ADR from home?

[cheeseandachallenge]

So obviously, it is less than ideal to be recording dialogue and sound effects as someone who isn't an audio guy, or without any dedicated equipment or space.

With that in mind, I'm looking to start experiment with animation and stop motion. My first projects will be pretty experimental, and light on any form of crew (probably just myself and a friend), just as a means to learn the form a bit more. But I don't want the sound to be terrible.

I have been doing live action stuff for the most part. I usually do shorts with no/very little dialogue, and have a boom op and post production sound editor, so I don't own any gear myself. My university does have some facilities available, but I don't really want to abuse that for lowkey/experimental/practice productions.

So what can I, someone with very little knowledge on recording proper audio, in a student flat, and no audio equipment, do to get some half decent dialogue and maybe some Foley recorded (though I'd probably be using my friend in audio post for that - he lives in another country, so I can't get him to help with the recording)?

Obviously I'll have to spend a little, but whats the minimum setup I can get away with? What stuff should I read up on to get the most out of the equipment?
And if possible (though it's probably not), can I use this gear for quicker, more experimental live action productions, on the end of a boom? I have two *large* projects planned in the long term, so in the mean time, while I write and go into pre prodcution on those, I'm looking at making a heap of super short experimental pieces, so I don't really want to be calling in favours to get passable sound recorded.

Thanks for any help!

(P.S. I'm totally aware that the sound is going still going to suck from the perspective of anyone with audio experience)

 

[Alcove Audio]

C'mon Cheese, you should know by now to give something resembling a budget.

And you're not doing ADR as you are not replacing anything. You're recording dialog.

You could, of course, use your audio post guy; I'm sure he's got a decent mic, etc.

If you still want to do it at home, get something like the Blue Yeti ($120) or Audio-Technica AT2020USB ($130). Even the Blue Snowball is passable at $70. If you already have a mic you can get a USB converter like the Blue Icicle ($50). Get a decent microphone boom stand (like the QuikLok A-346 - $40). Trust me, the boom is worth it. You can use these mics for recording Foley, sound effects or whatever; it's better than having nothing, right?

Think about something to deaden your recording space. Getting up close to the mic will help a lot, but facing into a closet or hanging a ton of blankets, or, well, get creative; you know what you have on hand!

Don't forget a good pair of headphones if you don't already have some. BTW, good headphones reduce ear fatigue.


You should be able to record directly into your NLE, or you can work in a DAW.

 

[cheeseandachallenge]

Aye, sorry AA. I'd like to spend as little as possible. I'd go up to $300-$400 if needbe, but your recommendations suggest something less would be workable.

If I looked into a shotgun mic + usb converter, so I'd have a backup/last resort mic for live action stuff/off the cuff type stuff, would that work as well? Or would it not be particularly good for recording dialogue?

I have good headphones, and I'll probably look into a DAW as well.

Thanks AA.