4

What is the role of the dialogue editor in volume automation and noise reduction in movie post production?

Thanks,

Eduardo

Improve this question

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
4

It depends on the agreements made between the dialogue editor/supervisor and the sound supervisor. Mixers could prefer to not have volume automation, but this differs. Why do you ask? Are you editing dialogue? Or are you mixing the movie?

Recommended reading: Dialogue-Editing-Motion-Pictures

Improve this answer
3
  • I am editing dialogue
    – dogama
    Sep 26, 2013 at 10:28
  • I was not sure if I was suppose to reduce the noise from the dialogue tracks as well as mess around with volume levels. So what you're saying is that it depends on the deal with the sound supervisor of who's going to do those things? Thanks
    – dogama
    Sep 26, 2013 at 10:36
  • Is someone else mixing the film/movie? In that case ask him what he prefers. Automating volume on voices is not always a preference. Noise reduction is sometimes not even a preference, so also discuss this.
    – Arnoud Traa
    Sep 26, 2013 at 10:54
4

I usually have my Dial editors only do very basic level adjustments. Basically lower any really loud pfx or a line that is dramatically out of sorts with the rest of the scene. With noise reduction, I never want my editor to do any broadband NR or notch filtering. You can get into a lot of unnecessary processing that might not be needed once everything else is in the mix. The only thing I ask my editors to do is deliver me a track that is smooth so when I apply NR I'm dealing with the broader picture.

Improve this answer
2
  • Thanks, really helpful. Just another thing when you mention: "...deliver me a track that is smooth so when I apply NR I'm dealing with the broader picture." what do you mean by smooth?
    – dogama
    Sep 26, 2013 at 21:20
  • When I say smooth, I mean I want the tracks to be a consistent level and tone. If a scene is noisy I want the entire scene to maintain the same type of noise so when I apply any broadband NR I'm working at reducing the noise on the entire scene. Using this approach the dial track sounds complete and you don't hear any wild noise changes. The listener will usually forgive a little noise in the track if its consistent, when the background noise is choppy the listener will be thrown off by that.
    – KellCole
    Sep 27, 2013 at 16:19
2

Several things a dialog editor can and should do with level automation...

  • smooth out transitions between handles on different takes
  • keep dialog levels roughly consistent between takes
  • reduce loud momentary sounds
  • gently reduce annoyingly loud constant background sounds around dialog, but not during it

I don't discourage editors from using something like iZotope RX on big problem clips, but the original edited clips must remain in sync and muted on an adjacent track. Some editors have become very adept at this, but it must be instantly undoable when mixing.

KellCole is correct when saying that usually the least treatment to dialog is best, and you can't know until all the FX and music are together with the dialog in the mix. So it's best for the editors to err on the side of keeping the work simple and straightforward.

Improve this answer
0
0

Another thing about Noise:

When I do Dialogue Editing I always search the recordings for pieces of short atmosphere if no extra atmosphere was recorded. Then I save them and deliver them in a folder for each scenery. So the re-recording mixer has a gap-filler if needed.

IMHO its better to stick to the natural noise then remove it.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.