On Location Sound Blanket and Grip Advice Needed for Sound Treatment

[PatrickFaith]

In my film I do a lot of on location acoustic music, it's going ok, but I need to do some more on location sound treatment to get things where I really like them.

I was wondering what are some good sound blankets to get. The Mathews blankets look a bit thin, also I really like the blankets to have both a black and a white side (so I can make sure they don't interfere with the lighting setups).

I'm thinking of using this site: http://www.vocalboothtogo.com/acous...d-absorption---producer’s-choice/8#ja-pathway to get the blankets ... but have never ordered from them before.

Also, I'm filming in rooms that have 8 foot ceilings a lot, and the ceiling echo is not right. I need to put a sound blanket above the singers (so i get a good feel from the hardware floor, and "simuluate" a high ceiling) ... my question is what is the best way of hooking up the sound blankets in kind of weird positions. Currently I'm just using standard C-stands and doing scare crow type of drapery, but I have never been on a set where they are doing sound treatment during shots ... so not sure how to do on set sound treatment (i.e. standard recording studio setups are not workable for on set sound treatments).

Any suggestions on sound blankets and how to grip sound blankets are greatly appreciated (or if people just have some shots on how others have done onset sound treatment for musicals).

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I'm also thinking of putting diffusers on mic stands and using the pyramid diffusers above talent ... is a lot lighter and removes unwanted echoe's. I think i probably need a mix of diffusers and blankets for random locations.

 

[Marc Wielage]

I like the "Producer's Choice" blankets from these guys:

http://www.moverssupplies.com/MOVING-BLANKET/

Black on one side, white on the other, with metal grommets -- about $21 each, depending on quantity. I don't think it's practical to put a sound blanket over actors' heads, but you can put a large flag or cutter overhead on a C-stand, and that can greatly reduce flutter echo to a degree. The problem with doing this kind of thing in a scripted production is that you won't be able to use the same set-up on different kinds of coverage (2-shots vs. low angles vs. wide-shots vs. close-ups), and inconsistent sound is a bigger headache than consistently echoey sound.

If it's performance-based, like music, then you could arrange what I call a "sound tunnel" just out of range of the wide shot, plus throw a sound blanket on the ground to absorb floor echo. Hiring a pro sound mixer would be your best possible option.

 

[PatrickFaith]

Thanks Marc, will do

 

[Charlie Hohenshilt]

From my experience, the sound blankets you would find on a grip truck are not sound blankets at all. They are furniture pads. All they really do it suppress some of the echo in a room. If you want to control volume (actual sound) then you would need to purchase a real sound blanket. I know they are not inexpensive. I would say that vocalboothtogo.com is your best bet by far. Find the blankets with some sort of actual sound rating on them.

That being said, I have never seen a sound man use anything but a furni-pad. Although I have seen them very frustrated that the furni-pad can't do what they want them to do. If I was a sound man I would definably do the proper research to find a real sound blanket.

To rig over head, get a blanket with grommets and stretch it in a 6x6 or a 8x8 frame. Your grips will bitch and you DP may object to you blocking light. You will need to work with them and your Director/Producer to judge how important the sound is. What Marc said about consistent sound, should be taken into account as well.

 

[PatrickFaith]

Great idea Charlie, I have a 6x8 foot California sun bounce reflector that is super solid - that I can use as a frame(it also would allow a bit more control of lighting from top down). With a real sound blanket like you mentioned, that would also allow a tunnel effect like Marc commented on. Thanks for the help guys. From a micro budget viewpoint, most people will be watching my movie over the internet, and sound quality will be their first impression to my overall production quality.