Real World Digital Video, Second Edition

Polishing Sound

Postproduction procedures for creating a finished soundtrack include replacing dialogue, repairing and enhancing production sound, adding sound effects, creating ambiance, and inserting music. Here's an overview of how it's done.

Replacing Dialogue

Garbled, unintelligible dialogue is unacceptable. Frustrated theater patrons who must turn to one another asking, “What did she say?” are not having a good time—or following the story.

Even so, replacing dialogue should be a desperate last resort. It's always cheaper and quicker to use production sound, even if you have to apply technical tricks to make the tracks viable. (See “Cleaning and Separating Dialogue Tracks” later in this chapter.)

Try Re-creating Production Sound

There are ...