The phrase “fix it in post” is a staple in the film industry, not because it’s hilarious, but because it correctly depicts the attitude of those who don’t work in post-production. Even with careful planning, production can be the most chaotic and difficult part of any project. Even if you spend a million dollars on a shoot, you can’t stop the weather from ruining your plans. Even while many problems have simple solutions in audio and post-production, it’s necessary to recognise which ones do and do not exist before making the all-important decision to “wrap it up and move on!”
Problems and challenges in the audio and post-production segment
Poor Performance
Although there are always ways to tweak performance for the better, if the skill isn’t there, to begin with, there’s no magic potion your trusted editor can conjure up that will make it into a strong and memorable one. Finding the right people to interview can be challenging because you are usually not working with actors. Still, it is crucial to remember that no amount of post-production magic will transform a monotonous bore into an exciting storyteller. Select your interview with care.
Disturbing Noises or Reverberation
If you are interviewing at the Super Bowl and the audience is going wild, and the artist has to shout for you to hear her voice, no amount of skilled audio production will make it sound like she is inside a closet. The same goes for loud noises such as trains or rockets. Another major offender is the cicada, which is annoying and difficult to eradicate because its screeches vary slightly during the day. They can swing from one end of the spectrum to the other, bringing down morale.
Similarly, adding audio and post-production effects like echo and reverb to a voice is trivial but virtually impossible to remove them. Expecting the sound mixers to perform miracles if you’re filming in a tunnel or cathedral where the talent’s voice would otherwise echo off every surface is unrealistic. It’s something you’ll have to take care of on set.
Blunders Captured on Film
Have you lost data on one of your memory cards because you destroyed it before you could back it up? Sorry. To put it simply, you are “having a bad day.” Exposed so much that it’s unrecognizable? It’s a flaw in the amateur camerawork, and no amount of skill on the part of the colourist will save the day.
How are production companies and engineers mitigating them?
They can Improve Upon a Faulty Performance
Video performances are typically not as fluid as they appear since they are a compilation of numerous separate performances or “takes” that were seamlessly edited together. This is terrific because it allows you to cherry-pick the best parts of the footage and do another reading to capture the piece you may have missed.
Don’t worry if your presenters fail a line here and there.If you’ve got great talent in front of the camera, it won’t be an issue to edit that out afterwards.
Minor Camera Flaws ARE Correctable
You can correct things like camera shake, for instance, when editing. Although it won’t compare to a perfectly smooth take, little hiccups and shakes are easy to fix in post. With the additional high-resolution footage, we can fix problems without sacrificing quality.
Role of technology
At this late stage in the game, digital media is a clear winner over traditional filmmaking techniques. The possibility of wasting raw film during editing is always a worry. Mistakes in the editing process might cause entire sections to be cut from the film. Editing mistakes in digital formats can be undone at will. Also, the uncut raw footage can have different effects and audiovisual treatments added to it in digital media. This aids in producing a more streamlined film by facilitating the seamless integration of all effects.
Conclusion
Everything being mentioned here falls somewhere on a scale. Inevitably, no two problems are the same, and no two situations are the same. However, this article should have provided insight into the sorts of issues in audio and post-production you may be able to resolve in the future.
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