Mixing Dialogue Underscore

Mixing Dialogue Underscore Scoring dialogue scenes comes with a few specific requirements, all of which put emphasize on the necessity to keep the speaking voices understandable in the final mix. In writing, a general rule of thumb is to treat the speakers as if they...

Low Interval Limits

Low Interval Limits The reason why some chord voicings sound muddy and unfocussed often lies in the fact that they violate the so-called low interval limits. These limits are guidelines for every interval structure and the lowest possible position they can be played...

Off-Screen Speakers in Movies

Off-Screen Speakers in Movies Consider that the understandability of dialogue or monologue gets worse when the speaker is not seen on screen. A big portion of understanding spoken word comes from watching the mouth of the speaking person so if that is missing, it gets...

Orchestral Intransparency

Orchestral Intransparency It is in the nature of orchestral music to not be able to hear every instrument clearly in the mix. Some instruments like woodwinds even regularly “drown” in tuttis and their only purpose is to add to the ensemble sound. This is actually a...

Over-Orchestration

OVER-ORchestration Even though you have a lot of instruments at your fingertips when writing for orchestra, that doesn’t mean they have to be all in use all the time. A lot of inexperienced composers and orchestrators often “over-orchestrate” staying for long in a...