Sync sound or the Location sound is collecting different sounds, including dialogues and sound effects on the field or location while shooting to provide intelligible audio to the audience.
In contrast, Dubbing is a post-production process of adding and changing dialogues or sound effects many days after the shoot.
The audio of any clip or movie is equally important as its visual. It brings the feel, emotion and soul to any scene played on screen. The sound in film and television connects people with the scene, so the audio needs to be in sync with the video.
Any professional filmmaker would maintain good sound effects to develop audience interest.
What is Location Sound?
As the name suggests, it is the sound at the location. But, it’s not limited to the sound at the location. It also involves several modern techniques. The purpose of the location sound is to capture the dialogue and other sound elements on the field to provide clean and consistent audio.
It involves a professional team and various latest sound equipment to control the task successfully. It seems simple but is a tricky job involving the proper selection of microphones to perfectly coordinate team members.
The most special member of a location sound team is the Sound Mixer. He captures the sounds at the location. Also, one of the crucial tasks of location sound is the selection of the latest equipment, including microphones and mixing audio signals.
Location sound or the sync sound is becoming popular with the new tech-savvy generation in the TV and Film industry. It is easy to distinguish any movie or video from others based on its sound quality.
There are always some pros and cons to everything. Have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using Location sound.
Advantages of Location Sound
Location sound has proved as a boon to the film and media industry. With various benefits, it assures the best audio to the makers.
Authenticity and Realism
Location sound maintains the authenticity and realism of every scene recorded at the location. It captures the real essence of every emotion projected by artists during shooting. While enacting a scene, an artist is in the flow of emotions and rhythm. Location sound is the best option to capture that flow with authenticity.
Natural Sound Effects and Ambience
Location sound or the sync sound is inclusive. It includes dialogues and all other surrounding sounds that enhance any particular scene. These ambiences could be sounds of steps, waves, wind, breath, or anything happening at the moment of shooting. Sync sound or the location sound helps to capture the required natural sound effects during shooting.
Disadvantages of Location Sound
Some disadvantages do come with location sound, but if handled technically, you can overcome these:
Difficulties in Capturing Clear Audio
Capturing clear audio can be difficult with location sound. The sound can be too bassy due to the proximity effect if you don’t set microphones at a proper distance.
Artists also need to be careful about their breathing during dialogue delivery as the mic catches every minute of sound-like breath.
Challenges in Controlling the Audio Environment
The location sound team has to face several challenges in controlling the audio environment.
To reduce unnecessary ambient sounds such as room noise or the sound of wind etc., one needs to know all the latest sound equipment.
What Is Dubbing?
Dubbing is a post-production process of recording sound or dialogue to get a clear and audible sound. It is applied when:
You don’t want to use location sound.
Your recorded audio is of no use.
You want to release a movie in another language.
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of dubbing
Advantages of dubbing
Control over audio quality and clarity
With dubbing, one can control the sound quality or get the desired sound for any scene. Filmmakers also use dubbing artists to dub the dialogues of actors lacking fluency or command over a particular language.
Ability to add or change the dialogue in post-production
Dubbing is a post-production activity, so the makers get enough time to edit their audio. They can easily change or add desired dialogue or sound after the shoot.
No Need to Add Sub-Titles
You can dub a movie or video in any desired language. So, no need to add subtitles to it. Also, the audience enjoys the flow and doesn’t get distracted while reading these subtitles.
Disadvantages of dubbing
Apart from some of its benefits, there are many disadvantages to dubbing.
Loss of authenticity and realism
Dubbing doesn’t add authenticity to a scene. It can’t capture the fluency of sound pitch and mood of the artist while enacting a scene. Also, the audience can’t listen to the original voice of the actors. It also misses lip-synchronicity, which doesn’t look nice.
Time and cost of re-recording dialogue
It is a very time-consuming process. It also adds extra expenses in re-recording dialogues again after the shoot.
Comparison of Location Sound and Dubbing
In India, most movies use dubbing techniques, while other film industries use the production sound successfully. Some filmmakers have started embracing it with the success of several movies using synced sound,
Both of these have their pros and cons and different challenges. A filmmaker must be clear on what he wants to serve his audience.
If you look forward to giving your audience a realistic approach, choose location sound. But make sure you have enough sources and hire a professional team.
On the other hand, choose dubbing only when the original audio is not usable. If you don’t want to add subtitles, it needs to be dubbed in a different language for an international audience.
