Tuesday 17 September 2013

Foley Sound


       Foley, named after Jack Foley, is the process of recording sound (specifically in post production) to enhance the quality of audio in a film. The sound they record tends to be ambient sounds (e.g. birds chirping) that are difficult to record on set. Recording these sounds separately allows the foley artists to play with the levels (adjust the volume) of these elements so that they aren't too quiet or too loud, meaning they won't distract the audience from the main characters in a scene.
       Jack Foley introduced the art of foley in an attempt to give his hometown of Bishop a new source of income. He knew several newly formed movie businesses in Los Angeles and convinced them that Bishop would be an appropriate place to film westerns. This gave the people of Bishop a chance to earn money through foley. In the end, Jack ended up producing foley sound for multiple films such as: Melody of Love, Show Boat (1929), Dat Ol' Ribber, Spartacus, and Operation Petticoat.



      All foley artists need to produce their sound effects is a microphone and some recording equipment (e.g. Audacity). A sound proofed room is also helpful as it eliminates any and all unwanted noises. Obviously they need the props to make the sound with - it doesn't have to be the exact same as those used in the film as long as it produces the same sound. For example, many foley artists use things like coconuts for horses' hooves.


       Foley is usually recorded in a studio that is specifically for sound recording (this way it's sound proof and not echoey). The foley artists need to be able to see a screen that plays the movie/video so that they can get all of the sound fx in time.
       In the film 'Taken' there is a scene that involves a character falling onto a lorry from a height. The noise of the impact was produced by a foley artist and added in at post production. The artist could have used a number of props, like plastic sheets, to create the same kind of "thud" sound.


       There are a range of microphones that are appropriate for foley. However, certain microphones are better for specific things, such as the Sennheiser MD421, which will record a gun shot at fairly close range or a surface effect microphones to record sound fx. However, it's a general rule to not record in stereo and to position your microphone as close to the prop as possible (no mic has perfect directivity).
       Foley allows SFX to  be added in post production to enhance the "soundscape" and it also prevents any issues with copyright, as they've recorded their own sounds and so can't be sued for using someone else's.

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