Reflections on the project ’ s own public involvement

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UNIT 3 SOUND MIXERS, CONSOLES AND SOUND RECORDING

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3.0 MAIN CONTENT

A sound mixer normally serves in mixing (combining) two or more audio signals.

Most portable mixers have only three or four input channels and one or two outputs.

Even then the small mixers require that you distinguish between low-level and high-level input sources. A switch above or below each sound input must be set either to micfor low-level inputs, such as all microphones, or to line for high-level sources, such as the output of a CD player. Because most of the time you will use the field mixer for mixing microphones, double-check that the input switch is set to mic.

If you are not sure whether a particular piece of audio equipment produces a mic-level or a line-level signal, do a brief test recording. Don't rely on the VU meter when playing back the test recording—you should actually listen to it with headphones. The VU meter might show the recording to be in the acceptable volume range, but it will not reflect sound distortions.

Even though some digital mixers have more inputs as well as some quality controls, elaborate mixing in the field is not recommended unless you're doing a live telecast.

3.2 The Audio Console

Regardless of their individual designs, audio consoles are meant to perform at least five specific tasks as follows:

 Input: to pre- amplify and control the volume

 Mix:to combine and balance two or more incoming signals.

 Quality control:to manipulate the sound characteristics

 Output:to route the combined signals to a specific output

 Monitor:to listen to the sounds before or as their signals are actually recorded or broadcast

Input - Studio consoles have multiple inputs to accept a variety of sound sources.

Even small studio consoles may have sixteen or more inputs. Although that many

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inputs are rarely used in the average in-house production or broadcast day, they must nevertheless be available for the program you may have to do the next day.

Mix - The audio console lets you combine, or mix, the signals from various inputs, such as two lavaliere mics, the background music, and the sound effect of a phone ring. The mix bus combines these various audio signals with the specific volume that you assign. Without the mixing capability of the board, you could control only one input at a time. The completed mix is then fed to the line-out.

Quality control - All audio consoles have various controls that let you shape the character of a sound. Among the most important are equalization, filters, and reverberation (reverb) controls.

Monitor- All consoles have a monitor system, which lets you hear the final sound mix or allows you to listen to and adjust the mix before switching it to the line- out. A separate audition or cue return system lets you hear a particular sound source without routing it to the mix bus.

Output- The mixed and quality-processed signal is then routed to the output, called the line-out. To ensure that the mixed signals stay within the acceptable volume limits, they are regulated by final volume controls—the master pots—and metered by volume indicators, the most common of which is the volume unit (VU) meter. As the volume varies, the needle of the VU meter oscillates back and forth along a calibrated scale, 3.3 Sound Recording Systems

The sound of routine Video productions is usually recorded simultaneously with the pictures on one of the audio tracks of the videotape recorder. There are occasions, however, when you need to back up your sound recording with a separate audio recording, or record the audio on a separate system for high-end postproduction. Even if you don't intend to become an audio expert, you need to know what systems are available to you.

In general, audio-recording systems can record audio signals in analog or digital form.

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Analog means that the signal fluctuates exactly like the original stimulus; digital means that the signal is translated into many discrete digits (on/off pulses). Almost all audio recording in professional television is done digitally. As with video, digital audio recordings excel not only in sound quality but also in maintaining that quality in extensive postproduction editing. Because digital systems allow you to see a visual display of the recorded sounds, they make editing much more precise than with the analog methods. But don't dismiss analog audio just yet. Many older camcorders and VHS recorders are still analog, and there are extensive analog sound archives that will most likely remain analog even in the digital age. You may still have a collection of analog equipment that most likely includes an analog cassette machine. Some audio purists have returned to analog sound systems because, according to them, analog recordings have a warmer sound than digital ones.

Analog Recording Systems

All analog recording systems are tape-based. Here we briefly touch on the two analog audio systems that are still in use: the open-reel audiotape recorder and the audio cassette recorder. The operational features of analog ATRs have been inherited by the digital recorders.

Digital Recording Systems

High-capacity, rugged hard drives coupled with efficient compression systems such as MP3 make disk-based systems the prime audio-recording medium in television production. The more popular systems include: (1) the digital cart system, (2) mini disks and flash memory devices, (3) hard drives with removable or fixed disks, and (4) optical disc systems with a variety of CD and DVD formats.

4.0 CONCLUSION

In this unit, we have explored the equipment and the techniques of controlling sound and sound recordings in film and video studio and field productions. We have also examined sound controls and recordings.

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5.0 SUMMARY

You by now, you should be able to identify and explain sound recording equipment, explain the techniques in studio and field sound recording and even perform basic sound recordings and sound mixing.

6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT

1. Differentiate between audio console and audio mixer.

2. Differentiate between digital and analog audio recording devices.

3. What functions do audio mixers perform?

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING

Kellison, C. (2006). Producing for TV and Video:A Real-World Approach. UK: Focal Press.

Musburger, R. B. & Gorham, Kindem, G. (2009). Introduction to Media Production:

The Path to Digital Media Production.(4th ed.). UK: Focal Press.

Zettl, H. (2006). Television Production Handbook. (9thed.).Thomson Wadsworth.

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MODULE 5

Unit 1 Introduction to Film & Video Editing

Unit 2 Film & Video Editing Systems and Technology Unit 3 Editing Applications