Filming Session Tips |
Quake2 Demo Editing Tutorial |
Written by David
'crt' Wright
Reprinted 6/99 by Overman |
David 'crt' Wright, author of the Keygrip2 program,
sent this post to the Quake2 Demos mailing list last year. I thought about
re-writing it for this site, but I really can't say it any better than he did. These
tips have proved extremely valuable to me, and I hope they will be for you as well.
From: "David Wright"
To: "Quake2 Demos And Movies"
Subject: [q2demos] Movie tips (was skins)
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 15:28:08 -0700
While I would agree that it is VERY important to film it
"right" the first time, I think you underestimate the value of recamming,
especially considering the total lack of good Q2 camera patches.
FYI, I recommend the following when making a movie (not everyone can
meet all these requirements.. but you should try for as many as possible)
- Use a dedicated server on a LAN or fast net connection
- Have your main "cameraman" on a cable or T1 connection
- Record client demos from every actor (not just the cameraman) as well
as a serverrecord demo, even if you just plan on using the cameraman's demo
- Record client demos with cl_nodelta 1 (unless you are on a slow net
connection). This will help alleviate some of the block size problems.
- Make sure everyone joins the server in the same order each time you
film, otherwise you cannot (easily) cut/paste between seperate demos
- Record lots of short demos with identifiable names, instead of one
HUGE demo of your entire session.
- Once you are done filming zip a backup of your demos directory so you
don't risk deleting or editing an original by accident
- Agree on the script beforehand and make sure all your actors have
read and understand it. Trying to give directions and positions on the server while
filming is often difficult.
- Get experienced and appropriate people to do the voice acting. If you
need a person with a deep voice then find someone! Don't try to fake it with filters in
your sound editing program.
If you have to do this voice acting yourself, follow these tips:
- Use a HIGH quality microphone. The one bundled with your SB16 won't
cut it.
- Control your breathing and don't hold the microphone too close.
Breathe through your nose.
- Shut out all ambient noise and record in as quiet a room as possible.
I recommend moving as far away from your computer as your cord will allow, since computers
often add a lot of noise.
- Never try to play music in the background while you are talking - mix
it in later.
- Record at high quality, resample to lower quality - 8khz, 8 bit, mono
is usually fine for voice. [Ed.- I prefer 11.025kHz]
- Programs such as CoolEdit
[or Goldwave] have
noise filters. If you recorded your source material correctly these SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED,
but may help after the sound is resampled.
- Get someone to objectively listen to and evaluate your voice acting
abilities before you release anything.. you hear your own voice very differently from how
other people hear you.
- Unless you are very good a improv (/me looks at Clan Ill) write and
memorize your script. Do not try to read while recording! It is very obvious. Memorize and
practice your lines like a real actor!
- Finally: DONT OVERACT! Be natural.. don't change voice volume or
pitch too quickly, stay in character, and don't switch characters without a break.