• Audio

  Recording sound on a found footage film

  Posted by Peter Fraser on October 11, 2016 at 11:48 am

  Hi, I’m working on a ‘found footage’ film comparable in approach to Paranormal Activity and looking for the best and most economical solution to record sound of the actors in a house from multiple cameras. I’m wondering about the best solution without using a boom, which will show up on camera, but still conveying directional sound to capture audio nearer and further away from the cameras, in different rooms etc. Is the best approach simply to use a directional mic on each camera and then have a master recorded through an omnidirectional mic, monitored by a sound mixer, further manipulating the sound if post if necessary? Thanks.

  Peter Fraser replied 9 years, 11 months ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Ty Ford

  October 12, 2016 at 6:48 am

  Hello Peter and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

  Hire a ghost boom op and you won’t see the boom. ?

  But seriously, what is “found footage?”

  This sounds like a reality show shoot.

  Have each person wear a quality wireless lav. For each transmitter, use two receivers. If possible, set up a working central location in the house. Position an audio tech with a multitrack recorder. Have one of each of the receivers there feeding the recorder. Also use one track of every camera for recording the audio at the camera. You MAY use this, but may one use it for syncing with the central audio recorder. Sure use a camera mic but only as ambi or backup.

  Regards,

  Ty Ford
  Cow Audio Forum Leader

  Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
  Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog
• 

  Peter Fraser

  October 12, 2016 at 3:51 pm

  Thanks Ty. That’s really helpful. Yes it is essentially a reality TV approach. So just to check, for every person that’s one receiver feeding the multitrack recorder and one receiver feeding a camera?
• 

  Ty Ford

  October 12, 2016 at 3:58 pm

  Hello Peter,

  Yes, that exactly it. You may have to get inventive with reception to the core where the multitrack is.

  Here’s a link to a story I wrote about a bunch of stuff, included in which is the description of a pretty intricate system.

  https://tyfordaudiovideo.blogspot.com/2015/06/location-audio-rental-houses-speak-out.html

  Regards,

  Ty Ford
  Cow Audio Forum Leader

  Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
  Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog
• 

  Peter Fraser

  October 12, 2016 at 4:29 pm

  Great, thanks Ty. Much appreciated.

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