Chapter 10 - Custom Recording Sound Effects: The Real Fun and Adventure

Abstract

Custom recording sound effects is probably my favorite phase of the soundtrack creation process. A wonderful side-benefit from custom recording is the incredible learning experience that goes with it. If you truly are dedicated to the sound job, you cannot help but immerse yourself totally into the subject, learning the mechanics of how things work by studying sounds that emanate from whatever you are recording. Hopefully, the supervising sound editor is set for the project early enough so that he or she can screen dailies, or at least view significant event sequences long before picture editorial is ready to lock picture and turn it over for sound editorial work. After an overview of the sound effect material either in the sound library or in any wild track recordings the production mixer may have gotten on the set during principal photography, the supervising sound editor starts to list needs for custom sound effect recording. More often than not, the supervising sound editor personally goes out and custom records the sound or teams up with other sound effect recordists in larger sessions that require multiple microphones and a team effort.