Also known as: Re-recording mixer
What does a dubbing mixer do?
A dubbing mixer brings together all the different sound elements of a production to create the final mix. The ‘dub’ takes place when the picture editor has finished the programme or film. This is a stage known as ‘picture locked’.
Dubbing mixers bring together the dialogue, music, specially created sound effects and, if needed, the commentary or voiceover. Blending these elements together requires great skill and good ears: if the effects are too loud you might not be able to understand the dialogue; if they are too quiet the film may lose much of the excitement. Similar judgements are made about the music: some scenes are ruined with too much music, while others need it subtly placed to increase the tension or emotion.
The dubbing mixer prepares for the mix by listening to all the audio tracks individually, checking for things like distortion or unintelligible dialogue and deciding how best to treat them. Usually, the picture editor has laid some of the tracks and a sound editor has added some more in a process called track laying. The dubbing mixer works their way through the film, adjusting the levels of all the audio tracks relative to each other, creating a mix for each section and then, finally, listening to the project as a whole. They are guided by the director and producer, who may want the effects in the final scenes to be increasingly powerful as, say, a battle comes to a climax or, conversely, for nearly all the music and effects to be held down to create a sense of alienation and disorientation.
The dubbing mixer also needs to make sure the rough edges of the sound are removed; for example, by smoothing the join between dialogue captured on location and dialogue recorded in the studio. If there is commentary, such as in a natural history film, then the dub is a good place to check if the narration feels overcrowded. If it does, the mixer can space the sentences – and even individual words – in the recording to help them breathe or cut an unnecessary phrase.
What makes the dubbing mixer’s job more challenging is that a film or programme will be viewed in many different settings. If a film is to be seen in a modern cinema with Dolby Atmos, they will approach the mix differently to that of a soap opera, which will be viewed mainly on home televisions with tiny speakers. Often there will be different mixes of the same programme to suit different listening environments and formats, so a film sold on a DVD, which offers surround sound, will have a different mix to the television version.
The dubbing mixer also has to consider the audience’s needs. A TV series about gardening, for example, is likely to have an older audience than a programme about K-Pop, so it’s important to take into account the viewers’ less sensitive hearing and make sure any dialogue is clear.
Dubbing mixers have a very creative and satisfying job. They can make an enormous difference to a feature film or TV production. Most are freelance but in some instances, they are employed by post-production or audio post-production houses.
Watch and read
- Dubbing mixer for Doctors
- Inside the world of dubbing mixer David Drake
- Career spotlight: Foley artist/dubbing mixer
- Tips Tuesday…dubbing mixer
What’s a dubbing mixer good at?
- Listening: have a good ear, know what sounds good, be able to hear sounds that shouldn’t be there
- Creativity: be able to tell a story, have a fine appreciation of the way sound contributes to narrative, have excellent artistic judgement
- Using audio software: record sound, use editing software, understand how sound is made, keep up to date with it
- Collaboration: be able to interpret the director’s vision, work closely with the director, producers and actors
- Attention to detail: be patient, attend to the smallest sounds, often under pressure in the final mix stage
Who does a dubbing mixer work with?
Dubbing mixers have to be able to work long hours on their own, but also be able to collaborate with a range of people. They work closely with the director and interpret the director’s vision of the film in sound. They also work with the producer, who knows the audience and the deliverables, and with the production coordinator who might be organising the actors for the ADR (additional dialogue recording).
How do I become a dubbing mixer?
Most dubbing mixers are trained in sound, either on location or in dubbing theatres or recording studios. They build a career by taking on bigger and bigger projects. They often specialise in areas such as entertainment, drama or documentaries and tend to work in either cinema or television, but not usually in both. Any entry-level role in sound is a good way in. As your first step, consider being a sound assistant in unscripted TV, a sound trainee or a runner in post-production.
At school or college:
If you want to go to university, A-levels or Highers in computer science, music, film studies, English, maths, further maths, media studies or physics are useful. If you can, it’s handy to combine arts and science, so you have knowledge of storytelling as well as technology and the way sound is made.
If you want to go straight into a job, then the following Level 3 vocational qualifications will equip you:
- Aim Awards Diploma in Creative and Digital Media
- AQA Technical Level IT: Programming
- OCR Technical Diploma in Digital Media (Digital Content for Interactive Media)
- OCR Technical Diploma in Digital Media (Moving Image and Audio Production)
- OCR Technical Diploma in IT (Digital Software Practitioner)
- BTEC National Diploma/Extended Diploma in Music Technology
- BTEC National Diploma in Computing for Creative Industries
- BTEC National Diploma in Sound Production
- BTEC National Extended Certificate in Sound Engineering
- BTEC National Extended Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- RSL Subsidiary Diploma for Music Practitioners (Technology)
- UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology
Get a degree:
You don’t need a degree to be a dubbing mixer, but you might want one. It can help with personal development and give you time to learn some necessary skills. A degree in music, sound recording ('tonmeister'), electronics, maths or sound technology would be useful. Some dubbing mixers have taken degrees in maths or an arts subject and then gone on to do a post-graduate course in sound. Have a look at ScreenSkills’ list of recommended courses in film and TV. Choose one that will teach you about sound editing and give you access to post-production facilities. We recognise courses with our ScreenSkills Select award where they offer training in the relevant software, dedicated time to building a portfolio and have strong links with the film and TV industries.
Do the sound on student productions. Make a showreel of your work and build your sound portfolio. This is evidence of your practical skills and creativity that you can show to admissions tutors and employers.
Go to ScreenSkills’ events like Open Doors to meet people working in sound. Go to Training, information and resources and click on "events" to see what's happening in your area. Show the people you meet there your portfolio and give them your contact details.
Create a LinkedIn profile. Find the Facebook pages or other social media groups for people working in sound in film, TV and games. Join them and take part in the conversation. Create a ScreenSkills profile.
Search for jobs:
Research post-production and audio post-production houses. Regularly check their websites to see if they are advertising for junior roles. Check out ScreenSkills Jobs Board and Animation UK job vacancies. Send in your CV and ask if they’re recruiting.
Pia inajulikana kama: Re-rekodi mchanganyiko Nini dubbing mchanganyiko kufanya? Mchanganyiko wa dubbing huleta pamoja vipengele vyote tofauti vya sauti vya uzalishaji ili kuunda mchanganyiko wa mwisho. <unk>dub<unk> hufanyika wakati mhariri wa picha amemaliza programu au filamu. Hii ni hatua inayojulikana kama <unk> picha imefungwa <unk>. Vipengele vya kuchanganya sauti huunganisha mazungumzo, muziki, athari za sauti zilizotengenezwa kwa njia ya pekee na, ikiwa inahitajika, maelezo au sauti ya juu. Kuchanganya mambo haya pamoja inahitaji ustadi mkubwa na masikio mazuri: ikiwa athari ni kubwa sana huenda usiweze kuelewa mazungumzo; ikiwa ni ya utulivu sana filamu inaweza kupoteza msisimko mwingi. Maelezo kama hayo yanapatikana katika muziki: baadhi ya mandhari huharibiwa na muziki mwingi sana, huku nyingine zikihitaji kuwekwa kwa njia ya busara ili kuongeza mkazo au hisia. Mchanganyiko wa dubbing huandaa mchanganyiko kwa kusikiliza nyimbo zote za sauti moja kwa moja, kuangalia kwa mambo kama kupotosha au mazungumzo yasiyoeleweka na kuamua jinsi bora ya kuwatendea. Kwa kawaida, mhariri wa picha ameweka baadhi ya nyimbo na mhariri wa sauti ameongeza zingine zaidi katika mchakato unaoitwa kuweka nyimbo. Mchanganyiko wa dubbing hufanya kazi kupitia filamu, kurekebisha viwango vya nyimbo zote za sauti kwa kila mmoja, kuunda mchanganyiko kwa kila sehemu na kisha, hatimaye, kusikiliza mradi kwa ujumla. "Mkurugenzi na mtayarishaji wa filamu hiyo, ambaye huenda akataka athari za filamu hiyo ziwe zenye nguvu zaidi, kama vile, ""mapigano yanapofikia kilele,"" au, kinyume chake, karibu muziki wote na athari zote za filamu hiyo ziwe chini ili kuunda hisia ya kutengwa na kutoelewana." Mchanganyiko wa dubbing pia unahitaji kuhakikisha pembe mbaya za sauti zinaondolewa; kwa mfano, kwa kusawazisha kuungana kati ya mazungumzo yaliyokamatwa mahali na mazungumzo yaliyorekodiwa katika studio. Ikiwa kuna maelezo, kama vile katika filamu ya historia ya asili, basi dub ni mahali pazuri pa kuangalia ikiwa hadithi inahisi kuwa imejaa. Ikiwa ndivyo, mchanganyiko unaweza kuweka nafasi ya sentensi <unk> na hata maneno ya kibinafsi <unk> katika rekodi ili kuwasaidia kupumua au kukata kifungu kisichohitajika. Kile kinachofanya kazi ya mchanganyiko wa dubbing kuwa ngumu zaidi ni kwamba filamu au programu itaonekana katika mazingira mengi tofauti. Ikiwa filamu itatazamwa katika sinema ya kisasa na Dolby Atmos, watashughulikia mchanganyiko tofauti na ile ya opera ya sabuni, ambayo itaonyeshwa hasa kwenye televisheni za nyumbani na wasemaji wadogo. Mara nyingi kutakuwa na mchanganyiko tofauti wa programu moja ili kukidhi mazingira tofauti ya kusikiliza na muundo, kwa hivyo filamu inayouzwa kwenye DVD, ambayo inatoa sauti ya kuzunguka, itakuwa na mchanganyiko tofauti na toleo la televisheni. Mchanganyiko wa dubbing pia lazima uzingatie mahitaji ya watazamaji. Mfululizo wa televisheni kuhusu bustani, kwa mfano, ni uwezekano wa kuwa na watazamaji wakubwa kuliko programu kuhusu K-Pop, hivyo ni muhimu kuzingatia watazamaji'masikio chini ya nyeti na kuhakikisha mazungumzo yoyote ni wazi. Wachanganuzi wa sauti wana kazi yenye ubunifu sana na yenye kuridhisha. Inaweza kufanya tofauti kubwa kwa filamu ya filamu au uzalishaji wa TV. Wengi ni freelance lakini katika baadhi ya matukio, wao ni kuajiriwa na baada ya uzalishaji au sauti baada ya uzalishaji nyumba. Angalia na kusoma - Dubbing mchanganyiko kwa Madaktari - Ndani ya ulimwengu wa dubbing mchanganyiko David Drake - Career spotlight: Foley msanii / dubbing mchanganyiko - Tips Jumanne... dubbing mchanganyiko Nini dubbing mchanganyiko nzuri katika? - Kusikiliza: kuwa na sikio nzuri, kujua nini inaonekana nzuri, kuwa na uwezo wa kusikia sauti ambayo haipaswi kuwa huko - Ubunifu: kuwa na uwezo wa kuelezea hadithi, kuwa na uthamini mzuri wa jinsi sauti inachangia hadithi, kuwa na uamuzi bora wa kisanii - Kutumia programu ya sauti: rekodi sauti, kutumia programu ya uhariri, kuelewa jinsi sauti inafanywa, endelea hadi sasa na hiyo - Ushirikiano: kuwa na uwezo wa kutafsiri maono ya mkurugenzi, kufanya kazi kwa karibu na mkurugenzi, wazalishaji na waigizaji - Kumbuka maelezo: kuwa na subira, kuhudhuria sauti ndogo, mara nyingi chini ya shinikizo katika hatua ya mwisho. Kwa hivyo, mchanganyiko wa sauti lazima uwe na uwezo wa kufanya kazi kwa masaa mengi peke yake, lakini pia uwe na uwezo wa kushirikiana na watu mbalimbali. Wao kufanya kazi kwa karibu na mkurugenzi na kutafsiri maono ya mkurugenzi wa filamu katika sauti. Pia, mkurugenzi wa uzalishaji anafanya kazi na mkurugenzi wa uzalishaji, ambaye anajua watazamaji na matokeo, na mratibu wa uzalishaji, ambaye anaweza kuwa na jukumu la kuandaa watendaji kwa ajili ya ADR (rekodi ya mazungumzo ya ziada). Ninawezaje kuwa mchanganyiko wa dubbing? Wengi dubbing mixers ni mafunzo katika sauti, ama juu ya eneo au katika dubbing sinema au studio ya kurekodi. Wanajenga kazi-maisha kwa kuchukua miradi mikubwa zaidi na zaidi. Mara nyingi wao ni wataalamu katika maeneo kama vile burudani, drama au documentaries na huwa na kazi katika sinema au televisheni, lakini si kawaida katika wote wawili. Kazi yoyote ya kiwango cha kuingia katika sauti ni njia nzuri ya kuingia. Kama hatua yako ya kwanza, fikiria kuwa msaidizi wa sauti katika TV isiyoandikwa, mzoefu wa sauti au mkimbiaji katika baada ya uzalishaji. Ikiwa unataka kwenda chuo kikuu, A-levels au Highers katika sayansi ya kompyuta, muziki, masomo ya filamu, Kiingereza, hisabati, hisabati zaidi, masomo ya vyombo vya habari au fizikia ni muhimu. Kama unaweza, ni rahisi kuchanganya sanaa na sayansi, hivyo una ujuzi wa hadithi pamoja na teknolojia na njia sauti ni kufanywa. "Kama unajua, ""Aim Awards Diploma in Creative and Digital Media"" ni shahada ya kwanza ya uhandisi ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia." Inaweza kukusaidia katika maendeleo ya kibinafsi na kukupa wakati wa kujifunza ujuzi fulani unaohitajika. Shahada katika muziki, kurekodi sauti ('tonmeister'), umeme, hisabati au teknolojia ya sauti ingekuwa muhimu. Baadhi ya wachanganyaji wa sauti wamechukua digrii katika hisabati au somo la sanaa na kisha wakaendelea kufanya kozi ya baada ya kuhitimu katika sauti. Angalia orodha ya ScreenSkills ya kozi zilizopendekezwa katika filamu na TV. Chagua moja ambayo itakufundisha kuhusu uhariri wa sauti na kukupa upatikanaji wa vifaa vya baada ya uzalishaji. "Tunatambua kozi na tuzo yetu ya ""Screen Skills Select"" ambapo hutoa mafunzo katika programu husika, wakati wa kujitolea kujenga kwingineko na kuwa na uhusiano mkubwa na viwanda vya filamu na TV." Fanya sauti kwenye maonyesho ya wanafunzi. Fanya showreel ya kazi yako na kujenga kwingineko yako ya sauti. Hii ni ushahidi wa ujuzi wako wa vitendo na ubunifu kwamba unaweza kuonyesha kwa uandikishaji walimu na waajiri. Nenda kwa ScreenSkills <unk> matukio kama vile Open Doors kukutana na watu kufanya kazi katika sauti. "Kuchukua hatua ya ""Mafunzo, Habari na Rasilimali"" na bonyeza ""Matukio"" ili kuona nini kinachotokea katika eneo lako." Waonyeshe watu unaokutana nao huko kwingineko yako na uwape maelezo yako ya mawasiliano. Kuunda profile ya LinkedIn Tafuta ukurasa wa Facebook au vikundi vingine vya media ya kijamii kwa watu wanaofanya kazi katika sauti katika filamu, TV na michezo. Kujiunga na wao na kushiriki katika mazungumzo. Kuunda ScreenSkills profile. Utafutaji wa kazi: Utafiti baada ya uzalishaji na nyumba za baada ya uzalishaji wa sauti. Angalia tovuti zao kwa ukawaida ili uone kama zina matangazo ya nafasi za vijana. Angalia ScreenSkills Jobs Board na Animation UK nafasi za kazi. Tuma CV yako na uulize kama wanaajiri.