Horror Sound replacement - Update 4: Foley + BedSheets

Hey guys! Thought it was about time I brought you my next update on the Sound Replacement project that I've been doing lately! This week some major ground was made and I'll be taking you through it all in today's blog! Let's jump right in!

Foley

Although it took longer than expected, Richard and I finally managed to get my friend MJ into the C24 to record some foley! Considering MJ has never been recorded in her entire life and/or has never been associated with audio related things in general she did incredibly well! Below I've made a gallery with different photos of all of the recording techniques we used!

Recording Foley + Breath/Scream Dialogue in the C24 - Photos taken by yours truly on 28/6/28

Recording Processes in the c24

As shown above, two different microphones were used to record these samples, one of them being the Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mic and the other being the Rode NT2A condenser. The MKH 416 was used primarily to record footstep foley and other objects that required close-up and clear recordings such as the tape on the light switch. Whereas, the NT2A was used to record vocal samples such as heavy breathing, gasps and shrieks/screams (top left photo). In the images above you can also see that a baffle was used to close off some of the room space when recording (the C24 has a massive control room). However, this was not its only use as we also positioned it slightly it in the way of the MKH 416 to create what Richard and I called 'natural automation'. Essentially, the MKH 416 was placed behind the baffle and as I stomped towards it (playing the monster in the film), it would progressively pick up more level as I got closer. The baffle helped to mask the room sound so the recording had minimal reverb. You can see where we attempted this initially with MJ in the bottom left corner of the photo gallery. Unfortunately due to MJ's small size, she wasn't able to give off heavy enough steps due to her weight, that's where I stepped in!

Bed sheets and power plugs

So this is where it gets interesting, as I said in my previous update blog for this project, I would eventually get around to doing another lot of field recordings! Well, on my weekend I did just that! So without further ado, I present to you yet another photo gallery of the recording processes I went through in my own bedroom at home!

Recording more foley in my bedroom with the Zoom H4n recorder! Photos taken by yours truly on 30/6/18

In this little field recording session I decided to focus primarily on gathering as many bedroom samples as I could with the resources I had available. Some of these samples include an entrance into my bed (top middle photo), various bedsheet movements and also power plug functions using my power board! Conveniently, these were all (somehow) in time with the actual film so it took very minimal editing when it came the time to place them in Pro Tools! I was rather surprised at this considering that I had to watch the film and then act with what I thought was in time with the film in my head!

However, due to my terrible memory I actually forgot to take a screenshot of the session for you guys this time around. But it's ok! You take my word for it that it is looking very clean and tidy and will continue to do so until the project's completion! Speaking of which the demo of this bad boy is being presented tomorrow and will be done buy this coming Friday! So keen to show you guys the final result! Until next time!

Levels :)