Great shows, great sound.

[P3D <LeRoyDDD@xxxxxxx>]

Jon Golden says regarding sound recording...

"As always....no matter how great your equipment is....if there is an air
conditioner running in the room....no fancy recorder is going to get rid of
that...so your recording is only as good as the source and how you record
it.....just like photography!"

     My thoughts on soundtracks for a slide show parallel what may be needed
to get the images for the show itself. To lift a show out of the category of
"Record of My Vacation," I think you need to visit a site or attend an event
more than once.
     Ideally, you should plan a shooting script noting(even just mentally)
lighting conditions, viewpoints, transition shots, movement of action, etc.
and think about how you want to deal with any problems.
     Even a show featuring a museum(when the crowds are lightest, permission
for a tripod) or one that's just a scenic tour(shoot West side of street in
morning, East side in afternoon) can gain from this kind of planning. Unless
familiar with the event, this will take a non-shooting visit or at least a
"casual" shooting one.
     Short of enlisting a crew of stereographers, you then need to do more
than one "shoot" to get what you want for the show, even if just to get the
lighting right and/or consistent.
     Not to say that you can't just shoot like crazy and put together a
decent show... I just think the chances are better for success and quality,
along with lower shooting ratios, with a little planning.
     With practice and experience you can plan and anticipate your "shooting
schedule" even with a one-time event or visit, but I'd still want at least to
get the program in advance... even if only to notice a lull where I could
change film with out missing anything crucial. :=)

     The soundtrack for the show has analogs for most of the above.
Fortunately a lot can be done with purchased/generated effects for sound
which aren't currently available for 3-D.

     My favorite treatment of the foibles of sound recording is that in the
classic movie, "Singing in the Rain."

     Next time you see a good "seamless" movie(in terms of photography and
sound) stick around for the credits and note those for location scouts,
second unit photography, re-recording, foley artists and editors and more.
     As independent stereographers, we have to strive to do it all!

     Of course, there are "concept" shows that aren't "shot wild" but
imaginatively put together from already existing images or those made under
control of the creator(as with Stan White/Pat Whitehouse/Guy Ventouliac)
which give great esthetic pleasure. When well done, these are true gems of
creativity.

LeRoy Barco
LeRoyDDD@xxxxxxx


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