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This is an ADLAB PRO video.

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ADLAB PRO is a project funded
by the European Union.

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This video is made available
to you

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on a Creative Commons licence.

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Hello. I’m Iwona Mazur
from Adam Mickiewicz University

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in Poznan, Poland.

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In this ADLAB PRO video
I will talk about recording.

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This is Unit 10
"Screen AD: recording"

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in Module 2 "Screen AD".

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AD can be recorded by the audio
describer him or herself,

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a voice talent
or using a synthetic voice.

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In this video we will focus
on recording AD by a voice talent.

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If AD is to be read
by a voice talent,

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the AD script must be
carefully prepared

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to ensure synchrony
and proper intonation.

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There are a number of tools that
you can use for this purpose,

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including timecodes, keywords,
formatting and instructions.

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We will now discuss them
one by one.

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Timecodes specify the exact time
in a film

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when the audio describer
should start reading the AD.

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A timecode will normally include
minutes and seconds

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as well as hours
for longer productions.

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A keyword can be
the last sentence in a dialogue

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or a characteristic sound,
which precede a given description.

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Writing it down in your script
will help the voice talent

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know when they should start
reading the AD.

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When formatting the AD script,
you may consider

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separating your text
from other elements of the script

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using a different font size,
style or colour.

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You may give instructions
to the voice talent

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concerning how particular
text segments

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should be read out, for example:
“more emphatically”.

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You can also provide
some more general advice

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at the beginning of your script.

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The voice qualities of voice talents

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should match the film’s genre
or style.

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For instance, a male voice may be
more appropriate for a horror film,

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while in a romantic comedy
a female voice may sound better.

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Before recording the AD script,
the voice talent should read it

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to make sure
it is synchronous with the film.

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It is also crucial to check
if the timecodes

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in the AD script
and the film are the same.

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The recording of the script usually
takes place at a recording studio.

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In addition to a voice talent,

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there are usually a sound director
and a sound designer present.

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And sometimes
the audio describer, too.

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The sound director oversees
the way the AD is read

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in terms of its speed,
intonation, synchrony, etc.,

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whereas the sound designer sees
to the smooth running

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of all the technical aspects
of the recording.

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The audio describer,
on the other hand,

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may advise the voice talent
on how to read the script

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and be there for any
last minute changes in the AD.

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Once the AD recording is ready,

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the sound designer will mix it
with the original film soundtrack.

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It is highly important to match
the volume levels of both

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the AD track
and the original soundtrack

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so that they blend in nicely

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and provide a pleasurable experience
for persons with sight loss.

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To prepare this video I used
the chapter on technical issues

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in the ADLAB guidelines. Read it,
if you want to find out more.

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This was a broad overview
of AD recording.

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I hope you have some interesting
things about the topic.

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The preparation
of this presentation

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was supported by ADLAB PRO.
Audio Description:

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A Laboratory for the Development
of a New Professional Profile

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financed by the European Union
under the Erasmus+ Programme,

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Key Action 2,
Strategic Partnerships.

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Project number:

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2016-1-IT02-KA203-024311.

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The information and views
set out in this presentation

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are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect

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the official opinion
of the European Union.

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Neither the European Union
institutions and bodies

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nor any person acting
on their behalf

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may be held responsible
for the use

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which may be made of
the information contained therein.

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This was an ADLAB PRO video.

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ADLAB PRO partners are:
University of Trieste,

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Universitat Autònoma
de Barcelona,

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University of Antwerp,
Adam Mickiewicz University,

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RTV Slovenia,
Utopian Voices,

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Soundfocus and Royal National
Institute of Blind People.

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ADLAB PRO was funded
by the European Union.

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This video was made available
to you

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on a Creative Commons licence.