Recording Cars for Hollywood Films, How The Pros Do It

[@thisguydan]

"How The Pros Do It: _______ " should become its own series for audio capture and production. Loved the video.

[@pedrolemos5394]

9:35 talking about mic position and exhausts... Shows a photo of a Tesla with no exhausts hehe

[@sarikdavid90]

:D:D:D:D:D

[@elliottg2322]

This KZbin channel has a BRIGHT future

[@spielundzeug]

How would you capture dialogue/talking head in a car?

[@TrailerYacht]

Absolute beginner here, but I think these lav techniques will transfer well to capturing sound while sailing. Constant wind noise is bad enough but a car would have the same issues. Salt water spray and delicate electronics - not a good mix - lots of cheap lavs and plastic conduit brackets sound like a plan ! Thanks for some clever insights.

[@axk]

This is actually awesome, I’d love to talk to you about recording sailing! Are you on instagram somewhere? Mind shooting me a DM when you have a minute?

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Alex, really helpful!

[@WorldofThaiFood]

Thanks for sharing Alex. Useful information. Looking forward to more videos

[@denzil932]

Superb.

[@KyleSVT]

Thanks for the tips!

[@riverxavier]

Echoing the others . . . just a great informative video Alex, thanks.

[@ClutchFirst]

Great video and tons of information for field recording. Im so glad you’re on KZbin Alex. Thank you! 🙏🏽

[@JODmonn]

I was looking at left wave recording and boy o boy its perfection. It never peaks and its naturally smooth rather than compression and normalizing

[@woutervanleeuwen3012]

Thanks mate! Great video.

[@andyphipps01]

Great content man. Fantastic to learn.

[@wolfx23]

Looking forward to all your upcoming videos. Finally some insight for the Sound side of things.

[@xdboardsurfer]

Fantastic!

[@piercemotions6172]

Glad you started this channel. Audio is super important and something I need to learn more about.

[@alexanderholt8128]

Best new channel! Can’t wait for the next one!

[@ruaangrobler3035]

This was awesome, thanks. I've just gotten into content creation and drive a convertible z4m with a high-revving motor - my lav mic dies with the high revs, and my GoPro dies at faster speed due to wind noise - especially with the top down, so I'm trying to figure it all out and this helped a lot. Much thanks.

[@InlandFilmCo]

All of this is gold. We have been investing in our field recording processes, and this just opened our eyes to details we would have never thought of!

[@axk]

Awesome! Glad you’re finding this stuff useful! Plenty more to talk about and share, and definitely feel free to ask questions. Will try to answer some in the next video!

[@InlandFilmCo]

@@axk We definitely want to hear more about recording wind. You mentioned it a little in your Potato Jet video, but we need some good elaboration! We'd love to have you on the Cinetherapy Podcast if you're willing. Check out one of our latest episodes talking about music scoring: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nauYlKZ_aclpnZI

[@DevyKins]

@@axk I know this is an older comment, but I can't get anything online to help with this particular question. How exactly do you mix the audio for the film? All the videos I come across are on how to record it, but not about how to edit it, and make it natural in post.

[@axk]

That’s a more complicated question than it appears on the surface, but I’ll actually be making videos about it very soon!

[@DevyKins]

@@axk Really? Thank you! I have a scene in a animated short with an old Nova, and trying to find sounds (Don't have the budget nor really an option to go out and mic one since the world is kinda in a lockdown) is the easy part, but mixing has always been my issue. Can't wait to see that video!

[@linken_lp]

Great video Alex. Very glad i found your channel. Audio is a HUGE topic in Filmmaking and i finally found the needed information source

[@tommygearhart4651]

For exhaust recordings with a lav, how do you keep the output of the mic from blowing out the recording?

[@axk]

Stay tuned...

[@mobilechaosyt]

Neutral engine rev is not really appropriate for that scene especially for an automatic. Use of lavalier microphones is great. I will have to remember that. I'm still working out ways to make audio and video better especially when two kids go opposite directions and they are both doing and saying interesting things. Got a fix for that?

[@Creeperboy099]

For the Subaru to skid, have you tried removing the fuses that enable traction control?

[@chipio]

This is your second video I've seen and you're already in my top 10 favorite channels.

[@alexg4644]

Definitely need more of this!

[@OutmersiveFilms]

Hell yeah! Excellent video. So awesome to see the production sound vs final audio. Such a huge difference!

[@jonatanvillafana3244]

Would you be able to add broll how your placing the lavs? Great video!! love the content.

[@jonatanvillafana3244]

I'll help you shoot the b roll if you need help =)

[@heigolepla]

Bad audio can ruin a good video. Great info, helps alot. Cheers for doing this!

[@daleb194]

Phenomenal video! Can't wait to see more.

[@OffTheDomeMediaGroup]

Awesome video.. Thanks.

[@dantediego]

I love this channel!

[@MrDanAldehyde]

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!

[@bastianomalley]

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. If it’s possible to include some broll on how you place/attach the mics (e.g. in the engine compartment and wheel wells) in the future, that would be helpful. Thanks again and I’m super hyped for future videos 🤙🏼

[@Megabean]

Awesome video. Keep the videos coming.

[@soruhoru]

So great! Thank you for the lesson!

[@THIPLEX]

Really love you niche, explaining sound and how to record. You mentioned supercar recording. I would be really interrested in how to record propper exhaust sound of a car. Looking forward to more content from you. Really great!

[@RavikantRai21490]

This video was useful to me in editing, re-cutting a short and paying special attention to audio of the car. I actually purchased a sound pack for that specific car haha. Thank you Alex! Amazing content!

[@HennessyBoss]

Very helpful videos , just subscribed to your channel .. Not sure if you did this video before , but can you maybe do a video about how to mix and edit car exhaust recordings (with wind noise , dialogue ,etc ).or link me to a video if you've already covered this. Thanks

[@matiasgoinheix366]

Lavaliers on the tyres... of course! I don't think I would have come up with that one, great tip.

[@onemanshow2386]

Great video. Many of us are budget filmmakers and have cheap lavs and get mics like the cheap ebay EM-320E. I am fortunate to have gotten a NTG-2. My question is with my Zoom H1N lets say, or Zoom H4N, how can you get the best sound out of the cheap stuff? Do we keep levels low and fix them in post? Of course I only have Audacity to speak of but am working on a small narrative film. I don't feel the video is hollow or needs any b-roll, your info is very educational and we learn from it. Sometimes the time it takes to fill videos full of glam takes away from the reality of bringing really important information to your target market.

[@GabriellCoruja]

What about video game car sounds? How are they taken to work right when playing?

[@facu_eze_peralta]

Nice video! Love it! ♥

[@joelarvidsson]

Was good but i liked to se more b roll of from the set with the rigged up cars.

[@lunchbreakproductions3727]

Great Channel. Having a hard time finding one based solely off Audi. Examples like the independent film help a lot! Can you do a video on when to use a score and how to mix that in at the right audio level? I love using background music and definitely overuse them in all my videos.

[@jaylindo6528]

I want to be a sound designer. Thank you for the help❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@TheZaco32]

This is so interesting. Thank you!

[@DanielAmezcuaPhotography]

I have been curious about the exhaust sounds. How are you taking a lavalier mic cable (usually a short cable) all the way back to an input?

[@taylorpearson6266]

Alex this is so dope! Please keep making more!

[@frejyasdaeg]

Great first video, great information, excellent presentation, you are very personable on camera. I would have loved to see some demonstrations on how / where to tape microphones to accentuate your points, but overall this is a super solid first video! I look forward to your next release!

[@joseandujarjr]

This was amazing, thank you!

[@KCYT2010]

So you're happy with the new Sound Devices MixPre 6 ? They've certainly brought the price down to compete. You mentioned using a stereo shotgun mike for the car interiors sounds but don't list it in your kit. I have a Neumann RSM 191A S that's considered by many to be one of the best sound effect mics ever but hey are no longer made. I'm curious what you use.

[@squierplayer]

Is she driving an automatic or a manual? The engine revving sound would be wrong if it’s an auto. Even if it is a manual, still just seems off for some reason. Maybe it’s the volume level? I don’t know, can’t pinpoint it.

[@Truesilverful]

dude, it's an automatic, you can HEAR it

[@squierplayer]

Truesilverful Then why would she be revving it up while she’s slowing down to turn around? Her foot would be on the brake and not on the gas.

[@axk]

This is actually a good question since the Toyota is in fact an automatic, and the level of the rev sweetener feels a little hot. That's because this scene in the film is covered by loud music, so we needed something to accent the motion of the car that would cut through. By itself the FX stem may not sound exactly "correct", but with all of the dialog, music, and FX playing together, it felt balanced and (most importantly) the director was happy with it!

[@squierplayer]

Alex Knickerbocker Thank you for the details Alex. It’s always interesting to learn the process involved with making a film, because we never know what constraints the filmmaker had to worth within and whatnot. I’m looking forward to more of your videos. I’m always looking for the best way to attach a lavalier mic so that it is hidden, but doesn’t pick up clothing rustle. That’s my suggestion for a video 😁

[@NoIDeaSynchro]

really cool, was looking for a series like this for a while :)

[@wasabeiwant]

Finallyyyyyy a video, loving it.

[@alijafri2022]

Hey Alex. Congratulations on your new channel. Fun video. Maybe you could also give tips and tricks for simple KZbinrs, those of us who are struggling to get a decent voice recording in our rooms. Maybe expand on your potato jet collaboration and discuss mics, rooms, acoustics, diy sound proofing and dampening. Not very many good videos on that, and advice is mostly from non-professionals. Good luck with your channel!

[@alexmatete5709]

Alexmat from South Africa... loved you on Potato Jet...I just subscribed beeyach...You better keep up the posts!

[@Pattern_seeker202]

You had me at "industry standard techniques".

[@investwithdario]

I would like to hear what was recorded on the Tesla in the thumbnail 😀

[@MC_Theta]

Hey, Alex! What about the environment while recording these sounds? A skid on a busy intersection would sound different than a skid on a runway, right?

[@schuey323]

This is AWWWWEEEESSSOOOMMMEEEE

[@tqaproduction]

Thanks for sharing! Great video and insights. Looking forward to more content.

[@dannovic]

Any recommendations for really loud exhausts? Are there different style microphones that handle loud noises better or worse or shouldn't it matter too much

[@chellib3533]

Love Love Love! Great info. So exciting and fun to see the "behind the scenes". Alex you're videos have opened my eyes to a Whole New World🎶, Thank You Thank You.

[@chris5355]

Great stuff!

[@rahoolsyam9538]

which mics were used especially the lav mic for recording under the hood and for high spl recording like the exhaust

[@darkbloodgabs]

Great Video and awesome engine! What lavalier mics are you using? I'd like to record some engine sounds too and can't decide what to buy.

[@axk]

I really love Voice Technologies and DPA mics personally!

[@darkbloodgabs]

@@axk Thanks, I will look into them!

[@BillMellow]

That's a really great first video. Congratulations! Look forward to future content. Quick question maybe you can help with. I've also used a lav on the exhaust but I've struggled with getting too much road noise vs exhaust. Any tips on where to place the lav?

[@Night1989]

Great content!

[@oren.kirschenbaum]

Awesome, Alex! looking forward to the next vid

[@bryanauer]

dude... dope! A+

[@gutgutphoto]

I am interested to know how to cut a sentence into several parts (like 0:30-0:40) but still sounds so smooth~~~~ thx bro~~~~~~~~

[@musicman7996]

Teacher, can you ask for Chinese subtitles in each of your videos? Because I like and need every knowledge you share very much! Thank you, teacher!

[@bubblinbaby6910]

I've been trying to record my own personal car for my car channel and it just clips everytime I build up any rpm. Granted my car is loud as hell(Big turbo subaru sti with open intake and catless exhaust system.) I have a cheap mic thats wired into my camera (which is my phone s10+) the pro video recording allows me to drop the dB level down to -12dB but it's still is wayyyy too loud for the mic. My phone itself could pretty easily record these sounds without clipping but as soon as it's mic'd up it clips. I've tried a bunch of things an positions to drop the sound level including wrapping the mic in more foam to help muffle but no dice. Maybe my mic is just not up to the task and I should try another? Any tips to help muffle sound without having to buy a lot more gear?

[@MattGlennSoundDesign]

Hey Alex - fellow LA sound designer / field recordist here. When you're capturing cars in a session like this, do you hire a professional stunt driver? Also, where is this airfield location? Amazing work on your videos - incredibly informative!

[@JimBlind]

Great video! More footage from BTS if possible, to visualize the content. :)

[@axk]

Haha, I think I can manage that! Thanks for the feedback!

[@thejspotvlog]

Great Videos man Im new to audio so these vids are great !! btw are you from Cyprus ?

[@e16boii]

So much useful content!! Looking forward to future videos :)

[@HighHeadTV]

Love your content bro, please keep doing this 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻💪🏽

[@ukaszStachowiak]

yup, this will be a great youtube channel ^^

[@eliteextremophile8895]

Do I see FabFilter plugins over there? I like you more already!

[@osbornmediallc8159]

Killer. Please keep this channel going. 🙏🙏

[@franklinmichael671]

What happened to your video with potato jet?

[@Homie_vers]

Keep Going

[@kane01337]

What framerate was this shot in - lipsync seems slightly off ?? Not sure if its drifting or just slightly off to framerate match ? :S

[@giulioraimondo4170]

Hi Alex, what type of mics and mic placement you recommend for recording dialogues happeing inside a moving car but the car engine has a very loud rumble (like a muscle car) Any tips other then ADR the scene?

[@noahsduck4109]

Bro I love ur amazingly bassey voice it's amazing!

[@TinyCometFilms]

you see all those EQs and compressors in the background right? Mister audio knows to sweeten vocals before publishing ;)

[@noahsduck4109]

I didn't see that in potato jets video and it was still crazy bassey

[@olsenalien]

Great start! Awesome info! p.s. would love to see some animation on the top screen behind your head, maybe a halo :-) ... or horns and fire, whatever you fancy.

[@aniket6103]

Make something for recording audio for youtube.

[@czarlez]

This is great! thank you so much! I subscribe to you after I saw you on Potato's video!

[@Mik66r]

Great video Alex, thank you for very useful information! I always struggle when I record car exhaust sound. Your video helped a lot! It would be very interesting to watch more about this topic, part 2 with high performance cars? :) I found them harder to record (much louder, heat ect.) Also, the air flow from the exhaust on these cars are so strong, that the hiss and wind from exhaust mute the sound from the engine. Did you faced that? Any advice how to fight that? Thanks a lot!

[@axk]

Thank you!! Performance cars are definitely a different animal. All the same principles can apply, but levels and heat are absolutely issues. Plenty of mics have been melted as a result, haha. There’s only so much you can do to adapt, but watching levels and mic placement go a much longer way than you’d think!

[@Mik66r]

Alex Knickerbocker or maybe record on the dyno stand? That can solve some issues I guess.. Anyway, thanks for your answer and looking forward to next videos!

[@lumixartfilms]

TOP!

[@alexandreriou1577]

The content is stunningly good! Thank you for the insight. The only thing I could say is that I would prefer to have slightly less cuts in the visual parts. I dont mind between sentences but in the middle of sentences it can be slightly distracting Other than that i'm so glad i discovered you thanks to potato jet

[@koreybartos]

I fucking love your channel. So much interesting information. Please keep it up.

[@Joshua-iz1go]

2:27 Lol, this is so true it's hilarious

[@niannolan]

love how the exhaust sound example rig photo was on a Tesla tho lmaoo

[@RoadRashHD]

Personally i didn't think the car rev sound bytes really fit,they seemed odd and out of place,but the just my opinion

[@wasabeiwant]

Was that a Tesla, do they make sound?

[@axk]

Exactly right! And the motor sounds like a space ship with the right mic on it. Plus the fact that the place I recorded it is like the windiest spot in California...that was a challenging car for sure.

[@artemmachnev4064]

Recording an exhaust sound on Tesla?;)

[@omdbagul]

At 9:36 are the mic strapped to a Tesla Model S at its back, but why?? It does not even have an engine ... Sooo hilarious And yeah great video but I will like to see more B-roll in the video... cause the video kind of feel hollow...

[@axk]

Doesn’t have a standard internal combustion engine but it does have a motor! And the tires always make sounds. Plus having tires without engines mean you can use them for any car as sweeteners.

[@omdbagul]

@@axk that's actually pretty cool!!!