Fish(er) Tales

If you don’t know who Gary Rydstrom is, then you don’t know an awful lot about film sound. You can read a bit about him and his work on Mix, too. I ran across this quote from him recently and thought it should be shared. Sound effects editing and sound design to me is a lot like knitting. And sometimes I think that it’s like quilting. Or sometimes I even think that it’s like arranging knick knacks in a cabinet...

What are the keys to survival as a creative audio professional? Here’s a handy list: Live the life of a consummate artist Prepare yourself for the demands of business Write down your goals Research your market and your competition carefully and make a plan Practice your skills, both audio and business skills Be confident in your abilities Education is a precondition to survival in America today. – Marian Wright Edelman Work...

You might be astonished by how little volume changes have a big impact on a track and a mix. Sometimes the difference between a sound effect or a background sitting in a track or sticking out can be a minuscule volume adjustment. Don’t become frustrated when it seems as if you can’t find the right balance. Keep fiddling with volume until you find the right fit. Consider this advice from award-winning music recording and...

I caught a trailer for a new TV show and heard a familiar sound effect. It’s called Flash Rush and it’s from one of the fine SFX libraries at The Hollywood Edge. It’s actually one of over 100 free sounds they distributed as a promotion several years ago on a CD (remember those?). Most of the sounds they gave away were solid entries, but nothing fancy. That is except for the real standout: flash rush. I’ve heard this particular...

To support the release of my latest book Soundtrack Success – A Digital Storyteller’s Guide to Audio Post-Production, I thought it’d be fun to have a contest. The winner (chosen at random) gets a FREE, autographed copy of the book. What’s the catch? Think of your favorite movie, TV show, documentary, or commercial where the use of MUSIC was exceptional. Post your favorite movie music sequence and why you selected it...

Here is my list of resources that will help you with your own audio post-production work: Software Sony’s Acid Pro, Sound Forge Pro, and Vegas Pro are my primary tools for the music and sound work that I do. (Here is a list of various tutorials I’ve written on these programs.) I also like Reaper. A lot. Check it out. iZotope RX is my go-to noise reduction tool. And both Ozone and Alloy find their way into nearly every...

Here are various tips, tricks, and more culled from the many chapters of my latest book, SOUNDTRACK SUCCESS : A Digital Storyteller’s Guide to Audio Post-Production (edited a bit for the blog). Production woes There are quite a few post-production fixes available, but your best defense is, as the saying often goes, a strong offense. Get high-quality sound to begin with, and half the battle is over. Picture lock The sound department...

To support the release of my latest book Soundtrack Success - A Digital Storyteller’s Guide to Audio Post-Production, I thought it’d be fun to have a contest. The winner (chosen at random) gets a FREE, autographed copy of the book. What’s the catch? Think of your favorite movie, TV show, documentary, or commercial where the use of sound was exceptional. Let’s avoid musical examples for this contest (there will...