Sound effects in scenes from Jonathan Demme's Silence of the Lambs

(An example of good sound post-production)...

there were animal screams and noises built into the ambience itself downstairs there. From a little movie I had made years ago called Little Monsters I took this lunatic kind of screaming that I had recorded; I took track, processed it, slowed it down, and played it in reverse. That became one of the ambiences in the room, too. It's the room tone, but the room tone has been made from some guy screaming in pain. Whenever you're down there with Lecter there's this element--it's a low tone that rises and then comes down again. It's very organic as opposed to something you can create electronically. I don't like taking sounds that start electronically; I like sounds that start organically. It' s a lot more fun."

listen to this:

On the other hand, there are movies with fairly gratuitous sound just seemingly thrown-in. Is it just me, or have late movie releases gone over the top with a (Phil Spector-like) wall-of-sound? I long for good, multi-track ambience, foley and vocal sound tracks. Music, when it's a theme, can be most powerful used sparingly but strategically. (Remember?)

http://www.filmsound.org/synctanks/

umidi is a custom controller you design. Using our design interface, you can choose up to 36 components on a 6x6 grid including knobs, faders, encoders, jog wheels, and aluminium push buttons. You can choose the way your components are positioned, colored, and the lighting shapes around each one. To personalize your controller further, you can have a custom image laser etched onto your umidi. You are able to build a completely unique controller.

Each controller is CNC milled from aluminum and anodized in your choice of your color.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1746450443/umidi-the-worlds-first-custom-dj-controller

• The basics of audio repair and restoration, and understanding “the tools of the trade.”
• Using a spectrogram to identify audio problems.
• Expanding efficiency in de-noising, including reducing broadband noise, hum and tonal noise, and dialogue de-noising.
• Removing intermittent noises and gaps, clicks and pops, clipping, and reverb.
• Techniques for exporting and delivering audio.
• Tips from industry leaders, including time-saving advice and guidance through specific modules and plug-ins.

http://downloads.izotope.com/guides/iZotope_AudioRepair.pdf

or

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/audio-repair-with-rx-3/id716947330

Next generation of consumer arrangers from Yamaha.

http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/digitalkeyboards/arranger_workstations/psr-s950/

For S-750 go to

http://asia.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/digitalkeyboards/arranger_workstations/psr-s750/?mode=model

Available at:

• http://www.gigasonic.com/yamaha-psrs750.html
• http://www.andysmusic.com/products/yamaha-psrs750.html
• http://www.keymusic.com/en/product/Yamaha-PSR-S750-Digital-Workstation
• UK : http://www.dawsons.co.uk/yamaha-psr-s750
• AU : http://www.kosmic.com.au/keyboards/yamaha-psr-s750-61-key-arranger-workstation-keyboard/

http://www.uniden.com.au/AUSTRALIA/p_ubcd396xt_index.asp

I have constant problems getting access to the receivers/ PA's that are used and I want better sound than an ambient mike.

My hope is that I can use this unit to scan & find the frequency on the mike that the celebrant or venue has and record that.

any experts out there that can confirm my theory (desperate hope)

Balanced and unbalanced mics and leads

Fig. 3: A balanced line system adds a "cold" line to the "hot" line of unbalanced systems.

Fig. 4: Conceptual equivalent of a differential amp.

http://www.harmonycentral.com/t5/Lessons-Theory/Balanced-Vs-Unbalanced-I-O-How-It-Works/ba-p/34639794

The microphone will be mounted on the camera rig/cage above the camera and plugged either directly into the camera or into a fiio pre-amp then the camera body. I am really hoping to avoid latency issues, so please keep that in mind. I am seeking microphone and cable suggestions as well as your preferred options for that setup.

Options:

1. Microphone plugged into Camera
2. Microphone plugged into Pre-amp then camera.
3. External recorder (Zoom H1/Tascam DR-05) used as a line pass through.
4. Your ideas.

Youtube launched the YouTube Audio Library. Any YouTube creator now has access to more than 150 royalty-free instrumental tracks you can use for free, forever, for any creative purpose (not just YouTube videos).

Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary?feature=blog

• Multitrack
• Sound sync (ala PlurayEyes)
• Visual artifacts removal with harmonic finder (ala Sony Spectralayers)
• Specially geared for working with audio in video projects

Separate price is a bit steep, so I suggest if you want to get it, get it with PowerDirector.

Check more at http://www.cyberlink.com/products/audiodirector/tutorial_en_US.html

Not cheap, but interesting. Also note that different synth keyboards actually have slightly different key widths :-)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/instrumentslab/touchkeys-multi-touch-musical-keyboard

Uses special optical sensors measuring each key position.

• USB MIDI Interface. Generates “Polyphonic Aftertouch” MIDI messages to transmit the Key-Swing.
• Standard-sized Keys
• Anodized Aluminum Housing
• 25 and 49 keys versions

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ndvr-note-masterkeyboard--68

Compressors and limiters are specialized amplifiers used to reduce dynamic range — the span between the softest and loudest sounds. The use of compressors can make recordings and live mixes sound more polished by controlling maximum levels and maintaining higher average loudness. Additionally, many compressors — both hardware and software — will have a signature sound that can be used to inject wonderful coloration and tone into otherwise lifeless tracks. Compression can also be used to subtly massage a track to make it more natural sounding and intelligible without adding distortion, resulting in a song that's more “comfortable” to listen to. Alternately, over-compressing your music can really squeeze the life out of it. For those who are unfamiliar with compressors, having a good grasp of the basics will go a long way toward understanding how compression works, and confidently using it to your advantage.

Check full article at http://www.uaudio.com/blog/audio-compression-basics/

All in a cool MAX/MSP- PD visual programming environment.

Currently a very cool aspect of the software is that it allows 1 sample feedback, so it runs everything without an audio buffer.

I have tested 64bit AU's run very well on LPX.

For more info check out www.sonicbirth.com

If you are more into coding SonicBirth allows you to see what your DSP code will look like in C++ and also the LLVM compiler. Very cool.

Next major developments will be a better UI, and most probably a sampler/buffer plugin.

Just a reminder that the software is OSX only, so if you don't have a Mac you may want to talk to a guy called Tony to fix that up! ;-)

AppStore: http://itunes.apple.com/app/midi-guitar/id523095780

See more: http://www.jamorigin.com/

Specs:

• 25 semi-weighted keys; 100% analog signal path
• 31 knobs and 13 switches give you direct and immediate control
• 2 ultra-stable variable-waveshape oscillators
• Square wave Sub Oscillator in mixer section
• Onboard Noise Generator
• Legendary Moog Ladder Filter
• Onboard LFO (.1Hz-100Hz)
• MultiDrive delivers a wide range of classic and modern sound
• Classic one-knob-per-function design
• Two octave up/down transposition
• External audio input
• Filter CV, Pitch CV, Volume CV, KB Gate inputs
• MIDI DIN In and Out; MIDI over USB
• Editor/Librarian software

Available at:

• http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SubPhatty/

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/miselu/c24-the-music-keyboard-for-ipad

Dr. Jason A. Freeman

Learn to make music with digital audio workstation software, understand the theory and history behind music production tools, and write your own computer programs to make new music and sounds.

https://www.coursera.org/course/musictech

Introduction to Music Production

Loudon Stearns

Learn about the music production process—including recording, editing, and mixing—and the tools available to you to create contemporary music on your computer.

https://www.coursera.org/course/musicproduction

Introduction to Digital Sound Design

Steve Everett

Sounds and music are embedded in almost every aspect of daily life. This course will provide an overview of the fundamental principles of sound and the factors that determine our audio perception. It will also explore techniques of recording, mixing, processing, synthesis, sampling, analysis, and editing of digital audio.

https://www.coursera.org/course/digitalsounddesign

Fundamentals of Audio and Music Engineering: Part 1 Musical Sound & Electronics

Robert Clark and Mark Bocko

In this course students learn the basic concepts of acoustics and electronics and how they can applied to understand musical sound and make music with electronic instruments. Topics include: sound waves, musical sound, basic electronics, and applications of these basic principles in amplifiers and speaker design.

https://www.coursera.org/course/audiomusicengpart1

I've just cut a short film together which was shot using the GH2. It's on the timeline, ready for audio syncing. We used a external sound recorder. I'm using Premiere CC on Windows 64 bit. Just wondering if it's to late for using automatic syncing or a 3rd party programme like PuralEyes 3? I don't have the time to manually sync up the audio files. Have I missed the boat... do you have to do automatic syncing right before you edit?

Cheers

New stuff:

• Automatic audio slicing and audio quantize
• MIDI out
• Convert recordings into REX loops for further creative possibilities
• New spectrum analyzer with visual EQ controls
• Group and parallel mix channels
• Workflow improvements
• Reason 7 makes it easier to import audio from users, music libraries and the web, with support for mp3, aac, wma and more.
• Enhanced Factory Sound Bank comes with new loops and drum kits.
• New Audiomatic Retro Transformer effect unit adds a “futuristic-vintage” sound

Prices:

• Reason 7 - $449
• Reason Essentials 2 - $129

Via: http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/new/

Features:

• Automatically detect and remove resonances, equalization, roll-offs and the effects of comb filtering from musical, location, dialog and surveillance recordings.
• Apply the measured filter response to other signals to place them in the same ‘acoustic world’.
• Export the measured filter response to or import it from a linear- or minimum-phase impulse response file (WAV).
• Mastering grade adaptive, free-form and graphic equalization.
• Extremely steep 96dB/octave shelving high-pass filter.
• Output limiter for unsupervised use in batch processing applications.
• Highly time-efficient workflow and UI.

Check at http://www.zynaptiq.com/unfilter/