Be consistent - production in the studio and OB
You have to match them up!
Here is the problem - you have two pieces of production - one of them is recorded in the studio and you record the other OB (outside). Both scenes are in the same location - an outside scene - a field, by Canterbury Cathedral, outside the campus shop.
You have to match them up!
You have to be consistent for the listener.
Student Emily advises:
I got caught out by this particularly in the last episode, where a majority of my scenes are meant to be outside. The weather permitted me to record two of my scenes outside (4.5.3 and 4.5.4), but 4.5.2 came out too windy.
Despite several attempts, I was unable to record that one scene outside, and had to settle for recording it in the studio. However, given that by this time I had already post-produced the other two scenes, I had to make 4.5.2 sound like it was in the same location, even though it was recorded elsewhere.
This was harder than I anticipated, because the voice quality changes so much when it is outside.
Not only that, but in the studio, there is a constant hum which is barely audible when mixed in with different scenes, but which becomes very noticeable when compared to OB scenes "in the same location".
Finally, I think that I managed to create the illusion that all three scenes are in the same location, but I have to admit that I cheated slightly by foregrounding particular fireworks effects at times when the indoor hum was especially loud. The lesson from this is to be consistent.
My first mistake was in the script. I shouldn't have had three consecutive scenes all in the same location, nevertheless I certainly would have found it easier to post-produce if I had been more consistent with my recording technique.
Either all three scenes to be recorded OB, or if the weather doesn't allow it, then all three should be recorded in the studio. That would have avoided any incongruities between the background atmoses of scenes 4.5.2-4.5.4.
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Radio Soap (serial drama) - HOW TO MAKE IT
Five-minute episodes - or short episodes
Step by step instruction from Alan Beck.
Learn about radio drama on this site along with my book - Beck, Alan, Radio Acting, London: A & C Black (1997) ISBN 0-7136-4631-4
This is how to make a short-form soap - entertaining (above all) and you can include issues (issues that could influence the listeners' behaviour).
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