Tutorial 12: VCA Tracks and Submaster AUX Track Busses - Post-Production Audio Workflow Series

[@Swe-iwi]

Kia Ora from New Zealand (middle earth) Just wanted to say thanks so much for a flippen awesome series! It was meant to be a little reminder back to my study days, but you taught me so much! Excellent work, and hanging in for the upcoming tutorials! you have inspired me to chase a bit more post work and please keep them coming, you got a great thing going here! Cheers

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Thank for you for the kind words! I'm glad they could help!

[@tonybalaskas120]

Dude thanks for making these. I like how you explain every move but don't try to seem like a know it all! I'm editing/mixing an Indie soon and I'm glad I stopped by.

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Absolutely! I have six more videos in the pipeline so hopefully I can get those out before you start that film. Thanks for watching!

[@95brycef]

Film Sound Tutorials looking forward to more videos As an beginner film composer this is really interesting another side of film making Will you have a Video on how to place foley in space and mix the dialogue Sfx etc ?

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Hi Bryce! Yes, Tutorial #7 covers the basics of foley and Tutorial #12 covers the basics of mixing. So hopefully those videos will help. Thanks for watching!

[@Gitarzysta88]

Yeah! You are great! I was looking for that complex explanation of post. Bravo!

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Happy to help. Thanks for watching!

[@PufftasticJames4]

For my Audio Post method, I like to open the AAF, etc. and do the dialogue editing. Then, in a separate session, I copy the video track to my sound design template and do the SFX Editing and Design. Then, in another session, I cue the Foley for my Foley artist. Once my Foley artist sends in the results I review it and edit it. Then I put all the catagories in a supersession and do the Music Editing, add in RF Music if necessary, and in ADR, mix it, and master it. Before all this, I compose the music in MuseScore and my DAW. My method is I decide which tempo I would use for each cue, then I do the sketch in Musescore. I export a PDF and send it over to my musician, Atsnoma, to mock it up. Once he sends the MIDI information to me, I choose what sounds I like for the instruments, and finalize it. I do one cue at a time for each sketch, since I would send in a zip file for film scoring.

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Nice! Sounds like a super organized workflow. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheSoundBarr]

Such great info on workflow. Thanks so much for these. Please make more....Great work

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Absolutely! Yep I have a few that are just about done. Thanks for watching!

[@bogdanbildea3820]

dude..you re awesome! this tutorial is golden

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

No problem! Thanks for watching!

[@ricardomurga5445]

Hey Michael, I saw your comment that you were looking for some free plugins to use for LUFS metering. Here are two pretty decent plugins that you can check out. Audiocation AC-R128 and the MLoudnessAnalyzer. Thanks for the videos hope you finish soon :) If you do use the MLoudness meter don´t forget to reset the target value at 0 Lufs.

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Woah awesome! Thanks for sending this over. I'll check these out soon!

[@blessup1454]

Yeah these are super informative my man, please finish em, thanks

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

I'm glad I could help! Thanks for watching!

[@davidchapdelaine]

Thanks so much for these videos! Very helpful. Is there any specific reason to use the VCA's? Seems like I could just adjust the volume on the AUX tracks instead.

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Happy to help! Yep you can do that as well. There's a couple minor differences on using VCAs versus AUX tracks, but overall it has a similar effect. Thanks!

[@thomasclaire9969]

Thank you very much for you help ! I'm a location sound mixer trying to get into the post production to be more productive during my days off. I'm learning a lot ! When do you think you will post the next videos ?

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

That's great to hear! Truthfully, I'm not sure when the next videos will be ready. Fortunately/unfortunately I've been too busy working on actual projects to get them done. So hear's to hoping for more free time! Thanks for watching!

[@mogainc]

Hi, thank you for all the information that you have provided in your tutorial! They are in-depth and easy to understand. I watched all 12 tutorials and wondered what is the next step in the process? Thanks

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

The next step is to mix and print the film. That's about it. Thanks for watching!

[@jdretsmah]

Oh man, please make the mixing one. I've been working as an editor for over 10 years, but this is a goldmine for anyone trying to expand their audio postproduction knowledge like myself. So sad how little views you have here, compared to a ton of other shitty postproduction videos on KZbin. I'll be sure to buy something off your website for all the effort you put into making this series.

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Thanks I appreciate it!

[@kushagrahkalia4490]

Is there going to be another tutorial. Need better understanding for mixing . Please put out ep 13

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Maybe. There's plenty of great mixing tutorials on KZbin. Just get a free LUFS meter, and mix to -24 LUFS. That will get you most of the way. Thank for watching!

[@Farafamgama]

Hi, thanks so much, this is very useful, there's a lot of info I was looking for since I'm actually a film student and your workflow series can really help me to complete my learning. Ok, we're waiting your next video tutorials! :^)

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Glad I could help out! I was a film student once too so I know how it goes! Thanks for watching!

[@f15031995]

Thank you so much for this tutorials !!!! Will there be some next parts or is this the end ?

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Sure, I'd like to release more. I've already mapped it out. To do it properly it would be another 8 videos. But I just haven't had the time to record, editing, polish, and finish them. So hopefully, but we'll see. Thanks for watching!

[@luissinsin]

Thank you again, I've watched these religiously. Please let us know if you will be making any more as I haven't seen anything as specific for Film Sound Mixing. Also, if there is anything I can do to help, I'd be happy to.

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Yep I started making another 8 videos or so, but I've never found the time to finish them up. But I can happily answer any questions you have. Thanks!

[@georgexydous2891]

i have this problem. in my project i have send all my audio elements(dialogue, hard effects, foley etc) in aux tracks with reverbs in at every scene of the movie(1 inner and 2 outer scenes, so 3 reverbs). So my problem is that i cant send audio out in 2 busses simultaneously and obviously cant use Group Track and submaster tracks because i already have sent my audio out in reverbs and then in master

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Well luckily my next video will be on using Reverbs so hopefully I can answer your question then! Spoiler: You'll need a different Reverb plugin for each family, and then you can route the output of the Reverb back into the Submasters. But I'll explain more in the next video. Thanks!

[@Ajpu315]

Hey, greetings from Colombia!. I've watched all the Port Production series and i must way they were really helpful. , you're awesome!. Im just finishing my career and im aiming to work on this full time. But it is really hard to start being contacted with clients without any meaningful experience, so... any tip for a beginner?.

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Bienvenidos! Glad they could help. First off, to get some experience under your belt, find a movie/video game trailer that you like, and redo all of the sound for it. Second, email/call all of the TV/music studios around you to see if they need any help, even if it's unpaid. Third, join the Facebook groups of the local film Universities and see if any films need sound design work. Fourth, just keep making connections, because you never know who might need help in the future. Hope that helps!

[@Cmakeev]

Great job! Waiting for next videos.)

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Hi! Yes, I've been very busy recently (which is a good thing) so I haven't able to finish them yet. But stay turned! Thanks for watching!

[@Sonic_Kurt]

Why do I need both- the Submaster AUX Tracks and the VCA Tracks when I can controll for example all my DX Tracks with both of them?

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

If you're using a mixing board I'd argue that having both can be more helpful. But in general, I normally only use a Submaster Aux track instead of using both. Thanks for watching!

[@adambaker9831]

Thank you, Michael. As an engineer from the music world, who is transitioning into SD for film... These have helped me immensely. I only wish they had been around when I moved to LA in 2013 haha. I have been assisting designers in LA for a little over 2 years, and i've had way more questions answered through these videos, than hours, and hours of assisting them. Mainly because they have me setting up, and tearing down their rigs. I am curious- are you in the LA area? Would love to assist you, or shadow. Even just buy you lunch, or a coffee if I could pick your brain.

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Hey Adam, thanks for reaching out! Currently I'm not really looking for an assistant as over the past few years I've moved up to the Bay Area and transitioned to working on audio for video games full time. With the film/tv industry shifting due to Netflix and Apple, the budget for short/indie films has decreased significantly. So I've found that video games currently provide a more steady flow of work. I still work on a few films every month, but nothing like before. So if you want my recommendation, I would look into learning how to use WWISE/FMOD and C# in addition to Pro Tools since that's what most of the jobs on soundlister.com require. Hope that helps! Thanks!

[@adambaker9831]

@@FilmSoundTutorials Thanks Michael!

[@MPA188]

@@FilmSoundTutorials You have a really warm heart! I hope you can teach us the 5.1 and atmos setup and mixing soon.

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

@@MPA188 Thanks! Yes I can probably talk about 5.1 someday. I don't have an Atmos setup at home though so that would be a little harder to do. Thanks for watching!

[@lucasagenteplebe]

Very very good series. Congratulation! But where you use EQ and others plugins? In the clips? Or you just don't show them here? Because you have different clips on the same track and one plugin on insert will affect all them. Thank you again for sharing your workflow! A big hug from Brazil!

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Thanks for watching! Great question, the use of plugins will be addressed in my upcoming videos. There I will show how you can use automation within the plugins so it will only affect the clips that you want it to. Obrigado!

[@pitchonel]

Excellent series of tutorials, thank you very much! I am going to edit my short film and that's exactly what I was looking for. Clear, goes to the point and show all the professional techniques, we can see you know what you are talking about. I can't see one for the final mixing and effects, any chance you're going to make one? If no any recommendation for one?

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Thanks for the kind words! Yep I'm in the process of making the last few mixing videos, but they probably won't be ready for a bit. I like Paul Maunder and Producer Expert's videos. Thanks for watching!

[@philippmindrin3202]

Please help me to figure out! Why do i need to make a master's VCA if i'd rather control my audio signal by moving "StereoOut's" fader ??? I'm not using pro tools , but i need to comprehend what the difference? if you'd go and take up logic pro or something, you could adjust your signal by mixing your submixes (group channels)

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

VCAs are more helpful that changing Submasters because changing volumes on a per track basis will affect how plugins on those individual tracks affect the audio differently. Such as post-fader compression thresholds for example. Here's an article explaining VCAs even further: www.soundonsound.com/techniques/how-use-vca-groups Hope that helps!

[@philippmindrin3202]

@@FilmSoundTutorials thanks a lot!! It really makes sense ! And i don't have that option in ableton :)

[@philippmindrin3202]

@@FilmSoundTutorials subscribed!

[@willblank108]

Hi there! These tutorials have been so, so awesome and helpful. Any update on when the next installment of your series will be coming out? Thanks so much!

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Hey Will! I'm glad they could help! Well, I started working on them over the summer again but then got bogged down with content for holidays. But I'm looking to continue working on them when I can find the time. In the meantime though I did make a Soundtuts store with some new practice content and helpful links that you might like: soundtuts.com. Thanks for watching!

[@IanZainea1990]

Glad to hear the channel isn't dead. I'm a picture editor but was stoked to see the workflow laid out so nicely for the people I send audio to! 😊

[@krishnamohan866]

Thank you very much

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Of course! Thanks for watching!

[@APZdoesthenews]

These videos have been great. Thanks for all the effort in making these. You've explained everything extremely well. Any updates on the next videos in these series? Also any updates on the foley/ADR studio videos you mentioned during tutorial 7 and 8?

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Thanks for watching! Yes, I've been making some good progress on finishing the tutorials and hope to have them posted soon! The foley/ADR studio videos would probably come after finishing the series videos, since those will require some more preparation. Thanks!

[@APZdoesthenews]

Film Sound Tutorials Awesome.

[@VictorAlejandrobr]

Hi Michael, It's me again. Sorry for my lack of knowledge in the subject but I can't see much difference in VCA track and Bus/Sub Master track aside from organisation/arrangement. Can you explain a bit more of that? Thanks again.

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Hi Victor, that's a great question. VCA tracks only control volume versus on buses you can control volume plus add plugins to further modify the sound. This will be explained in further detail in the final 6 videos I'm working on for the series. So stay tuned. Thanks for watching!

[@VictorAlejandrobr]

Film Sound Tutorials Thanks. I can't wait to watch the new videos. Cheers

[@MirellaBellidoC]

Thank you a lot !

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Of course, glad the videos could help. Thanks for watching!

[@yeppy013]

What’s the difference between using a VCA track verses the group tracks?

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Are you talking about the new Folder Tracks in Pro Tools? Technically "Grouping" something in Pro Tools is different than "Group Tracks" that are available in other DAWs. So if you're talking about Folder Tracks, then yes, they're very similar to VCA tracks. Essentially both let you control the volume and add plugin to the audio from a bunch of tracks at a single place within a session. Here's some more info on Folder Tracks: www.avidblogs.com/folder-tracks/

[@yeppy013]

@@FilmSoundTutorials Will check it out, thanks!

[@TheSoundBarr]

Hi! Are the other videos finished yet? :)

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Haha they're getting close. My toughest problem is finding free plugins to use for LUFS metering and analyzing. Subscribe and you'll get an email when they are. Thanks for watching!

[@GangGray]

Is there any more that begginers should know?

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Well, after this step you have to actually mix the film, make sure it fits the LUFS standards, print the stems/printmaster, export the files, double check the exports, deliver the files, and clean up the session for archival. So there are a few more steps that I need to cover before the series is complete. Thanks for watching!

[@GangGray]

Thanks. Good luck in completing your series!

[@jenkinstownhouse7764]

What is BG?

[@FilmSoundTutorials]

Background ambience tracks. Check out this video for more info: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2eaqYl7pN-paa8

[@karimadillonel-toukhy5154]

@@FilmSoundTutorials Thank you!