Make Some Noise: Sound Effects Recording For Teens by Ric Viers (book review).
OK, in recent reviews of film books, we’ve covered many topics but not this one in as much detail. Ric Viers is a sound effects specialist and with this book, ‘Make Some Noise: Sound Effects Recording For Teens’, he is going to describe how to create the noises needed for films to be dubbed in. His 14 year-old son, Sean, is asked what he thinks at the end of each chapter. Personally, I would cross out ‘For Teens’ here because this book would be useful for people of all ages who need to learn how to dub sound effects into their films let alone those who just want to become noise specialists. The chapter on equipment and the various terms alone taught me a lot. I think I could even talk with some authority on the various microphones and what they do now.
There is a lot of emphasis on Digital Audio Workshops (DAW) and although he doesn’t describe anything but a generic model, I do wonder if Audacity would work with the budget conscious. If you ever wondered what all the extras can do, this should give you some grounding to practice with.
There is a lot of emphasis to record sounds in safety and to protect your equipment from being damaged. If you’re young, please take that to heart and don’t do anything reckless. Getting the right noises you need can be done quite safely. Viers frequently points out that just because we think something sounds right it tends to come from a different source and how the ear can be fooled. I suspect you’ll listen to films in a new light after reading here, especially with his example from ‘Raiders Of The Lost Ark’.
For such a short read, I found this book an interesting read and those of you who want to create noises will undoubtedly treat it as a bible to refer to time and again.
GF Willmetts
August 2017
(pub: Michael Wiese Productions. 176 page illustrated small enlarged paperback. Price: $14.95 (US), £11.99 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-61593-272-6)
check out website: www.mwp.com
