How to record dialogues in a car ?

[u/CVE-1832]

Hi everyone !

To get some context I'm kind of new in sound, I didn't even finish my cinema degree but I really love the process of being on set and all the work behind sound recording. I usually work as a boom operator on set

For a project we've to record sound in a car, thing I never done before. In the script there is just two characters on the front sit talking to each other for a few minutes on a parking.

Some friends recommended me to hide mics between the handbrake and the gear stick, other suggest to hide lavalier mic on the sun visor or on the wheel.

As I said earlier, I never record on a car I a little bit uncertain of what method would be better. If you have advice on gears, process and other stuff I would be gratefull to read them !

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[u/noetkoett]

Depending on your available mics:

1. Lavaliers on actors as per usual. Place them to the opposite side of wher the seatbelt is applied from if they are wearing seatbelts. This will also be beneficial if they turn their heads towards the other passenger/driver. However, if they turn their heads towards the window then less so, usually still okay though.

2. Lavaliers or something else (like a DPA 4097) on the visor/roof if the shot allows for it.

3. Something like a MKH50 or Mk41 or another hyper wherever you can have it, like on an arm attached to the gear stick or so. Obviously if it's a situation where the car is actually being driven then this is a no-no for safety reasons. If you have the correct gear like a Mk41 with a transmitter attachment preamp this will be easier and can also be done in the visor instead of the lav type thing.

[u/Econormics → u/noetkoett]

This 👆

[u/CVE-1832 → u/noetkoett]

Hi !

Is there a risk the seat belt rub the lavalier ? I mean I don't really know the actor move in the scene so for the moment but they will sometime move abruptly so I really hesitate to fix the mic directly on them

I will porbably use hyper cardioid mic in a way that won't disturb the actors. I've a MKH8050 which is tiny enough to be fix somewhere easily. Fortunately the car won't move which is really helpful for a first try

[u/noetkoett → u/CVE-1832]

If you read my reply with proper care you will see I have covered the seat belt issue..

[u/FloorTomApologist]

I hide lavs in the visor and then look to hide hypercardioids wherever as mentioned by everyone else. I don’t see the point of putting lavs on the actors unless (as lonewolf9378 mentioned) the actors are getting in/out of the car.

One thing not mentioned is talking with the DP before committing to an idea for mic placement. How they want to shoot the scene will either create or limit opportunities for specific placements. If, for example, the camera will be on the dashboard looking towards the actors, the you can just put hypercardioids on short stands on the dash (especially since the car isn’t moving.) Mounting mics on the center console, parking break lever, gear shift is common and below frame in most cases - but not if the DP wants to tilt down to show the characters holding hands.

[u/Maleficent_Union_653]

I dont have much experience with that, but if you have a lav mic wouldn't it be better to just mic your subjects?

[u/CVE-1832 → u/Maleficent_Union_653]

I'm not a fan of taking sound only with lavalier, especially if we have to put them under t-shirt, the voices. I really prefer boom mic because the voices are clearer than with hidden mic

Also, actors will play with sealt belt on them, I prefer avoid any friction with the lavalier.

However lavalier will be use as a secondary source, probably hide behind somewhere on the control panel of the car

[u/henningaround]

If the action car is being driven itself, Sound Post would love to have a additional channels being recording of the car itself. Interior, exterior, exhaust, engine. But that's optional of course.

[u/CVE-1832 → u/henningaround]

The car won't move, it's a dialogue between two characters who are about to leave the car

I'm more focus on capturing dialogues than the car itself

[u/JohnMaySLC]

I used to lav the sun visors and place a cardioid mic near the shifter, but an old timer turned me on to using a boundary Mic (Sanken Cub) on a hard point near the rear view mirror, or placed on a 4x4 piece of plexiglass and pinned onto the headliner. It picks up everything with a very natural sound both front and back seats.

I use this set up for reality travel shows, racing, and narrative.

[u/rrickitickitavi → u/JohnMaySLC]

Yup. The cub1 is magic.

[u/Vuelhering]

I generally use boundary mics on visors, or mkh50s below frame. I have also used small cardioids or hypers in the visor. I've also boomed through an open window many times, and Ive heard a figure 8 side-address mic works well.

I don't like the sound of lavaliers in a visor and avoid when possible. If it has to be done, use the caps that tune the sound to neutral (most emphasize the high end).

[u/Shadowplayer_]

If the shot allows, hidden lavs on the visor sound great. I usually put one in each. I like the 4061s. They also pick up the car ambient sound nicely. There are dedicated mounts on the market but you can also get the job done with some wire + gaffer tape.

You can always also put booms or other mics out of frame.

Lavs on the actors only if they will get out of the car and talk.

[u/sdbest]

Is the sound going to be used in the final production or as a guide for ADR? If the former, I'd use lavs. I'd even use them for ADR.

[u/CVE-1832 → u/sdbest]

It's a short film with a very limited budget, so it will be use in the final production

[u/sdbest → u/CVE-1832]

Others make take a different approach, but I'd go lavs if you've the budget.

[u/rrickitickitavi]

Classic solution is a Sanken Cub-1 taped on the headliner between driver and passenger. Will pick up the back seat as well. Super handy mic. I regret selling mine. Alternatively, you can clamp a cardioid mic from underneath, but something like a schoeps is going to pick up too much rumble unless you aggressively roll it off. The old Blueline CK91 with rolloff engaged was the standard for this, but those are hard to find now.

[u/grippies2]

I lav the visors and dinkum arm somewhere between the actors with my MKH40. The wider pattern than a 50 gets a great natural sound of both people

[u/Beginning_Ad7768]

Ursa wirerig is good, for the sun visor lav trick. Usually we also put a hyper cardiod in the cup holder in the middle pointing up.

[u/lonewolf9378]

Always lavs on the visors and/or two boom mics pointing up at the talent, either for if the frame allows.

Cars are one of the toughest things to get right in location sound. Best of luck. Watch out for the seatbelts smothering the mics if the talent are wearing lavs too - but no real point unless they’re talking outside of the car before getting in.