simulate a distant sound at DVinfo.net

Nelson Alexandre · June 29th, 2009, 08:12 AM

I've recorded a gasoline grass cutter working just because I have an important very wide shot where a gardener is treating a lawn.

It was shot nearby a highway so all the audio has cars passing by making the original sound useless.

So I now have a clean grass cutter to work with... But recorded nearby me. So I'm here to ask you all which is the best way to work the grass cutter sound and make it seem far away (about 150mts).

I'm using FCP to edit, so every tip inside FCP workflow will be very appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Mario Vermunt · June 29th, 2009, 08:48 AM

The least you should do is to lower the volume of the sound track of the grass cutter and cut some of the low and high frequencies so as to sound it more muffled. Use the controls while watching the clip so you can find the best settings. To make it more natural find some sound for the foreground (a bird or some animal or a nearby car driving alongside).

Ty Ford · June 29th, 2009, 09:03 PM

PB over good speakers. Walk away from them and re-record the sound.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Greg Boston · June 29th, 2009, 09:38 PM

You can also pull up the audio track in Sound Track Pro, and use the nice reverb that comes from Logic Pro with a whole bunch of different IR templates to approximate. I was able to make a living room band recording sound like it was live in an arena using that method.

-gb-

Cris Hendrix · June 29th, 2009, 11:58 PM

Yeah lowered volume and reverb are sometimes used in traditional mixing for music (to make something sound more distant), but I think may sound odd with an outdoor grass cutter.

Personally I'd just lower the volume and maybe reduce the stereo field a bit if you recorded in stereo.. otherwise just careful placement of the mono file and perhaps try cutting some frequencies as mentioned

Nelson Alexandre · July 1st, 2009, 09:07 AM

Hi all and many thanks for the sugestions,

I've solved the issue as many suggested. A combination of tweaked High and Low pass filters. Lowered the volume and I think it worked out fine.

Thanks for your suggestion also Ty. We are always learning and that one can be helpful in the future.

Cheers to all

June 29th, 2009, 08:12 AM	#1
Nelson Alexandre Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lisboa / Portugal Posts: 45	simulate a distant sound I've recorded a gasoline grass cutter working just because I have an important very wide shot where a gardener is treating a lawn. It was shot nearby a highway so all the audio has cars passing by making the original sound useless. So I now have a clean grass cutter to work with... But recorded nearby me. So I'm here to ask you all which is the best way to work the grass cutter sound and make it seem far away (about 150mts). I'm using FCP to edit, so every tip inside FCP workflow will be very appreciated. Thanks in advance

June 29th, 2009, 09:03 PM	#3
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	PB over good speakers. Walk away from them and re-record the sound. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

June 29th, 2009, 08:48 AM	#2
Mario Vermunt Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands Posts: 77	The least you should do is to lower the volume of the sound track of the grass cutter and cut some of the low and high frequencies so as to sound it more muffled. Use the controls while watching the clip so you can find the best settings. To make it more natural find some sound for the foreground (a bird or some animal or a nearby car driving alongside).

June 29th, 2009, 09:38 PM	#4
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	You can also pull up the audio track in Sound Track Pro, and use the nice reverb that comes from Logic Pro with a whole bunch of different IR templates to approximate. I was able to make a living room band recording sound like it was live in an arena using that method. -gb-

June 29th, 2009, 11:58 PM	#5
Cris Hendrix Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 66	Yeah lowered volume and reverb are sometimes used in traditional mixing for music (to make something sound more distant), but I think may sound odd with an outdoor grass cutter. Personally I'd just lower the volume and maybe reduce the stereo field a bit if you recorded in stereo.. otherwise just careful placement of the mono file and perhaps try cutting some frequencies as mentioned

July 1st, 2009, 09:07 AM	#6
Nelson Alexandre Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lisboa / Portugal Posts: 45	Hi all and many thanks for the sugestions, I've solved the issue as many suggested. A combination of tweaked High and Low pass filters. Lowered the volume and I think it worked out fine. Thanks for your suggestion also Ty. We are always learning and that one can be helpful in the future. Cheers to all