10 · 08 · 07

Trying to dignify the work of the sound specialist.

Doris Morales/Translated by Vicente Castañar

[imagen]Chin, se me olvidó que mi peli lleva audio was a conference preceded by Hector Ruiz, a known music film composer. This conference was about the process one must follow so a film’s sound is flawless.

Héctor Ruiz is a music engineer who owns a producer company called MCO. MCO is composed by seven sound labs who design and produce 5.1 music mixes. Ruiz is also the founder of Sociedad Mexicana de Productores de Música, A. C. (Mexican Music Producer’s Foundation).

Ruiz has a 22 year career; he has composed soundtracks for Al otro lado by Gustavo Loza and Eréndira by Juan Mora Cattlet. Ruiz shared his valuable experience in this pleasant, enlightening, clear discussion where he explained that music directing is made up of nine audio disciplines. The filmmaker talked about direct sound, foley and premixing 5.1.

Ruiz explained that in direct sound the sound specialist must know the script and has to know all its specifications, he must also have the authority to make everyone be silent or the scene must be recorded again. 30% to 40 % of a film’s budget is spent doing sound correction, so the sound specialist’s job is of great importance. Sound cleanliness is fundamental; sounds must be recorded with no foreign unwanted background noises.

Next Ruiz explained foley: “this sound recording technique recreates sounds made by man or nature, and special effects sounds, like a creepy door opening.”

Ruiz, who is the sound designer for JC Chávez also talked about premixing 5.1. This is done in a record system studio’s mixing console in order to mix different channels, volume, holographic drives positioning, etc.

The filmmaker also mentioned that it is important to have knowledge of the different time periods “so one can understand the different contexts” and that one must know the author rights laws: “this is basic if you want to avoid problems with the authorities.”

Finally Ruiz highlighted the importance of marketing: “a film’s soundtrack is basic material that will help publicize the film.”