Running a session in french

[Smallbudgetguru]

Hey all, I am trying to break more into the french scene here and am booked to run a VO (in french) session this week with french clients.

I can communicate fine in french but was wondering what specific recording terms would be so that I can run the session with proper "terminology" and not what my brain thinks is the equivalent.

Any french speaking techs have some suggestions / links? Cheers

[Bill@AudioVision]

I don't know when your session is, but I'll be seeing Philippe from Fairlight tomorrow and I'll ask him. Fairlight had a French office a few years ago, headed up by 'Uncle Joe' Hammer (who posts here from time to time). You should also check with Steve at Yellow Cab.
Good luck!

[Carotte]

Post a list of words, I'll translate them for you...

[Bill@AudioVision]

Quick question..
Canada or France?
Don't know if it matters, but it might.

[Chris Lago]

I do tons of French Voiceovers, If you need help holla at me. Fully Bilingual here.

[Nicholas Varley]

Englishman running a studio just outside of Paris - mostly french studios are the same as in the UK, same humour, same chit-chat etc.

Couple of phrases that might be useful to you:

VO = Version Originale - on a film/TV show this means the english version destined to be dubbed/subtitled.

VI = Version Internationale - this refers to the sfx/music track without voices. You'll come across this when working on a french film destined for export.

Voix-off = commentary voice, voice over, narrator...

Re-Re - this can refer to overdubs or it can refer to retakes, I've come across both cases and I've never bothered to ask which is the more common.

"Ca tourne" = tape rolling !

lol the list is endless now I come to think of it - post your terms up here and I'm sure everyone will pitch in and help out - that's what true 'slutz do.

[Smallbudgetguru]

thanks guys!

Just trying to think of what I will need, I know I will forget something so I will think out loud here a little.

Going to be tracking a narration for a 5 minute video.

Think I will need words like : take, session, playlist , comp track, talkback, headphones, looping,

I know I am forgetting or not thinking of some and will try to post them later (my session is tomorrow)

basically I will want to ask if they want the text broken down into sections to record and if they want to record in loop mode and attack a certain section many times in a row, or does the talent want to one shot it. I will have to explain to the producer about comp tracks and the options he has in the edit. I will also need to play with mic choices at the beg of the session, so various mic terms I guess, being able to say "this is the right mic for your voice" or "I am going to try another mic to better suit your voice"

have another client coming in a few so will try to add as I think of things. But hopefully you can get the idea of what type of session from this. You guys have already helped a lot! Thank you!!!!

[py75]

Hi,

My english is quiet bad but my french is not so bad :-)

Take: prise
session : seance
playlist (in PT ?): playlist
comp track: comp track = piste montée / compilation (edit track)
talkback; talkback
headphone: casque
looping: boucle ( to loop=boucler)

"I am going to try another mic to better suit your voice": je vais essayer un autre micro pour un meilleur resultat avec ta voix

"this is the right mic for your voice": c'est le bon micro pour ta voix

I will also need to play with mic choices at the beg of the session: je vais essayer plusieurs micros pour ecouter lequel est le mieux avec ta voix

they want to record in loop mode and attack a certain section : faire bout par bout

or does the talent want to one shot it: faire du debut a la fin en une prise (from top to the end in one shot)

I think you will also need:
Bruits de bouche : mouth noise
c'est la bonne: that's the one
on la garde: we keep it
je la garde mais refais la: i keep it but do it again
percute: pop
to much sshhii: trop de sifflantes

Ok I stop for now, hope it helps.
If you need someone i can get a fly for few days :-)

Bonne séance

PY

[Smallbudgetguru]

MERCI!!!


These are all perfect and about time I learned them especially having built my studio in Quebec!

Turns out I will also be doing sound design (minor) for this video so if you have any ideas / terms that may be helpful there I would appreciate it but really I figure that should not involve too many fancy technical terms.

Oh heres one. What is "spotting"? Like spotting a session with a director to determine what sounds are needed?

Merci bien encore!!!

[Smallbudgetguru]

Thanks again everyone. I had a great session today. Merci!

[Smallbudgetguru]

Couple of additional questions:

is it always "Ta" voix? Is voix always feminine or if the talent is male would it be "Ton voix"?

Also is compression the same in french just the pronunciation is different?

Cheers!

[Mr B.]

it is always going to be "ta voix" because "voix" is feminine doesn't matter who is it.

And compression is the same just different pronounciation.