Sup peps,
One thing that I struggle with every time I get ready to mix a new project is choosing the structure and order of the dialogue processing chain.
Sticking with your choice...
When we mixing for post production we enter the realm of heavy automation. It is therefore important to decide on a processing chain that will be able to address all of your dialogue needs throughout the duration of the mixing and this is a difficult thing. In doing so we realize that we now don't have the freedom to switch our signal processing choice in the middle of a project without it causing complications (correct me if im wrong)... and even if we choose to do so, we would have mirror our processing on all of our dial tracks so as to retain the ability to make use of all of our dialogue tracks should we have to move our audio around... Right?
At present, my default chain is like this for the reasons listed below.
ALL AUDIO TRACKS (usually between 2-8) pre bus
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EQ III: This Eq is for corrections. Filters, notches and basic tonality adjustments for if its boomy, thin, nasally or whatever...
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Noise Suppression: Mostly waves WNS or their w43... my choice depends on overall quality of the sound from the get go. Even before my first EQ the sound has probably already been exposed to some light noise suppression though destructive processing so I normally don´t need too much of this.
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Channel Strip: I have gone with the Channel strip that comes with PT10. I use this for some basic dynamic taming and additional EQ. Expansion for lowing backgrounds a little and some light compression just to tuck in the peaks when necessary. With this EQ i use to get the tone I want. I also like this channel strip as it gives you the option of choosing (and automating) the order of the different processing elements (FILTER-EQ-DYNAMIC or FILTER-DYNAMIC-EQ ext...) in channel strip itself which I find really useful!
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De esser: When I have the time, I normally prefer to volume out my esses but when time is of the essence (no pun intended) this is faster.
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Waves C4: I find that from time to time, I need to remove some of these "in your face" mids that can become unconformable to listen too. Its also good for controlling boomy dialogue. I use the C4 as a multi-band compressor to accomplish this.
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Waves Ren-compressor: This is my go to compressor for finding the correct dynamic balance in the dialogue I am working on. Smooth and transparent and I find that this has actually been known to solve tonally difficult dialogue at times.. don't know how... just has! :P
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DIAL BUS: After my audio track has gone though all of the processing above, it goes straight though to this dialogue bus.
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L2: This is the only processing I have on the bus. It normally keeps the same settings throughout so things don't get out of hand but its no stranger to automation either.
Thoughts, suggestions and comparisons would be most welcome!