Prototype Session 2
For the revised recording session I conducted the experiment in the way described in the session one reflection, however there were a few new problems that arose. I booked out a MixPre and a directional mic in the hopes of avoiding gain hiss, room tone and excess noise from the rooms either side of the performance lab. This worked as planned but the microphone change caused a necessary change of placement. I found that the previous placement (Fig.2) resulted in little to no sound, instead I had to use the placement illustrated in Fig.3. I noticed an interesting opportunity for another level of permanence with this method as different frequencies were emphasised by different microphone placement.
I also chose to use two contact microphones, these recordings were clearer from a musical sense but harboured less material. I would describe it as a slightly metallic cello, the primary quality these recordings lacked was environment. I prefer the shotgun mic recordings as they seem like an object in a real space, this is the most important quality in the project, verisimilitude.
For this version I wanted to be very organised and intentional with my project set up, each recording has a folder that contains each recording downloaded from the MixPre. I am very interested in the idea of creating a realistic space using reverbs and volume, I think this will be the crux of maintaining the immersion and not breaking audiovisual correspondence. I plan to research into realistic background editing, but for this session I created my own template.
The template consists of three bus channels (close, mid, far), each of which has a convolution reverb with a mountainside preset. I gradually increased the wetness, length and size of the reverb. I also decreased the volumes of the mid and far busses.
In conclusion this method worked a lot better for the implementation of the sounds into a simulated space, I feel I have concrete proof of concept (the concept being diegetic composition). My focus can now pull away from proving this concept, and move onto creating a realistic soundscape for the animation.
I received a very in depth storyboard from my collaborator, this has made me realise that the foley might be an insurmountable task for this assignment. I feel I may have to focus my efforts purely on background and music to achieve the level of work I want to, I can then record foley and other elements later to complete the project.
I will be receiving footage by the end of this week and will begin this process.