Looking for ideas on device to playback pre-recorded to practical cell

[Joel Jameson]

I'm looking for what's worked for getting pre-recorded audio cued and played to an actor on set to a practical cell phone.

I have the recording side (Zaxcom fusion) and cell connection (JK Audio's Daptor Three) covered. I just need a device to playback the other side of the conversation's audio that's been pre-recorded. It would need to be able to play cued audio that can be played/stopped and setup quickly for the next line. This is mainly for those instances we can't get both of the talents on the phone at the same time.

The Daptor 3 can take a XLR or stereo mini as an input.

I know I could use a laptop for audio, but I'm looking for something a bit more rugged to toss into the sound bag for location work. A Roland SP-303 (discontinued) or a SP-404 was suggested, but they seem overkill for what's needed.

 

[Trailangel]

Why make it so complicated? Do it in post.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Stupid question: why not just play it back on a hidden speaker on the set? This is the way it's done for vast amounts of TV shows and features today. You don't really need to record or playback to a cell phone; you can always add the "filtered" phone sound in post.

 

[David W. Jones]

I have used an old 360 Systems Instant Replay for firing off cues.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Playing back the other side of the conversation on a laptop can work, too. I've used stuff as simple as iTunes for this, but you have to be on your toes to hit the cues fast.

 

[Noah Kadner]

isn't that the A.D.'s job- reading the lines right off the script and you do the real audio in post? Who has time to do things the hard way?

Noah

 

[mike filippov]

i've done this quite a few times (for shows that have time to do things the hard way) albeit from a fully rigged out ProTools system... but the technique could work equally as well on any small hand-held flash memory sound recorder (olympus LS-10, Sony PCM...) but it requires some prep.

Setup each line of the track you are playing back as a seperate track (cue) with a minute of silence at the end of each line. Have the player setup to play automatically when you advance to the next track... then one you're rolling, just advance to the next track everytime its your cue...

does this generate more depth of performance from your actor? ...maybe...
are you all of a sudden face to face with the possibility of killing a good take with a slip of a finger? you bet.

 

[Joel Jameson]

Thanks for the ideas everyone, I'll attempt to push back on the director...

I'm pretty sure the idea came from the lead who wanted to be able to "be in the mood" at this point.

 

[Trailangel]

I'm not understanding why even record line and playback....have director or AD read line off camera.

 

[Joel Jameson]

I'm not understanding why even record line and playback....have director or AD read line off camera.

1)In the case where you can get both talents on the phone, but not necessarily on the same set. Think a situation where the 2nd talent isn't required on set till next week - except for this 1 small dialog scene, so they don't want to fly/transport them in for the whole day. The talent then can play off each other via the phones, and you can record both sides of the conversation on the phone as a conference call.

2) When the 2nd party is not able to be on-set for the dialog phone call, it's to keep the pace with the on-set talent, you cue up the dialog from the other actor that's pre-recorded, so the talent can stay "in the groove" as if they are dealing with the real character instead of an AD blandly reading the scripted lines. More of a conversational feel.

 

[David Birdy]

Digicart or 360 system, Instant replay will work also.

DB

 

[Joel Jameson]

What I ended up doing was to hard wire a boom for the on-set talent, and have them use a practical cell phone.

Then I set up a zaxcom 992, synced the timecode through IFB/Zaxnet, and sent the the utility driving to the #2's location. Once there he boomed #2 with the zax 992 set to local record mode.

Then I set up a conference call between #1 and #2, recorded this to an ISO track. When the utility got back from the road trip, I just replayed the 992 into the fusion, made notes, and I was done.

Ended up with a few takes containing 3 tracks, 1 track of the actual phone conversation, and 2 boomed tracks all synced to the same timecode. Post just has to add in a ringing phone and decide what to use.

 

[Cail Young]

Qlab.

http://figure53.com