Xixax Film Forum

So I'm doing ADR now, but my movie was shot outside in the summer, and now it's cold-ass winter, and we have to do all the voice work inside. Consequently, it's very hard to get the sounds to match, as the ADR voices have that "echo off the walls" sound. It seems fine when you hear it alone, but when you put it in the scene with the rest of the normal dialogue, you can tell the difference.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can manipulate this ADR to take some of the room acoustics out? Should I have people stand closer to the mic? What audio filters would help with this (I'm using Premier Pro, but also have Adobe Audition).

Thanks much

Buy a couple of egg crate bedding rolls. Put it on any flat walls you have around or try to insulate the actual recording area with them. They prevent echos and diminish outside noise. It's the cheapest solution I can think of manually.

It's always best to take care of as many audio problems as possible during the recording phase rather than post.

If you want the ultimate match, try recording the ADR in the same environment as your on-set sound... ie outside... it may be cold, but believe me, the match will work perfectly.  You should always try matching the acoustics of your original sound... I can always tell when they've recorded ADR in a studio... it never quite matches, especially in outdoor scenes.  It doesn't matter what program you use... this will work for you.  Also, there is no way to remove acoustics from a room... once it's there, it's there... you can add, you just can't subtract.

Two things: I think it will damage my camera to be out in the cold (I have to get sound straight to the on-board of the xl1s), and also, actors you're not paying generally don't like to stand out in the cold for an hour of adr work...