Sound Recording and Editing is an Art

Sound editing is an essential step of post-production and can elevate a film or other sound project (e.g. music, podcasts, etc.) to the next level. In the filmmaking process, sound editing takes place after the video/footage has been edited by the picture-editor into a complete cut of the film. With music, sound editing and mixing typically takes place after the recording process. Having your project’s sound professionally recorded, edited, and mixed is essential to your project reaching its highest potential.

Before editing comes recording. To obtain clean, optimal-sounding recordings on a film set, it is preferable that the recording/filming location be as quiet as possible so that extraneous sounds don’t make their way into the recordings. When recording music, voiceovers, or ADR in professional recording studios (as opposed to recording sound on a film set), it is easier to block out unwanted sounds, as studios are typically well-soundproofed and acoustically treated.

One simple way to test the acoustics of a studio’s listening/monitoring room is to play a test tone of a 4-6 kHz sine wave through the monitoring speakers and then move around the listening area to make sure that the tone isn’t heard louder in certain areas, as a result of too much sound reflection. To prevent sound reflection, acoustic panels can be placed in specific areas on the walls in order to absorb sound. In the recording room, to prevent “bleed” of one instrument’s sound into another instrument’s microphone, gobo panels (moveable acoustic isolation panels) are frequently used. Foam panels and other materials of panels are used on walls to absorb and diffuse sound as desired.

After the recording process is complete, sound editors cut together the recordings as desired, blending pieces together and applying various effects as needed, such as equalization (EQ), compression, reverb, etc. They also cut out/remove unwanted sounds and adjust volume, striving for a smooth, clean, and leveled final product.

Professional sound studios provide high-end gear and professional engineers who have invaluable knowledge when it comes to recording techniques. Professional sound editors can fix and clean up issues in recordings, and they possess the creative abilities needed to produce a sound project that shines. Professional studios can provide you with an optimal-quality Theatrical Sound Mix or music track. Transported Audio is a Theatrical Sound Studio Los Angeles that offers sound recording, editing, and mixing services for television, film, or any video project. Come check us out here.