Audio post production, an integral part of the media and entertainment industry, has witnessed remarkable transformations over the years, from the early days of optical sound and linear analogue techniques to the modern era of digital non-linear DAW based workflows.
With these advancements in technology, along with fluctuating budgets and evolving client expectations, practices and job roles have naturally changed and evolved to keep pace with the shifts in technology. In this article, we will explore the changing roles in audio post production and discuss what we might expect in the future.
Let’s consider some of the factors which are drivers of change…
Reduced Budgets
It’s no secret that in certain areas of production, budgets have been cut in recent years. This is especially true in TV where, in many cases, the funds available for audio post production have been constrained to the point where there’s no longer the time or resources to do things in quite the same way as before. To be clear here, we’re not talking about every single show but in a notable number of cases, cost cutting has hit the audio post production department, meaning that audio professionals are having to adapt their workflows and explore cost-effective solutions. This includes leveraging advancements in technology to streamline processes and also taking on more roles. For example, an individual who may have previously only specialised in either ADR, dialogue editing, foley, sound design or dubbing may now need to be adept with each of those aspects of post-production.
Those separate roles absolutely still exist on higher budget productions and films and will continue to do so, but in much of the quick turnaround TV production which happens on a daily basis, individuals are now expected to be capable of taking on a number of different roles and doing them well. Keeping up to date with DAW and plug-in technology is an important way in which you can stay relevant when employers and clients expect you to carry out multiple roles. This brings us onto the next point…
Advancements In Technology
It feels as though technology is advancing more quickly than ever, and this ties in with the concept of Accelerating Change which observes an exponential rate of technological change in recent years. We’re all aware of Moore’s Law which predicts that the number of resistors on an integrated circuit will double about every two years. This held true for many decades from 1975 until very recently when, around 2010, the pace had slowed enough for some experts to argue that Moore’s Law no longer held true. Nevertheless, technological change has still continued at a considerable speed and this has brought about possibilities in all aspects of technology which would have been inconceivable just a few years ago.
In audio post, this has benefited us in terms of the power and capabilities of plug-ins. One example is noise reduction which now, thanks to machine learning and A.I, has got a lot more effective, with better results which are easier to achieve for the user. Fewer audible artefacts and a greater amount of effective noise reduction can now be achieved with less effort than before, meaning that we can accomplish more in a day. It could be argued that less skill and know-how is required on the part of the user with this kind of tech, but this is often the nature of technological change and in this case it means that more of us can achieve effective results by leveraging these technological advancements. Check out our Noise Reduction Tools Shoot-Out here.
To use another post production example, it’s now possible to perform foley sounds without the need for a foley studio thanks to the plug-ins which allow us to trigger foley from either a MIDI keyboard or microphone used purely as a trigger device. This shouldn’t be bad news for foley artists because their skill and artistry will continue to be needed and wanted wherever budgets permit. What it does mean though is that productions which perhaps wouldn’t have had foley anyway due to cost or studio access can now include very good sounding foley which can be ‘performed’ in sync with picture using little more than a laptop if need be. This again is an example of how roles in audio post, especially on lower to mid budget productions, are evolving to incorporate new possibilities and options.
Client Expectations
With the shifts in technology, clients have come to expect more in what can be achieved and the time frames in which things can be done. I remember doing post production mixes just a few years ago when clients would have to physically come and drop off a drive with an OMF export and QuickTime video file on for me to work on. I’d do the mix and they would come back to collect the finished files. This was because the internet just wasn’t fast enough to allow the transfer of even moderately sized files at anything resembling a reasonable pace. It was quicker for someone to drive 50 miles with a hard drive than it was just to send the files online, which seems crazy today but this goes to show how quickly we’ve got used to higher internet speeds and file transfers. Today, a client anywhere in the world is able to send video and audio files extremely quickly, allowing us to take on jobs irrespective of geographical location.
Remote collaboration tools mean that we can converse, share works in progress and respond to client input and requests from virtually anywhere. The improvements in technology mentioned earlier mean that many clients now have higher expectations in what can be achieved within any given time frame, and they expect the finished work to be delivered to them wherever they may be. While remote working may not be as personal as working with someone in person, it’s here to stay and this means that some projects which may have previously needed to be done in a studio setting can now be carried out from a home setup. Also, voiceovers and even ADR sessions can now be carried out remotely, with artists even able to view video and perform in sync with it from anywhere.
Consumer preferences have also been a driver of client expectations and requirements. Modern audiences have grown accustomed to immersive audio experiences, expecting high-quality sound that enhances their engagement with visual content. In response, audio professionals are expected to create more intricate soundscapes, utilising technologies such as Dolby Atmos and ambisonics to craft mixes which fit in with what modern audiences want.
What Does The Future Hold For Roles In Audio Post-Production?
Predictions about the future are always hard to make. In 1989, Back To The Future II convinced me that we’d have flying cars by 2015 and that still hasn’t happened yet! Even so, we can reasonably expect that the current trends in technology and working practices will continue for a while longer. In terms of audio post-production, the future potentially holds exciting possibilities, including AI-driven processes and immersive audio technologies, which will continue to shape the field. Audio professionals will play a pivotal role in utilising these technologies to create innovative and immersive sound experiences.
Collaboration and remote work looks set to become even more prevalent, with audio post production teams collaborating across multiple locations and time zones. Cloud-based workflows and virtual collaboration platforms will enable seamless communication and efficient project management. In the long term though, will we all get pissed off with the lack of direct contact with clients and colleagues and return to working with people in person? That’s a possibility but only time will tell!
As the industry continues to evolve, audio professionals will need to develop a broader skill set, encompassing not only technical expertise but also creative versatility and adaptability. The ability to work across different mediums, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, will be crucial for staying relevant in an increasingly diverse media landscape. What’s clear is that the pace of change is greater than ever so staying relevant means adapting, learning and not becoming stuck in fixed ways of doing things. We can expect A.I to work its way into more and more of our workflows in the near future. This should be seen as something which aids us in our work rather than posing a threat to our jobs. By utilising such technologies and capitalising on the opportunities they present, audio post production professionals can continue to create captivating and immersive audio experiences for audiences worldwide.