|
Avid Pro Audio CommunityHow to Join & Post • Community Terms of Use • Help Us Help YouKnowledge Base Search • Community Search • Learn & Support |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Stems Labelling Conventions for No-Narrator Documentaries
Hi all -
Those of you who mix documentaries: How do you lay out and label your stems for delivery, for shows without narration? Here's my current scheme for the tail of filenames on mix deliverables: __Stem51-DX-A (primary interview, no overlapping voices at all) __Stem51-DX-B (all other sync production sound and voice) __Stem51-FX (all added sound) __Stem51-MSX (music) Obviously important to split the DX stem to give max flexibility for cutting trailers etc, as well as any international localizations. Also Language is never married to FX, better for localization or promos/trailers. But I need to name these files in a way that make sense. Last time I delivered a doc using the name “PFX” instead of "DX-B", an editor at ITVS ignored those tracks and it was problematic. So I’d like to avoid it. For TV-minded folks, D / M / E is typical, as is VO / D / M / E. The former loses flexibility, the latter labelling implies a narrator, and I don’t want to raise a red flag that there are mising undipped stems, etc. Yes, good to "talk to the downstream folks" but sometimes it's just not possible. Thx for whatever wisdom you all can provide. -jeremiah |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Stems Labelling Conventions for No-Narrator Documentaries
I think what you have is fine, just expect to get a call at some point about it.
I have sometimes labelled what you have as 'DX-B' as 'DX-B Roll'. Quote:
__________________
Randall Smith Audio Editor/Mixer Starz Entertainment Group Denver, CO |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Stems Labelling Conventions for No-Narrator Documentaries
Thanks!
I'm going to go with it, as no better ideas have come to the fore - -jeremiah |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Stems Labelling Conventions for No-Narrator Documentaries
I label my stems however the deliverables sheet says I should label them.
If there is no delivery sheet specification I've gotten into the habit of really spelling things out. I've actually gotten calls from production companies in the past that didn't know what DX and MX were, so now I'll write out _DialSTEM and _MusicSTEM just to be extra clear. It's a little silly, but I've never had a call about it since. When it doubt, spell it out. As far as dialogue splits and sub groupings in a documentary mix, I usually have my tracks organized as follows: Narration/VO Sit-down interview tracks Verite footage Archival footage Futz tracks (if needed) And any non-dialogue production sounds goes on the Production FX tracks, which gets sent via the PFX stem to the FX stem. Often I don't get asked to split the dialogue elements for delivery, other than separating out the Narration/VO. But I like to group my tracks in a way that if a distributor asks me for an archival-only stem I can easily do that as I've got it all organized that way anyways. If you have a narrator-less documentary that is great, one less delivery requirement to split out. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Stems Labelling Conventions for No-Narrator Documentaries
I use more English friendly names, like NARR or VO, Interview DX, verite dx, verite BG or B roll, mono FX, etc. I too have had a lot of editors misinterpret stem names, so I try to make them as descriptive as I can (unless a network etc has a specific file naming convention to follow).
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Stems Labelling Conventions for No-Narrator Documentaries
Thanks all!
Yes - I'm going w/ something more descriptive. show_mixDateVersion_Stem-DX-INTVW-LtRt show_mixDateVersion_Stem-DX-OTHER-LtRt etc. Film people: Nat? SOT? TV people: Actuality? Pfx? -jeremiah |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Documentaries | garimpo | Post - Surround - Video | 6 | 11-20-2008 08:24 AM |
Takes List Naming COnventions | ronstephens | 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Mac) | 0 | 06-01-2005 01:06 PM |
OT: Motivating recording documentaries or movies | NoviceDollars | 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Win) | 18 | 01-21-2003 12:40 AM |
Pin Hot Conventions for US vs European Consoles | markus44uk | Tips & Tricks | 4 | 08-15-2002 07:31 PM |
Mike set up for Narrator | Xplosvebob | Pro Tools TDM Systems (Mac) | 9 | 04-09-2002 10:05 PM |