I started by watching the video and deciding on the cue points. I used pro tools editing to create markers to situate the important areas that needed recordings. I started by layering the ideas of atmospheres and where to cut them / fade in and out. Then fx and lastly sync points.
I rented out the microphone to record atmosphere. Sennheiser MKH 418-S Stereo Shotgun Microphone. I used the 418 instead of 416 as this one is stereo and I really wanted to capture immersive atmospheres for the clip. I started by watching the clip and writing down in time code where the atmospheres should be placed and which ones should occur.
I thought that within my vicinity I could perhaps use the white noise effects of a busy road to use for the intro with the curtain fluttering in the wind. In the movie its plays an actual sprinkler sound to foreshadow the ending. I felt like because I was limited to the 3-4 minutes of the clip I had to use my sounds to not foreshadow anything that isn’t in the 3-4 minutes.
I set up the mic and then took it apart from the housing to learn its functions properly and did a test recording at home. I then left to a busy main road very close to my house and did a few recordings.
I Found the mics polar pattern was not the best to record a decent ambience of the road. I couldn’t quite work out why the mid side recording was much lower in the gain than channel one. I felt the polar pattern was too direct to capture the ambience and felt like I should have got an Omni or a figure or eight. I need to ask Rory or Micheal if there was something I was doing wrong as I didn’t find the mics stereo capabilities that good.
The second and third recordings just for atmosphere was internal and was in my house. I recorded the boiler working as it made a nice low hum drone sound. I ran the bathroom tap on hot upstairs and set up the mic to record.
The recording was great and I felt it will suit the clip very well. Especially if I time stretch it. I also recorded the steam leaving the pipes outside as it was a similar noise but less intense machine noise.
The last atmosphere recording that I needed was the part of the clip when she walks out of the house and is in her neighbourhood. My area is filled with noise pollution so I wasn’t to optimistic about the outcome. I set up the mic on the stand in the garden and left it to record for a few minutes at a time. It was a windy day and even the huge dead cat on the mic couldn’t keep the wind noises from happening which was frustrating. I’ve learnt that these wind protectors aren’t that powerful.