How Audio Recorded for the Movie


How Audio Recorded for the Movie

 The first sort of audio recorded is what we call location sound.  This is the audio that's recorded while filming is taking place.


The guy to the left is holding a microphone on a boom above the actor.  In addition to one or more guys like this, additional microphones may be hidden around the set.  The bag/pack that he is wearing around his neck contains the audio recording hardware.

After initial filming is done, several other audio tracks are recorded.

ADR, or Automated dialog replacement

Is used to get good audio of, unsurprisingly, dialog.  This is recorded in a studio using traditional studio tools and the actors redoing their lines.  They will speak their lines along with the original location audio, and the new audio is then available to be used to replace the old.  Editing is also used to make sure that the audio is exactly in sync with the original. 

The next sort of audio is called Foley:



Foley is sort of ADR for other sounds.  For example, a door closing recorded doesn't really sound much like a door being closed.  So it's often replaced with some other sound that may sound more like a door closing than the original audio.  Lots of odd things are used to generate that sort of audio, but the process is generally similar to what's used for ADR.  Foley, done correctly, won't really be noticed by the audience.  It's absence however will be.  Foley also includes ambient sounds like traffic going by, doors squeaking, etc. 

Sound EFX:

Distinct from Foley, sound effects don't generally have a corresponding action on the screen.  They are enhancements.  One example that does have corresponding action on the screen:


That light saber sound in star wars is a classic example of a sound effect.  The line between this and Foley is a bit blurry sometimes, but sound effects are usually intended to be heard.

Film scoring:

The soundtracks to films are created in much the same way as any other musical piece is created.  The recording process is pretty much identical to recording other similar music (an orchestra in the above picture), but with a screen to keep synced to the action. Notice the headphones that the conductor is wearing that helps him keep in sync with the film.


Dubbing stage:


The Final part of the process happens on the dubbing stage.  This is a theater like room that features a very large mixing console (the largest ones in the world) that takes all of those inputs that have been recorded in the above steps and creates the final surround sound mix that you will hear in the theater.  This may involve hundreds of tracks being mixed down to the 7.1 audio that we are familiar with.

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