Essential Plugins and Workflows for Re-Recording Mixers Part 3: Ambiences Make It All Work

Ambiences play a critical role in re-recording mixing. They provide depth, realism, and emotional context to a scene. Well-crafted ambiences can tie together dialogue, music and sound effects into a cohesive mix. In my experience, television series, documentaries, and narrative films often benefit from restraint in sound effects. Elaborate effects can distract from dialogue or clash with music, detracting from the overall narrative. Instead, high-quality stereo or surround ambiences can be incredibly effective in quieter moments, drawing the audience in and enhancing the emotional impact of a scene.

Essential Plugins and Workflows for Re-Recording Mixers Part 2: The Glue Factory, Balancing Music and Dialogue

FabFilter Pro MB offers nuanced control by targeting specific frequency bands, making it ideal for balancing dialogue with music tracks that occupy overlapping mid frequencies. To set up subtle sidechain compression:

Route Dialogue as Sidechain Input: Use your dialogue SUB/AUX track as the sidechain input to FabFilter Pro MB on your music bus.
Focus on Mid Frequencies: Isolate the 1kHz–4kHz range where dialogue typically resides.
Adjust Compression Settings: Set a subtle ratio and threshold so music ducks slightly when dialogue is present. Use a fast attack and moderate release for smooth transitions.

By using dynamic sidechain compression, you can create space in the mix without sacrificing the richness of your music track.

Essential Plugins and Workflows for Re-Recording Mixers, Part 1 - Dialogue Editing, Repair and Perfecting

Gain staging is the foundation of any successful dialogue editing workflow. It ensures your audio levels are balanced throughout the signal chain, preventing distortion or noise buildup. Start by adjusting input levels to maintain a healthy signal-to-noise ratio while leaving enough headroom for processing. Remember, proper gain staging sets the stage for clean and professional mixes.

Crafting Immersive Soundscapes for Episodic Content: Elevating Your Storytelling

As a sound designer and composer, I've always believed that audio has the power to transport us into entirely new worlds. This is especially true for episodic content, where immersive soundscapes (ambiences, sound effects, music) become integral to world-building and establishing emotional resonance to your characters. Whether you're working on a podcast series, a web show, reality, or a documentary, understanding the thinking around immersive sound design can help set your project apart.

Blog