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EASIT: Easy access
for social inclusion training

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This is Unit 3B.

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Easy-to-understand
and audio description.

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Element 3.
Technical aspects.

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Other video:

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Sound-editing features.

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This video is reproduced with permission of:

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ADLAB PRO

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Overview

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This video includes

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two training materials from
the ADLAB PRO project.

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Mereijn van der Heijden,

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from Soundfocus
in the Netherlands,

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explains
the audio description production process.

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He first focuses on
sound recording and editing,

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and then on sound mixing and delivering.

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This is an ALDAB PRO video.

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ADLAB PRO is a project founded by
the European Union.

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This video is made available to you
on a Creative Commons license.

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Hello, I am Mereijn van der Heijden
from Soundfocus, the Netherlands.

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We produce screen AD for all types of media.

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I will explain our production process

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on sound-recording and sound-editing.

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When recording AD, many aspects
can influence its quality.

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You need specific conditions
for a successful recording.

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Like well-prepared scripts,

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the possibility to work
with experienced voice actors,

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proper recording equipment,

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and knowledge on how to use it.

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The recording space acoustics
are equally crucial.

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They influence the quality
of the recording,

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especially when AD is offered
as a stand-alone stream.

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The sound technician has many tasks.

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At Soundfocus,

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sound technicians provide
directional instructions.

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They are both engineers and directors.

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I read the script to spot mistakes
during the recording,

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and I follow the image
to see if the script is correct.

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I also monitor the tone of voice.

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I manage
the recording equipment,

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and I communicate with the voice talent
who is in a different room.

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We use audio editing software
to clean-up the Wav files,

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and delete the unusable recording bits.

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We add fades
at the beginning and the end of sentences.

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We also remove all the bold breaths.

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At the end, we adjust the timing

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of every description
with the original soundtrack.

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The result is a continuous AD track
that needs to be mixed.

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Hello, I am Mereijn van der Heijden
from Soundfocus, the Netherlands.

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We produce screen AD for all types of media.

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I will now explain our production process

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on sound mixing and delivery.

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When recording and sound-editing are done,

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the AD track is processed with equalizing,
compression and limiting

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to make the AD better audible.

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The difference between unprocessed
and processed audio is clear.

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A U-boot cruises on the surface of the ocean.

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The captain walks along a corridor
within the boat,

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then looks through the periscope.

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A U-boot cruises on the surface of the ocean.

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The captain walks along a corridor
within the boat

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then looks through the periscope.

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AD is usually in the middle of the mix,

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or in the center channel
in case of surround sounds.

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Because people interact differently

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with speech than with music
or sound effects.

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AD often takes the viewer out
of the story or experience

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and this is something to prevent.

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AD needs to follow the dynamics
of the original soundtrack.

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As to loudness, AD equals to dialogue level.

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In case of an interbred mix or open AD,

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the original soundtrack will be adjusted.

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If the AD is not audible
at a particular moment,

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the volume of the film sound will be lowered.

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Examples of open AD are

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the AD mixed on a DVD,

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or the AD mixed over by Netflix.

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<i>(Open AD Example)
An operations room during World War II. </i>

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<i>Someone in handcuffs pushes a document
across a desk.</i>

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-Gentlemen, this is the plan.

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<i>A submarine.</i>

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-The government chose you
to lead this operation.

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-Where are you going to find
a crew that's up to this?

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<i>A woman sights in a rifle. </i>

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<i>A German military convoy drives past.</i>

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<i>A group of misfits set out to sea on a small boat.</i>

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-It's a suicide.

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<i>A U-boot cruises on the surface of the ocean.  </i>

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In case of a discreet AD channel,
like in cinema,

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the sound of the film is at a fixed level.

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The AD level can be adjusted by the user

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because it is on a separate system
with volume control.

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It is important that
the AD track follows the original sound mix.

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In a silent scene, the AD level can be lower

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and in an action scene, the level goes up.

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With AD on a fixed level
the user should to adjust

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the volume constantly.

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This is not a nice film experience.

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The next step is delivery.

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The AD delivery can be split up
in two categories.

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Delivery as open AD is mixed
with the original soundtrack,

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and delivery as closed AD,
a discreet AD track

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that is delivered as a separate audio file.

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The export formats are related
to the playback system,

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so the same production
is prepared in different formats.

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This is an example of a video we made
for the Dutch government.

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On the website,
the video player is accessible

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with an AD button to switch AD on and off.

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However, IOs users can’t use this function,

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so a download alternative
with open AD is provided.

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The open AD video is also published
on Facebook and YouTube

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because they do not support closed AD.

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In case of film,
we start with closed AD for DCP

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which is a digital copy
of the film for cinemas.

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But for DVD or video on demand,

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we deliver an integrated mix
in different formats

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because of the different frame rates.

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Because of the different formats

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we developed an AD app called “Earcatch”.

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It works with a discreet AD channel
on a mobile device

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and it is compatible
with various screenings.

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It works in cinemas, with DVD,
Blu-ray, video on demand and broadcast.

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The app synchronizes with sound recognition

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and recognizes the playback speeds

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for cinema, which is 24 fps,
and for TV, which is 25 fps in Europe.

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With Earcatch,
we only need to make one AD track

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that can be reused in all situations.

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The production process is fast
and cost effective.

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This was an ADLAB PRO video.

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ADLAB PRO partners are:

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University of Triest,

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Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona,

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University of Antwerp,

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Adam Mickiewicz University,

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RTV Slovenija,

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Utopian Voices,

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Soundfocus,

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and Royal National Institute of the Blind.

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ADLAB PRO is founded by the European Union.

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This video was made available to you
on a Creative Commons license.

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Source:
ADLAB PRO

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Year:
2018