OB - recording outside the studio
| 'OB' means 'outside broadcast' - technical term in the SCRIPT. (Old-fashioned BBC term, originally.) |
| Gives more freedom and space of movement. |
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Opens out the sound picture. |
| You do APPROACHES - a character makes an approach from POSITION 5 'MOVES OFF' to POSITION 3 (for example) |
| More characters in a scene? - there's more space for positioning ('blocking') |
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Best ACOUSTIC in the open air or other complex locations. You will never match the liveliness of OB if you work in a traditional Studio. See Atmos bed (underneath the scene dialogue) - establishes scene location or scenery |
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Best ACOUSTIC for small, boxy locations. Record in the bathroom, kitchen, corridor, cupboard. |
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Beware of traffic noise. Beware of overhead aircraft.(Indoors) Beware of nearby computers - background hum. |
| Do a sound test of a possible location first, before arranging OB PRODUCTION recording. |
| POSITION 1 - closest to the microphone (as close as possible - beware of blasting and popping) |
| POSITION 2 - intimate conversation (a step away from position no 1) |
| POSITION 3 - conversation (stand far away enough from the microphone so that your outstretched fist is level with it) - MOST RADIO DRAMA DIALOGUE HAPPENS IN POSITION THREE |
| POSITION 4 - across the 'room' (to 10 feet away) |
| POSITION 5 - 'moves off' (farthest off in the studio, behind curtains, behind screen) |
Close-up - making some dialogue section more intimate
EXAMPLE: 'THE
CANTERBURY VAMPIRES' 11.1 - EXTERIOR. THE DARK ENTRY BY
CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL - rehearsing a play with a group of
actors |
 EXAMPLE:
'THE CANTERBURY VAMPIRES' 11.2 - EXTERIOR: CANTERBURY - BY
CHRISTCHURCH GATE (ENTRANCE TO CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL - BUTTERMARKET) |
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