Discover the latest industry news and audio post production.
We were thrilled to be asked to work on the shoot of the new musical film "Nine Years" from Fox&Cox productions and Enon Films
November 23, 2021
As a post-production studio, we most commonly get to work on projects once all of the filming has been completed, and so from time to time, we do miss the buzz and excitement that comes with being on set. We were thrilled to be asked to work on the shoot of the new musical film "Nine Years" from Fox&Cox productions and Enon Films, with our lead audio craftsman Alex Gregson making the journey across to Hull to be in charge of audio playback.
Nine years is a musical, and so a large part of our role on set was being responsible for triggering all appropriate music edits and sound effects live, either for the actors to perform their choreography or for extras to react to. As you can imagine, with a project like this everything needs to run perfectly in sync so that all of the dancing and singing is happening at the right moments. That meant careful coordination between ourselves and all the other departments responsible for the shoot.
There were numerous challenges involved in the production of this film and so 344 Audio was there to offer solutions to challenges during filming through the use of audio playback.
The film is directed by Haley Muraleedharan and produced by Enon films, with who we have previously collaborated on the narrative short Tasbeeh.
Acclaimed director Edgar Wright acted as a consultant on the film, making suggestions around workflow and how to approach certain scenes for sound. It was Wright who suggested having someone in charge of audio playback on set which we are very thankful for.
Some images from our time on set.
As part of our role on set, we were triggering audio events for the actors and extras to react to as seen in the video below:
We recorded custom sound effects while on set that we can use in postproduction. These sound effects ranged from ambiences around the Humber bridge area and period car engines.
We also took advantage of the extras to record crowd sound effects that we can work into the film during the mix stage as seen in the image below:
The story plays out against the backdrop of the Humber bridge. This gives the film a really unique setting and we wanted to fully capture as much of the sonic personality of the location as possible.
The Humber Bridge is a symbol of home to many; it comes with a sigh of relief. You only have to listen to the interviews conducted to hear the impact and continuing impact the bridge has had on people in the Humber region. It is also one of the biggest achievements in civil engineering in the world, yet woefully uncelebrated as such. With much of the legwork during the build being done by local men and women in Barton and Hull, it's time to hear their voices.
Haley Muraleedharan - Director
We took the time to capture multiple ambient recordings from various perspectives and times of the day. This gives us a large number of ingredients to work with when it comes to building up the soundscape for each scene in the film.
All in all, it was an amazing experience to be involved in the making of Nine Years, and we had a really fun time working on set after so long. It was great to see the UK film industry picking up momentum again after the challenges of the past 18 months and we can't wait to move forward with this project into post-production.
For more from Enon films check out their website below:
For more details about Nine Years you can take a look at the IMDB page for the film below:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14755086/
We hope you enjoyed this news post!
We share 5 tips for taking care of yourself physically and mentally.
November 23, 2021
Generally speaking, working as a sound design/audio post professional is a cognitive-based job, meaning that we are using our brains directly more than we are using our bodies. Whilst our livelihoods do not directly depend on our physical fitness in the way that a firefighter, builder or professional sportsperson does, those of us who want longevity in our careers should still pay close attention to our physical wellbeing. In this article, we will share with you 5 tips for taking care of yourself physically and mentally.
Taking short breaks throughout the day will help prevent your ears from becoming tired and should let your hearing remain sharper throughout the day. They also give you chance to clear your head and approach tasks with a fresh perspective.
You can further maximise the effectiveness of these breaks by adding in a short walk around the block. This will help you reach your daily recommended steps and maintain a consistent energy level as the day progresses.
Stress is a natural part of life, however, when it becomes unmanaged it can have a detrimental effect on your body and your mind. You can help alleviate some of the negative sides of stress by introducing stress-relieving activities into your lifestyle and daily schedule. This could be anything from a brisk walk, reading a book or listening to a podcast, taking part in yoga or meditation, or completing a crossword.We would also recommend going easy on your coffee intake, as caffeine is a stimulant and can increase feelings of stress and anxiety.
Exercise has many brain-boosting effects that can help you think more clearly and be better equipped to deal with challenging tasks. Consider getting up a bit earlier and getting in a morning run before you hit the studio, or perhaps switch the car or bus for a bicycle and cycle to work each day. Also, don't overlook the importance of stretching. Long hours spent working at a computer can play havoc on your posture and your mobility so take a few moments throughout the day to stretch out, particularly your hips, back and shoulders.
The benefits of physical activity are too many to name. Even just spending 30 mins a day doing some light exercise will have a massive impact on your overall wellbeing and performance, so find something that works for you and is enjoyable enough for you to stick with it.
Develop healthy habits that over time become second nature to you.This could be simple switches like snacking on fruit and nuts rather than junk food, swapping soda for water/tea or leaving your phone alone for an hour before you go to sleep in order to get a full nights rest. You can also look to eliminate some unhealthy habits that you may already have such as quitting smoking or switching to an E-cigarette and controlling your alcohol and caffeine intake.If you don't do so already, get into the habit of cooking your own meals and making sure to include some vegetables and wholesome ingredients. Eating proper meals with quality ingredients gives your body the fuel it needs to work at 100% and you will be rewarded in terms of your energy levels and mental clarity.
Temper your mindset with a bit of a wider perspective about the world. Remind yourself why you do what you do, and be grateful that you get to wake up and live out your passion for sound every day and aren't working in a job that you hate.
When all is said and done it's only sound at the end of the day. Whilst missed deadlines and difficult clients can be difficult situations to deal with, no one gets hurt if things don't go to plan and there are no lives on the line. Above all else, keep a positive mindset and always look for the good in situations. Be a source of positive energy and enthusiasm for yourself and those around you and the positive energy will come back around to you when you need it.
We hope you enjoyed this article!
We aim to record the charm and personality of these antiques.
November 23, 2021
It's no secret that we love antiques here at 344 Audio, and over the years we have amassed a fairly large selection of vintage objects. While these have mostly served as studio decoration up to now, we are now moving forward with a series of recording sessions to capture the charm and personality of these antiques in audio form, to be released to the world as sound effects libraries.
Check out this news post for more details about our antique series.
Antique objects have an in-built sonic character that is hard to replicate. The combination of the materials, weight, shape, and functionality gives them an intensely pleasing and practical sound, and our ears instinctively pick up on the build quality and robustness of these objects.
In the past, resources were more scarce, and so things were built to last. Craftsmanship was on display everywhere you looked. Shoes, furniture, jewellery, cutlery, picture frames, and everything else in between required years of apprenticeships and practice to make, and were built to a much higher standard than their equivalents today.
Since the dawn of mass production, we have stepped further and further away from this way of doing things, and now in our modern world, goods are mass-produced with cost and efficiency in mind over everything else.When it comes to how these objects sound the result is flat, lifeless, dead and devoid of any real spirit or personality. In a cinematic context where we are using sounds to tell stories, vintage will always win over modern for its personality and feel. There is just no comparison, so that was our initial idea of planning this antique sound effects series.
The humble typewriter is an interesting device as it maintains many similarities with phone and computer keyboards. There is a range of great sounds that are produced including the typing sounds, click-clack of the mechanism, ding when a page has reached the margin, and the sliding sound as the paper is brought back into position to type another line.
Antique telephones such as the model shown below produce some cool sounds such as the spinning of the rotary numbers and the sound of the earpiece being taken in and out of the holster. Sounds like these are very diverse and can be used for a large variety of foley prop interactions.
Antique books have a really unique sound compared to modern books due to the thickness of the paper used, types of ink and glue used, and the binding techniques that hold the books together.
Leather, canvas and softwoods were frequently used to build vintage luggage holders, cases, boxes and cabinets. Whilst they would be seen as weighty and blocky by today's standards, these hard-wearing items have a chunky and heavy feeling sound that lends itself perfectly to a wide range of foley scenarios.
The examples mentioned above are just some of the many items that we will be recording and making into sound effects libraries. What's great about working with antiques is that they really tickle your imagination, and once you start delving deeper into this world of sound it opens up new ideas and possibilities to explore. Stay tuned as we continue this journey and update you on our progress.
If you have any suggestions of specific antiques or objects that you would like us to record then let us know!
We hope you enjoyed checking out this news post!
Our new 344 Audio members club initiative, which gives members access to a specially curated selection of sound effects each month.
November 23, 2021
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new 344 Audio members club initiative, which gives members access to a specially curated selection of sound effects each month and also includes an introductory offering of 4GB of free sound effects to all who subscribe.
Simply register to our email subscriber list and you will be automatically signed up to our member's club.
All members club subscribers will gain instant access to our FREE 4GB SFX library.
We hope you enjoyed this news post!
Victorian Pump Organ is our new steampunk-inspired Kontakt library made in collaboration with Stuart Keenan from Glitchedtones.
November 23, 2021
Victorian Pump Organ is our new steampunk-inspired Kontakt library made in collaboration with Stuart Keenan from Glitchedtones. With 50 different patches including sound design, drum kits and foley, this instrument is perfect for musicians and sound designers to make everything from sea shanties, period style music from the 1800s and early 20th-century all the way to EDM tracks and horror/atmospheric scores.
Find out more on: https://www.asoundeffect.com/sound-library/victorian-pump-organ/
