this because I wanted to see the difference and have different recording choices for when it came to mixing the sounds.
Experimented with Ship Ambience, filmed dehumidifier, fridge. – Different Microphones
Mono – Uni-Directional
Stereo – Bi-Directional
Planning
SFX, Foley, Music spotting sheet
References
Reference 1
https://ehomerecordingstudio.com/types-of-microphones/
Reference 2
http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/global/en/training_support/selftraining/pa_guide_beginner/microphone/
Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t20MX84mp9U
Talk about it / tutorials
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3sqyem
Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt-CWqfBaRl5kLcpr3ZvvGEP7GLaAALl8
Add Harvard referencing / APA Referencing
http://www.citethisforme.com/uk/referencing-generator/apa
Website
In-text: (E-Home Recording Studio, 2018)
E-Home Recording Studio. (2018). Recording Studio Microphones: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide. [online] Available at: https://ehomerecordingstudio.com/types-of-microphones/ [Accessed Apr. 2018].
Video
In-text: (Dailymotion, 2018)
Dailymotion. (2018). Star Trek (2009) – Ben Burtt and the Sounds of Star Trek – Video Dailymotion. [online] Available at: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3sqyem [Accessed Apr. 2018].
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