Studio Setups

Studio sound recording is known to be the most suitable way to capture clear and high-quality audio but why is this? Studio recording is a stationary type of setup that involves the use of various equipment that each provide a key element towards creating a clear and dead sound. Studios are usually adapted towards these purposes, e.g. they might have foam panels, which are used to absorb any unwanted background noise while also preventing reverberation. Studio setups will most-likely include an audio interface, speakers/headphones, a microphone, computer and various other additional items (e.g. pop filter, tripod). This type of setup is not made to be portable but is used to record audio such as voiceovers or foley. 

In a typical studio set-up you would usually find the following; 

- Condensor microphone
- Pop filter
- Audio Interface
- Headphones/speakers
- Computer with recording software
- Mixing desk (optional) 

A professional, industry standard recording studio will usually include two important rooms, both used for specific purposes. These rooms include the control room and the live room. Control rooms are categorically spaces in which the operations of something is handled. In this case, control rooms within a studio is where recording and mixing equipment is found, which is then used by the audio engineer to achieve the highest quality sound by making sure all good signals are recorded and controlled. Control rooms provide intense sound isolation and accurate audio reproduction. Sound isolation is the blocking of exterior sound by using various materials by absorbing and reducing sound transmission from the outside. Sound isolation is great towards providing a true reproduction of the sound thats being recorded and mixed, which enables the mixer/audio engineer to precisely edit the audio. True reproduction of sound is usually enhanced by good quality speakers/headphones. Industry standard headphones will usually be 'closed cup', which means they completely seal and cover your ears, with a sound absorbing material. These types of headphones are very important when it comes to recording professional audio, as they prevent sound from leaking out of the headphones, as well as in. When an audio engineer is happy or dissatisfied with a recording that is currently being captured, they will use 'Talk Back', which is a method that allows the mixer to communicate with the talent. Talk back is only necessary in certain types of studio that result in the mixer and talent being in separate rooms. Overall, Talk back is enabled through a microphone in the mixing desk that allows the audio engineer to give feedback to the performer, without disruption.  

Live rooms is where the recording of talent takes place. Live rooms are also designed to isolate sound and prevent reverberation by using certain equipment such as acoustic sound panels. Sound absorption is very important in studios. The material of absorption panels are specifically designed to absorb sound, create less reverb and remove unwanted sounds by having a wide, flat structure to catch all sound energy and to be easily placed on live room walls. They are made using typically foam materials, which absorb the sound. Installing absorption panels creates an effective acoustic environment with as little reverberation as possible, creating a quality piece of audio. The environment in which the sound is recorded is very important towards capturing greta audio, however you also need the correct recording equipment to provide high quality sound. Condenser microphones are typically used for recording in studio due to their main purpose of providing high quality audio due to their higher frequency range. A condenser microphone requires a certain amount of power to work (48v), meaning an audio interface is essential as it provides the correct amount of power to the microphone. is called phantom powering. Overall, condenser microphones are designed to be used in the studio, where they are stationary, whereas an opposing type of microphone (dynamic microphone) is typically designed to be use during live performances due to their low frequency range and robust, hardwearing structure. 

Live rooms will either allow you to record single or multiple sources, e.g. you might want to record a band that include multiple instruments and numerous vocalists. You could either record each source separately or simultaneously, depending on how the band perform best. Recording simultaneously may result in the recording being more difficult to mix, whereas recording separately enables mixers to precisely mix each source individually. 

'How To' Video Reviews 

In order to expand upon different types of audio set ups within different environments, i will be making a 'How To' video. My video will outline two pieces of audio equipment which are each used for an opposing environment (interior and exterior). I will begin by explaining step-by-step how to set up the equipment, while also showcasing various techniques to help capture the highest quality audio. I will do this by personally demonstrating how to set up the equipment while also providing a voiceover to thoroughly explain what I'm currently doing and the purpose behind it. But before I create my own video, I will research and review existing How To videos. I will be reviewing videos that relate to the topic of 'Location and Studio Recording Setups', in the hopes of learning something new, resulting in the improvement of my own video. 

With around 150,000 views, this particular video thoroughly provides detailed information about the Zoom H1n while also showcasing examples throughout. The video opens with a list of 'pros and cons' about the device which I believe is great towards helping audiences quickly understand the good and bad aspects of the device. The list  also helps audiences to understand and realise that there are more advantages than disadvantages when it comes to the Zoom H1n, which already creates a positive perspective. The video also showcases great examples of the device throughout. The examples within the video showcase a variety of different uses for the Zoom H1n (e.g. foley, voiceover etc.), which is great towards making the video suitable for a variety of audiences who are interested in the particular device, e.g. aspiring filmmakers, audio engineers etc. We are then informed that the voiceover for the whole video is recorded on the relevant device, which is a very useful technique as it enables audiences to have a wider understanding on how the particular mic sounds while recording voiceovers. I have definitely learnt a lot about the Zoom H1n after watching the video. However, the overall video is quite long, meaning audiences might search elsewhere for videos as they don't have the time or they simply prefer to learn quicker. Overall, the 'How To' video is a great video for beginners as it shows a broad amount of quality examples and information.

In this 'How To' video, we are given a comparison to an older version of the Zoom H1n however, we are mostly given disadvantages of the Zoom H1n due to the commentator personally not liking it. This resulted in the overall video being biased towards the newer version, which could be seen as a bad thing, however this will still help me towards deciding whether the equipment is suitable. Throughout the whole video, we are shown one shot with an informal voice over. The unprofessionalism of the overall video causes me to lack trust in the information I am being provided with. We aren't given many examples of the devices, meaning audiences will still be unsure about what the device is actually like in action. The video is also very lengthy, which will definitely drive away some audiences. However, I still believe i have learnt a lot from the video however, I believe there are definitely better options out there. 

Location Setups

On-location audio capturing can be seen as a difficult task, however you can still collect high-quality audio with the right equipment. Location setups are very different to studio setups as you will potentially be moving around. The majority of equipment that is usually used inside the studio is also most-likely able to be used outside as well, however you will need additionally items to make them suitable for the outdoors. This might include a windshield aka 'Dead Cat', which are used to remove unwanted sounds that are picked up from the microphone such as wind, trees or the general ambience of the particular environment. The soft texture of the wind shield absorbs the unwanted sounds, creating a clearer and more dead sound. 

Synchronisation - 'Sync sound' relates to how sound is recorded and 'synced' to a piece of film. This sound can include the sound recorded during filming or sound that is recorded separately. There are a number of different methods to make sure you accurately sync a piece of audio to a video including using a 'clapperboard'. This device is used before any audio begins and creates a loud noise which produces a 'spike', which can easily be identified. The sound is created when the two sticks attached are hinged together. 

This technique is very useful as it easily allows you to identify and match the audio to the visuals. Another method you could use to help you sync audio is to simply do it by eye. The natural sound captured on your video will look similar to your recorded audio, which will be helpful towards accurately syncing the audio. However, this is not the most accurate way of synchronising the audio.

Audio Content - So what types of audio can we capture during a recording? Within a scene, you could be recording music, dialogue and many other different object sounds like vehicles or even explosions. Most of the audio recording will most-likely be edited or replaced with digital sound effects. Music will also most-likely be replaced with a pre-recorded soundtrack unless you wanted the music to be diegetic. Diegetic sound/music is audio perceived as being made by an object or person on screen, which is the opposite of non-diegetic which is sound/music/voice that has been added on in post-production.