| MT Groove wrote on Wed, 24 January 2007 00:48 |
Speaking of 5.1, I got a question for some of you audio for video/film experts. I got a voicemail from a client who wants to know if I can do a 5.1 mix on a low budget movie. That I can handle. The client also ask for another terminology I'm not familiar with. Without sounding downright ignorant, I would say it either sounded like "4MNE" or "Foreign MME/MNE" or "4ME" or something to that extent. The voicemail wasn't very clear. Now before I call the client back, I would like to know if this is something I can handle. Is this a spearate audio stream in different foreign languages? Or I'm I totally off the mark here? Any help would be appreciated.
|
They want an M & E mix, which is Music and effects, or sometimes referred to as music and elements. This is a no-dialog mix so that foreign language dubs can be made from it (you aren't expected to supply any of the foreign languages). You'll need a fully-filled soundtrack (cover everything with foley, add backgrounds, and separate out any important production sound effects to a PFX track that you can use in the M&E mix) so that when you mute the dialog stem you still have a soundtrack that has all the steps, movement, and atmospheres intact.
If you are just being contracted for the mix, and not the editing or foley recording, make sure that they give you a fully-filled foley track or you'll be screwed for the M&E. When doing the M&E, you start with just playing back the FX and music stems, and then add any necessary additional foley or effects that you may not have played, or played low during the main mix, to cover the loss of the production audio from the dialog stem. Also, make sure you get delivery specs because levels and standards are important for film, and it'll get bounced back to you if you mix it like a music project.
