1/27/18 - Reading "The Sound Effects Bible"

Today's reading was all about "Sound Recording Commandment" #7.  Basically, once you start a take don't interrupt it.  He makes a note that even if a mistake happens don't try to correct it until the take is over.  Don't adjust levels, don't move to an unplanned position, just the let the take unfold as it happens, and make adjustments after the take is over.  After all, some of those accidental mistakes can provide for great sound effects later on.  This same concept applies to film takes as well, unless you're the director and you know you're not gonna use something, just commit to the take for as long as you can (especially if you're an actor), because some of the greatest gold on film can be captured that way.

Of course, he does include the caveat that adjustments on the fly should be permitted for events that only have one take (though very cautiously).  I remember recording an interview with someone at a marathon, and their time with us was very limited before they were off again.  My levels were way too low at the beginning, and I made the split-second decision to raise the volume mid-interview (close to the beginning).  I was very reluctant, but I ultimately decided that I'd rather potentially sabotage the brief beginning than sabotage the rest of the interview; I knew we might not even use the beginning at all, and the choice to raise mid-interview was what I decided upon.  All in all though, I totally agree with this one: where possible, don't interrupt things, just let the take play out and fix the mistakes on another take or in post if feasible.

He also suggests some ways to communicate to performers during a take without affecting the recording.