Sound Production: Crash Course Film Production with Lily Gladstone #5

Good sound is easy to miss because, usually, you're not paying attention to it. You're just simply, "in the story." But, sound recordists and engineers need to have a lot of technical know-how as well as an instinct for story to help immerse us in the world of the film. In today's episode, Lily Gladstone talks to us about Sound Production.

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[AirborneSurfer]

It's hard to notice good sound, but it's REALLY easy to recognize bad sound!

[jesperonesand]

Ohh, now I finally know why they clap so loudly with the slate. Thanks CrashCourse! :)

[QualityEJC]

I think sound is the most important part of a film. It can improve or ruin your production.

[bryanbuxton]

This seems to be the most commonly overlooked element of amateur film making. I hope to see more on this topic. Great work!

[starking]

The notification squad can go somewhere else. True fans know by instinct when Crash Course uploads.

[Laura-qpiw]

ADR just blows my mind. It seems crazy that they can record so much of the dialogue in post without me even noticing. I guess people have gotten really good at matching the dialogue to what you see and seamlessly connecting the sound and the picture.

[chillsahoy]

One of my friends works in sound production (freelance) and this episode in particular has really helped me understand the breadth of work he could be expected to carry out on a typical day. It is so complex and underappreciated!

[radagastwiz]

AND your amazing sound design team is Synema Studios. Great work as always, but this one must have been particularly key!

[olyar]

This is really a great series. If anything, I wouldn't mind if it was even longer and more detailed.

[DanThePropMan]

"Wilhelm's Ice Cream"

I heard what you did there...

[sixpomegranateseeds]

I rely on CC, even though I have 20/20 hearing. I like the aesthetic of having words spelled out on the bottom of the screen. It's weird, but then again, if I can't understand what they're saying, I can read it.

[Pfhorrest]

Aranofsky's "The Fountain" is a masterpiece of sound design and (Clint Mansell's masterful) music that is very much a noticeable part of the film and doesn't just disappear into the background. That movie brings me to tears of just pure emotional awe every time I watch it, and the sound design is a hugely important factor in that.

[notchilli]

Awesome Video but I have one amendment. Timecode slates [digital slates] dont work by sending a signal to camera when it claps [i have one if you would like to see!] . It actually works very similar to a normal slate. The instant a slate closes it either lights up, freezes the timecode or shows some other information. What makes timecode slates useful is the clock that is ticking away inside and on the lcd. This number is called timecode and that number exactly matches the timecode on the sound recorder and often the camera unless it is shooting at a higher than normal framerate. And this is where the slate is super useful. Often when the camera shoots off speed and timecode isnt going to camera then seeing the exact timecode on camera [through the slate] can help precisely sync the audio to the changed framerate of the camera, if the editor chooses to use a off speed take and bring it back to the normal framerate. And I am sure you will cover this in the editing part of this but having audio and camera footage marked with timecode in the metadata is what the editor uses to automate the syncing process! Also one of the key roles of boom ops is being the onset eyes, ears and audio management for the recordist because often the recordist is off set maybe near video village or not in reach. I have had many a converstations with the boom op as they describe how they think they will gather the audio in a scene and had discussions about what i need in my recordings when there is particular coverage that i am after. Anyway I always love these videos and they are a great and fantastic resource for so many amazing topics including this one and me writing this is in no way discrediting the amazing stuff that should be listened to and trusted on this topic. I am just a sound recordist who has to much time on my hands! DFTBA!

[mohammadkhalid]

omg this was really informative, I never thought someone could explain this topic this well. Great job and thank you crush course!

[bernice_chu]

Thank you Crash Course for making this series! I'm in my first year of a film program and it really helps!!

[DomyTheMad]

0:40 i'd argue that some movies have moments with such great music in certain scenes that it not only maximizes the enjoyment of said epic moment but also makes that song stand out, for the well crafted piece of artistry that was placed exactly where it needed.
SOMETIMES the music standing out can be a valuable tool!

[andrewreyna]

Please make CrashCourse Math!!!




(EDIT.)Please pin this comment if considering doing this series.

[route]

This is a fantastic crash course into film sound. Couldn't in any way have imagined it being more clear.

[autism_and_niamh]

Dang, this series is probably my fave Crash Course one to date!!! Amazing stuff guys :)

[StormChasersofOhio]

Oh look, crash course even did a video on my major. You guys are awesome