Audio for Video Question

mjroddy wrote on 1/25/2008, 2:30 PM

I shot a spot for a golf center where two guys are romping about on the course. They have a small amount of dialog, which I couldn't shoot on the spot, because the wind was too much of a distraction.
So I had them read each of their lines at night after the wind had died down. Problem is, I did it in a much more controlled envronment, and it's lost that "I'm Outdoors" sound.
I just spend about 45 min on the EQ trying to get that back, but I'm having no luck. I'm starting to think it's not an EQ thing.

Are there any tricks to making a "studio" VO sound as though you're outside on a golf course?

Probably doesn't matter, but the mics were Sony ECM77b's, attached to lapel about a "hitch hiker's fist away." We were outside, but on a patio (very little bounce).

Edit: I should add that the on camera talet should sound as though they're between 5 and 25 feet away.

Thanks very much.

Comments

TGS wrote on 1/25/2008, 2:37 PM

Probably reflected sound that's giving it away (doesn't take much if you're near cement)
Find some "outdoors" ambience to mix against it (birds, trees blown in wind)
Maybe some very quiet music
You will still notice, but others probably won't after that.

mjroddy wrote on 1/25/2008, 2:40 PM

Thanks TGS.

Guess I should clarify a bit more:
The audio sounds too good right now; as though it were recorded - like it was, in a controlled environment with the talent right next to the mic.
One shot I have is of a guy from across a sand bunker, and it just sounds wrong to have his voice sound so prominent and bassy.
The rest of the shots are similar, so what I tried was to drop a lot of the bass. Didn't sound right, so I dropped bass and mids. Still not right. Then ensued a long session of various mixes with hundreds of EQ variations.

As for ambient sounds, by all means, I will be adding some "open air" and birds, etc.

Thanks very much.

seanfl wrote on 1/25/2008, 2:44 PM

you might try reducing the bass quite a bit (reduce everything below 200 hz) and see if that helps. if you can post a sample that will help some of us give an idea of what to try.

Sean

Steven Myers wrote on 1/25/2008, 2:44 PM

Find a spot where's it's noise only. Mix that in with the stuff that's too good.

TGS wrote on 1/25/2008, 3:09 PM

Okay, I understand now.
Use your track EQ
It has automation and you can turn on one band at a time.
I would choose #2 Band and drop it below the line and move it slightly in a horizontal direction and find the spot that makes the voice sound more distant. Probably very close to where #1 Band ends and probably close the the 200hz range mentioned above.
Using automaiton, is like using a volume envelope. (Un-check "Enabled" Band 1, 3 & 4 Tabs in the EQ window) Open automation Icon and choose Band 2 Bypass. The line used is a Tan color and wil say something like "Bypass is True" (or False), It sits either on top of the track or on the bottom (on or off) otherwise works like the volume envelope. "Bypass False" on the voice that needs to be further sounding away
This way you can turn on the effect when you need it without having to separate to new tracks.
Hope that helps
EDIT: If still too much low bass, make the type a "Low Shelf" in drop down of Band 2 tab