Sound commands
Both cameras and sound have a standard shorthand, although the traditional sound commands are beginning to be a bit dated.
Use the word ‘Go’ for cueing sound effects. Do not use ‘go’ for any other group of operators. ‘Fade up/fade down/lose sound’ are also permitted.
Who is doing what, where and when?
Tell sound what is happening next (this also applies to cameras, vision mixers etc.).
If you are cutting to a machine next (VT, Laser disk, Telecine etc.) be clear which one (many news studios have six VT machines).
Be clear if there should be more than one sound source live simultaneously, ‘Coming to underlay VT D, John to voice over; titles music continues from VT A’.
Voice overs (underlays)
This is one area where there does not yet seem to be an international standard description. In the diagram opposite you can see some of the different ways people say the same thing. In each case the presenter will voice-over some video tape pictures.
I use the expression ‘Underlay’, shortened in written form to ULAY. The reason to choose this over VO is purely practical – if you’re sitting in front of a large bank of monitors with video tape clocks, it is easier to differentiate the words VT and ULAY then VT and VO.
You must be clear whether you are running an underlay or a VT. Sound kill mics that are not being used to prevent background noise from going to air. If you are not clear that a tape is an underlay, you are Sikefy to lose the presenter’s voice.
Large interviews
During interviews with many participants, if you know that certain guests are not involved, then sound can fade, or ‘take out’ their microphones, reducing the amount of background noise.
Discipline your presenters
Do not let presenters say anything libellous or crude when they are wearing a mic. Too many careers have been terminated by somebody saying something stupid on the rare occasion sound have left the mic live, and it has gone straight to air. This is a ‘no-brainer’ – you have nothing to gain and everything to lose.
We always used to say what machine was being used, i.e. ‘Go tape’, or ‘Go grams’. However, sound departments have ruthlessly cashed in on technology and now use a huge range of sources (CD players, carts, floppy disks, hard disk systems, grams, DT, 1/4 inch tape etc.). It is now accepted practice for directors to standby the sound required instead of the machine.
‘Standby opening sting … and go sting.’