Animation FEATURES - Production Dialogue Recording Best Practices

Animation FEATURES - Production Dialogue Recording Best Practices

Note: The studio environment plays a critical role in the quality of dialogue records.  In an effort to capture a sonically neutral performance, we advise against small booths or reflective rooms that negatively impact the sound of the voice.  Naturally, loud performances will excite the characteristics of each room.  For reflective rooms, the use of gobos and carpet, along with proper mic placement can limit the amount of room sound recorded.

RECORDING BEST PRACTICES

• 24bit / 48kHz Broadcast .wav
• True 24 fps timecode
• Session start 00:59:50:00
  • No recorded material before 01:00:00:00

NAMING CONVENTIONS

Note: PDX and P = Production, SCR or S = Scratch

• Session
  • YYMMDD_Title Abbreviation_(PDX or SCR)Session# (3 digits)_Character_Actors Initials
    • Example: 220123_B2TO_PDX002_Maddie_IF
• Audio Track
  • (P or S)Sequence_Character_Actor Initials_YYMMDD
    • • Pro Tools will automatically apply take #
      • Example: P0100_Maddie_IF_220123_01.wav

MICROPHONES

• Primary Mic: Neumann U87Ai
  • Mic should have pop screen (Popper Stopper or Stedman, not Foam Ball)
    • Place primary mic ~12-18 inches from the actor to reduce proximity effect
• Secondary Mic: Neumann TLM 170 or Neumann U87Ai 
  • Place secondary mic 4-6 inches further behind and record 6dB lower in level than primary mic to ensure unexpected projections are captured without distortion
  • Both mics should be in Cardioid without any internal pad/roll off
  • Use only clean solid state preamps with high headroom (no tubes)
    • Preferred brands: Millennia, John Hardy, SSL, Grace, Neve, API, BAE, etc.
  • Hi pass filter at 80Hz or below
  • No compression ratio beyond 3:1
• Director mic:  If director is on stage with the actor, please record spot mic to separate mono track

SESSION WORKFLOW

• Please start and stop regions at every sequence break.  If possible, lock DAW to the same continuous timecode feed that is fed to Source Connect and animation reference cameras (if applicable).  
  • No overlapping timecode at sequence breaks
• Record primary mic discretely to L channel and secondary mic to R channel of a stereo track

SOURCE CONNECT

• Stereo connection with primary mic on L channel and LTC timecode on R
  • In the Advanced menu, make sure Use Source Stream is selected 

VIDEO CONFERENCE

• Video
  • Place video conference camera in a position where actor’s full face can be seen for animation reference
  • Please have timecode visible in frame without obstructing any facial expressions
  • Have monitor available for talent to see incoming feed
• Audio
  • Primary mic and engineer talkback feeds audio input
  • Audio output fed to actor’s headphones

ANIMATION REFERENCE

• For cameras provided by Netflix Animation, please supply:
• Post-fader line-level feed of primary mic on XLR cable
• Timecode on XLR cable (synced with Pro Tools timecode)
• For cameras provided by the recording studio:
• Record 1920x1080 resolution at 24FPS
• Talent audio MUST be recorded to camera
• Timecode should be synced with the record session. If this is not a capability of the camera, please have timecode visible in frame without obstructing any facial expressions

DELIVERABLES

Single Actor Records

• Export regions as Stereo Interleaved
  • Do not check Avid Compatibility in export window

                   

Dual Actor Records

• Create stereo .wav with actor 1 primary mic on L and actor 2 primary mic on R
  • Label: (P or S)Sequence_Character 1_Actor Initials_Character 2_Initials_YYMMDD_primary_take #
    • Example:  P0100_Maddie_IF_Chaz_EB_220123_primary_01
• Create stereo .wav with actor 1 secondary mic on L and actor 2 secondary mic on R
  • Label: (P or S)Sequence_Character 1_Actor Initials_Character 2_Initials_YYMMDD_secondary_take #
    • Example:  P0100_Maddie_IF_Chaz_EB_220123_secondary_01
• Export regions as Stereo Interleaved

All files should be delivered immediately following the session via the Netflix Aspera or Content Hub links provided to you before the session.  If you have not received anything, please contact production before the session to ensure speedy delivery.

* Do not zip folders before sending via Aspera

 

ADDITIONAL SESSION MATERIALS IF APPLICABLE

• Monitor on stage for video playback
• HDMI Input allowing audio/video playback to stage from laptop
• Script stand, headphones, and spot mic for director if on the stage w/ actor
  • Additional setup for reader

ANIMATION REFERENCE CAPTURE

• If Netflix provides cameras for animation reference, please provide the following to the stage:
  • Post fader feed of primary and secondary mics on discrete XLR cables
  • XLR feed of timecode

 

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