Hi folks, I'm looking for a technical term, if you can please help me.
Let's say on a DVD I have 3 audio tracks:
(1) downmix of: music + sound effects + dialogue (in original language)
(2) downmix of: music + sound effects + dialogue (in foreign language, i.e. dubbed version)
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_commentary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_commentary) (e.g. director's commentary)
Ok, in my case (3) is the director's commentary, or more generally an audio commentary.
But what is the correct term for (1) and (2)?
How do you professionals refer to them?
I did some research:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundtrack (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundtrack) says (1) is "composite track".
"Guide to postproduction for TV and film: managing the process (http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OVfz6qAuyaAC&pg=PA199&lpg=PA199&dq=%22m%26e+track%22+dialogue&source=bl&ots=la0YF5B8jd&sig=Z7aX9TCXGPlnZj2f-GzpZRUpLyQ&hl=en&ei=5FnWTY6eBtCg-way0KXCBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22m%26e%20track%22%20dialogue&f=false)" and "Video editing: a postproduction primer (http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OhIQ0xPIMpgC&pg=PA202&dq=%22m%26e+track%22+dialogue&hl=en&ei=fczWTdyzOsTu-gaqnpTIBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22m%26e%20track%22%20dialogue&f=false)" also use the term "comp track" which however is just an abbreviation of the above.
"composite" just means that something has ≥ 2 parts and is quite vague an expression.
The director's commentary (3) is ALSO a composite track. It is composed of the director's voice and (1) which is slightly faded when the director speaks.
So "composite track" is too vague for me.
I was wondering if you professionals know a more precise term to fill in on the right side of the equation
music + sound + dialogue = ?
For "all sound elements minus dialogue" there IS indeed a precise term:
music + sound = M&E track (music and effects)
Are there similarly unambiguous and unequivocal terms for tracks (1) and (2) on my DVD?
Many thanks!
I'm not a pro... I'd probably call anything on the DVD a
"final mix". For "all sound elements minus dialogue" there IS indeed a precise term:
music + sound = M&E track (music and effects)
I didn't know that...
I'd say something like, "chrizoo is working on the music & sound effects tracks." "I'm working with the actors to record the the dialog now, and I'm going to do the final 2.0 & 5.1 English mixes."
A sub-mix or partial-mix is called a "stem". i.e. You could have a drum stem (a mix of all the drums & cymbals). Or it could be a sub-mix (of a song) with all the instruments without the vocals. I don't think a stem has to be a
recorded. It can be a live sub-mix, so for example you can fade-up or down the entire drum kit with a single fader.
music + sound + dialogue = usually just a "mix"