Need advice on short film post production

[GregorioM]

Originally Posted by Sotsirc

How much can the original sound be improved (noise reduction, eq)?

Would you replace the sound, add foley etc?

EQ out the parts of the sound you need to hear and add ambience?

Depends on the type and amount of noise and importantly, the skill and experience of the dialogue editor/mixer.

Originally Posted by Sotsirc

Should I just accept that it's not going to sound that good?

Without a skilled, experienced dialogue editor/mixer ... probably.

G

[CELopez]

Hello Dud!

You can do some noise reduction, but it will always affect the quality of the recording (you'll see that you will lose some high frequencies due the reduction). There are a lot of plug ins for that, (I use mostly Waves Z-Noise or X-Noise) and if you take your time to tweak and lisent carefully you can get away with it.

As far as I know, it's a common practice to enhace the sound with fooleys and other stuff. So go ahead, try and explore, if it sounds good to you, it's probably good.

About EQ and stuff just be gentle with it, try not to change the sound too much because it may sound unnatural, but if you consider that it's needed, then go for it.

If you accept that it will not sound good, you just lost your battle... try to think it as a challenge and do your best, even if the result it's not that good, you'll learn a lot and you will be sure that you did your best, wich I think it's what matters the most.

[Sotsirc]

Ok, thanks for your answers!

However, the reason I started this thread was for someone more experienced than myself in this field could take a listen to the actual film I'm working on and give some advice on how to tackle this.

Anyone?

[GregorioM]

Originally Posted by Sotsirc

...I started this thread was for someone more experienced than myself in this field could take a listen to the actual film I'm working on and give some advice on how to tackle this.

Unless the short was filmed entirely in single location, with the same consistent noise throughout, it's incredibly unlikely there will be a single or simple solution. You've not only got to consider what you start with but what you want to end with; delivery requirements, distribution (where it's going to be played) and artistic demands.

Originally Posted by CELopez

So go ahead, try and explore, if it sounds good to you, it's probably good.

I've heard this and similar sentiments many times in the past. Originally I think it came from Joe Meek. It might have been true to a limited extent 25 years ago but particularly in audio post and in today's world, it's not true. If the short is for theatrical release and the OP is working in a small, uncalibrated project studio, the chances are probably less than 50/50 if it sounds good to him it will also sound good in a cinema!

G

[soundboy]

Get Purcell's book on dialog editing. It will answer a lot of questions for you. Dialog editing is probably one of the toughest parts of the post sound process. Don't worry so much about noise. Think more about keeping the tracks smooth. You don't want sounds coming and going suddenly at the cuts. Smooth transitions. Our brains become accustom to and block out constant sound. It's how people live next to freeways without going insane. Without having been an apprentice, or assistant, and learning this stuff from more experienced people, you just have to resign yourself to making mistakes. It's really not something you can learn from 'advice'. You need to do it a lot, and be around experienced people who do it a lot.

[Sotsirc]

Thanks for your replies. Will definitely check out that book.
The reason I wanted someone to have a peek at the film before commenting is that there is no dialogue in it. It's an arty kind of film and I wanted some advice on this particular piece.