Location Sound 1 Final
False
NET 15 means that you have to wait at least 30 days to be paid. True or False?
Dead Cat, Metal Mash, Zeppelin.
Name three different kinds of wind screens.
Hide the Mic behind both Sun Visors for driver and passenger. Another alternative would be the dashboard, air vents, or the shifter. You can hide the transmitter in the sun visor, or run the wire cleanly along the edge of the roof lining, and hide under the seat or in the center console. For Backseat passengers, hide the mic between the headrest and front seat, or on the back of the center console. Hide the transmitter under the seat, or in the center console.
Where are some reliable places to plant mics in a car?
The deepest valley of the chest
Where is the most reliable place to attach a lavalier mic on the talent?
Microphone-Mixer-Recorder-IFB
Write the following words in order of signal flow: Recorder, Microphone, IFB, Mixer.
When using two microphones to record a source, normally you will get the best results by placing the second mic three times the distance from the first mic that the first mic is from the source. If this is not possible, invert phase of one of the mics.
Explain the 3 to 1 rule.
It is a good idea to not communicate with talent unless you are micing them, or unless they initiate the conversation.
It is ok to walk up to and talk to an actor on set if it is not audio related?
- Omnidirectional - Cardioid - Hypercardioid - Shotgun
List four types of polar patterns and draw their basic shape.
True
All ENG is EFP, but not all EFP is ENG. True or False?
A compressor acts as a wall that only lets a certain ratio of audio pass once the signal hits the compressor's "threshold." If the ratio is four to one, then per every four decibels over the threshold one decibel will pass. A -6dB signal hitting a compressor set with a threshold at -10dB and a ratio of 4:1 will output at -9dB.
Explain how a compressor works, then state what the output level will be when a -6dB signal goes into a compressor with a threshold of -10dB and a ratio of 4:1.
Listening directly from a recording medium while recording to ensure the program material is being recorded correctly.
Describe Confidence Monitoring.
During interview, crowd, and movie scene when they are moving there body left and right or when they are particularly speaking to more than person in different angles.
Describe a scenario in which you would want to double mic a talent with lavalier mics?
- camera. A Plant Mic can be any type of microphone that is "Planted" in the scene, invisible to the - Plant Mics are often placed between a pair, or group of people. Lavalier Mics are most likely to be used in this process. - Plants are best used in a scene where the boom can't be used efficiently, and/or the movement of the scene leaves one spatial area, and enters another.
Describe a situation in which a plant mic is necessary.
- Off-Axis Sound fronts travel different distances and arrive with different phases. - On-Axis Sound Capsule.
Describe how boom mics are able to capture quality audio from a distance.
The "H" position is Over/ On the head. Some other Boom Op positions are On the shoulders, Over/ On the Head, The Scoop and Resting/ Lazy.
Describe the "H" position. What are some other Boom Op positions?
Audio Carts are more preferable for scripted television and film It allows the mixer to sit and focus on mixing. The downside is that you are less mobile, and you cannot boom operate and mix at the same time.
Do you have to have a separate boom operator when the sound mixer uses a sound cart instead of a bag?
Transmitters Compress the signal to UHF, and send it out at a specific frequency. The Receiver tunes in to that frequency and expands the incoming signal back to an audible output. This process is called Companding or Compansion.
Explain Companding.
Tail Slating is when you "Mark" the camera and audio after the take before recording stops. The slate is held upside down to note this. Sometimes the production is moving so fast, "Action" is called before all of the crew is ready. Sometimes sound or camera started recording after slate was called. If for any reason slate was missed, the Director (or whoever is calling "Action" and "Cut") should be told or given a nonverbal sign, so that they can tail slate before audio and camera stop recording. It is highly recommended that you use a physical slate with timecode, but they are very expensive. The next best thing is to use a plastic dry erase slate. It won't allow the editor to sync picture and audio to the exact frame, but it is close enough for the human eye.
Explain Tail Slating. When should you use it?
FreeRun means that when you set and start timecode, it continues to run regardless of whether or not you are recording. If you have properly synced your devices, the audio and video will have the same time code, even if they start recording several seconds apart. Be sure to check and/or resync every time any device is turned off, or goes through a battery change. RecordRun means that the timecode starts and stops when you start and stop recording. This is fine for Single Systems, since the audio and video are already synced. If you are running a Double System, the only way this can be useful is if the devices are connected by a BNC cable and are set to master control. Master Control will cause the field recorder to start recording the instant the camera does, or vice versa.
Explain the difference between FreeRun and RecordRun.
Single System is when the audio and video are recorded to one device. Double systems are when the audio and video are recorded to separate devices.
Explain the difference between Single System, and Double System Production.
The sound intensity from a point source of sound will obey the inverse square law if there no reflection or reverberation.
Explain the inverse square law.
- Lip-ribbon microphones use baffles to create an acoustic labyrinth within the body of the microphone.
How does a lip mic allow the user to capture clear audio in a noisy environment?
Every time you change rooms or spaces (indoor or outdoor), be sure to capture between 30-60 seconds of Room or Outdoor Tone. This is used to fill the space between dialog to create ambiance. Some mixers will turn up the gain on one or multiple tracks to purposely raise the sound floor. Some say that you should keep the gain knobs at the highest level that they were used in any take of the scene. If there are interruptions, such as an airplane or train, or cast/crew laughing or talking, pay attention to the length of disruption and add it to the end to equal between 30-60 seconds of usable tone. If it is possible, leave all tracks open to give the editor or the dialog editor more to work with. That being said, the boom mic is the most important track in capturing room tone. There are times that there is no way that tone can be captured due to the environment. Capture it anyway. At the very least, it will give a reference to SFX, background, and foley artists.
How long should a Room Tone take be? If there is a disruption, how many seconds should you add to the take?
100ft. 200 90dB 84 -6 -6 300 ft. 400ft. 81dB 78 -6 -6 600 800 75dB 72 -6
If we measure a sound at 90dB 100ft away from the source, what will the decibel be at 400ft away?
A "half day" rate is your day rate divided by two, and rounded up to the nearest hundred dollars.
If you are asked to do a "half day', cut your rate in half, and round up to the nearest 100. Meaning if your day rate is $500, your half day rate is $300.
Mic level- is the lowest, or weakest, level signal of the four and requires a preamplifier to bring it up to Line level. - Instrument level signals live between mic and line level signals and have the most variation. You typically see this kind of signal come from an electric guitar or bass. They also require a preamplifier to come up to line level. - Line level- signals are the highest level signals before amplification. This is the type of signal that typically flows through your recording system after the preamplifier stage and before the amplifier that powers your speakers. There are two types: Consumer and Professional. Consumer line level is rated around -10dBV and is what you'll find in products like a CD player. Professional line level is rated around +4 dBu and is found in things like mixing desks and signal processing equipment. If you see that little switch on your gear that says +4 or -10, that's what that's for. Be careful not to send a line level signal to a preamplifier expecting a mic or instrument level signal. - Speaker level- signals are post amplification. After a line level signal enters an amplifier, speaker level signals are output to your speakers. These signals are much higher in voltage than line level and require speaker cables for safe signal transfer. You should never plug a speaker level signal into a source expecting anything less than a speaker level signal. + 4 dBu is "professional" line level, common in modern pro recording gear. 0 dBv is an average line level, typical output from rackmount guitar/bass preamps. -10 dBv is "consumer" line level, common with older and cheaper recording gear. -20 dBu is roughly in the neighborhood of a typical instrument's output. -30 dBu is again in the neighborhood of a typical microphone or DI box's output.
What are the four signal levels, and what are their general decibel levels.
The capsule, capsule holder, and the boundary plate. These together help to flatten the frequency response.
What are the three parts of a boundary mic, and how does it's design effect frequency response?
The two most common polar patterns in lavalier mics are Cardioid and Omni-Directional.
What are the two most common polar patterns in lavalier mics?
Two lavaliers are 8 in TRS Male and TA5 Female.
What are the two types of connections we have used in class to attach lav mics to transmitters?
Output connectors can be XLR, TRS, 1⁄8" TRS, TA-3, or RCA.
What are three types of connecters often used for field recorder outputs?
Battery Distribution System.
What does BDS stands for?
It Tell us what frequencies which microphones attenuated and which is boosted.
What does the frequency response tell us about a microphone?
- The Remote Audio Boom Box V2 establishes reliable, professional talkback and communication for boom pole operators on professional film and video shoots, broadcasts and more. The Boom Box V2 features provisions for Remote Audio headset talkback microphones with TA5 connections, as well as traditional headsets with XLR and 1/4" phone connectors. The Boom operators may easily control headphone level, and the Boom Box V2 supports both dynamic and electret condenser microphones.
What is a "Boom Box", and what does it allow the boom operator to do?
When recording a a scene and the room is small is only the person with the camera, actor, and the person who is holding the Mic Boom Arm.
What is a "Mic Boom Arm"? Explain a situation where it might be useful.
A Multi-Coupler holds several receivers, but allows them to all use the same antenna. portable, wide bandwidth, RF Multi Coupler designed to be used with all wireless receivers. This new distribution amplifier is a single input, four output device covering the frequencies from 50 to 900 Mhz. It is powered from two 9 volt batteries or from an external source of 12 to 24 Vdc.
What is a "Multi-Coupler", and what does it do?
Same connector type and same gender.
What is a "Turnaround" connecter?
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz, also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one decimetre. Radio waves with frequencies above the UHF band fall into the SHF (super-high frequency) or microwave frequency range. Lower frequency signals fall into the VHF (very high frequency) or lower bands. UHF radio waves propagate mainly by line of sight; hills and large buildings block them, although the transmission through building walls is high enough for indoor reception. They are used for television broadcasting, cell phones, satellite communication including GPS, personal radio services including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, walkie-talkies, cordless phones, and numerous other applications.
What is the Frequency field that wireless systems use, VHF, UHF, SHF? What is the Hz range?
- The Best way to keep the boom out of the scene, is to check frame line at the beginning of each new shot. Have the Cam Op watch the screen as you dip into frame. Slowly back it out until the Cam Op says you are clear. Find a reference point in front of you, and keep the mic above it.
What is the best way to avoid the frame line, and keep the boom out of the shot?
It is what the camera sees.
What is the frame line?
Ideal distance is 6-8 inches.
What is the ideal distance for a boom mic from the talent?
The standard Frame Rate for film is 23.976 FPS. Sometimes this is rounded up to 24 FPS.
What is the standard Frame Rate for Cinema/Film.
IFB's are wireless systems that use a single transmitter to "feed back" audio to multiple receivers for talent or crew. It is called "Interruptible" because the signal can be interrupted and replaced by the director or producers intercom microphone.
What makes an IFB interruptible?
Calibration is the first step. Send a 1K tone at 0dB from the mixer to the recorder or camera, and adjust the input gain of the recorder or camera to match the 0dB.
When calibrating a recorder with a mixer, what pitch and signal level should you send to the device?
Top Sticks and MoleSkin
When dressing a lav mic, what two types of adhesive should you use to be able to quickly change mics from one talent to another?
When recording VO on set, try to find a coat closet or other small room.
When recording VO on set, what type of room should you try to find to record in?