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Missed this Week’s Top Stories? Read our Quick Round-up!

It’s easy to miss the SoundGirls news and blogs, so we have put together a round-up of the blogs, articles, and news from the past week. You can keep up to date and read more at SoundGirls.org

April Feature Profile

https://soundgirls.org/town-planning-to-florence-and-the-machine/

The Blogs

Lav Me Alone

Tips for Staying Healthy on the Road

FOLEY 101: A Crash Course

What’s In Your Go Bag?

Kickstart Your Mentorship

Excellence in Assistance

Sounding Out – The Cultural Politics of Sound and Listening

Internet Round-Up

My Mama said.so – Mothers making an impact in the music industry, with shesaid.so Mamas

 

Pioneering Yankees broadcaster Suzyn Waldman has had to deal with sexism and abuse throughout her career

Mastering for Vinyl: Tips for Digital Mastering Engineers – Jett Galindo

Mastering for Vinyl: Conversations with the Pros

 

 

SoundGirls Events

 

https://soundgirls.org/event/detroit-soundgirls-spring-meet-greet/?instance_id=1477

https://soundgirls.org/event/glasgow-aes-soundgirls-theatre-sound-assembly/?instance_id=1472

https://soundgirls.org/event/los-angeles-soundgirls-april-social/?instance_id=1523

https://soundgirls.org/event/bay-area-chapter-1st-mondays-meetings/?instance_id=1496

JBL VTX A8 Workshop – May 9 @ Harman Northridge

https://soundgirls.org/event/mastering-w-piper-payne-oakland-2/?instance_id=1522

https://soundgirls.org/event/vancouver-meyer/?instance_id=1524

https://soundgirls.org/event/vancouver-soundgirls-social-3/?instance_id=1526

VUE System Training – April 19th

SoundGirls News

Scholarships Available for Smaart Training

 

Travel Grant Awarded to Kaitie Sly

SoundGirls and SoundGym

Shadowing/Mentoring/Internship Opportunities

Shadowing Opportunity w/ ME Aaron Foye

Shadow Gil Eva Craig – NZ & Australia

Monitor System Prep Internship

Viva La Muxer – SoundGirls Volunteers

SoundGirls Resources

Spotify and SoundGirls Team Up – EQL Directory

SoundGirls – Gaston-Bird Travel Fund

Letter for Trades and Manufacturers

Women-Owned Businesses

SoundGirls Scholarships 2021 Now Open

Events

Sexual Harassment

https://soundgirls.org/about-us/soundgirls-chapters/

Jobs and Internships

Women in the Professional Audio

Member Benefits

Lav Me Alone

Consent

I have been using RF microphones for 15 years. For half of my life, I have been putting mics on other people for theatre, tv, and film. When I worked at a children’s theatre, I was the go-to for micing up dozens of kids. I got really, really good at the under-shirt swoop because kids are wiggly and I can’t ask them to hold still for long. I’ve had other women tell me that they were relieved to see a female working backstage, so they didn’t have to worry about someone behaving inappropriately. The likelihood of me sexually harassing someone is apparently far less than many of my male counterparts (sorry guys?) It’s an issue that celebrities are even coming forward about in recent times.

For years I have run workshops and taught labs detailing proper RF usage and lav placement. More importantly, I discuss etiquette and “how to not be creepy.” I look each person in their eyes and say “Do not be creepy. Ask before doing. Check for understanding before reaching down someone’s shirt.” Perhaps you should begin with introducing yourself and asking their experience level, would they feel more comfortable putting it on themselves, or having help? In my experience, people are a lot more comfortable with you being in their personal space when they know your intent. The key here is to be cordial and talk it through.

DIY

As an actor or artist, your body is the focus of the show. Empower yourself and reclaim some personal space by learning some basic skills. For a lapel style mic, make a small loop and wrap it around the clip, this helps keep your mic in place even if the wire gets pulled. Run the cable under whichever layer you won’t take off. The transmitter/belt pack can go inside a safe pocket or mic belt.

If you’re wearing the other style, you may need to employ some extra tricks. I use a variety of supplies that are easily found in a grocery store or pharmacy. Moleskin is excellent when you need to secure a mic to skin or fabric. It is sticky on one side and flannel soft on the other. Make a moleskin sandwich for your lav, place it wherever is out of sight. I also like to use medical tape to secure lavs; it’s hypoallergenic and readily available. You can also use straight pins to secure, but I avoid making holes in costumes. I’ve run moleskin through the wash, and it held up without even leaving a residue once removed.

Enlist

If you are a female artist who needs to wear a body mic and feel uncomfortable with a guy reaching down your costume, have a female dresser, or someone else places it for you. Asking gives you more control, and it isn’t rude. Everyone has a right to feel safe in their workspace. If you’re an A1 and your talent wants to do it themselves, relinquish the need to invade their space. Check their work, but leave their bodies to themselves.

 

Tips for Staying Healthy on the Road

Round up of tips from our members for staying healthy while working the crazy hours we do in live production.

Rachelle: For me, I schedule my workouts weeks in advance so that if I work in the evening one day I’ll work out in the morning, or just on my days off and I’ll only workout 2-3 days per week. Sometimes if its absolutely necessary I’ll try to go for a jog or a quick workout during my breaks, it’s hard to stay motivated when we don’t have a set schedule for working but there’s always little gaps of time that are available, and take advantage of hotel gyms.

Cynthia:  When you have a day off, make good food, get a dozen Tupperware you can freeze them in. Instant healthy food. Also, have easy to grab fruits and vegetables.
I find walking and lifting on the job is sometimes quite enough for me as far as physical exertion goes. I need to watch my intake and make sure I have enough water and sleep.
I’m trying to think of food as fuel, and giving myself reasonable fuel for my day. It means I have a lot of hummus, nuts, apples, and other fruit, “good” bread, PB & J, and other odd ingredients that I can grab when I need something quick.

Pamela: Yoga! It energizes not tires out. Also REALLY good for sanity on the road & yoga you can do it just about anywhere.

Allie: If you like yoga, try the YouTube channel “yoga with Adrienne.” She has a video for every body part, mood, tone schedule, etc.  I am a huge fan. Even if the hotel doesn’t have a gym, you can make space in the room.

Judy: A lotta water. Keep hydrated.

Kelli: I just changed my diet. I stay full longer, so I have more energy.. I eat protein, usually chicken or fish, and veggies. I snack on fruits and veggies.. granola bars are helpful. I drink water and tea mixed half sweet. I still eat whatever I want when I can.. but the last few weeks I have slimmed down feel good too.

Holley:  Make it a point to rest/relax on your days off and drink plenty of water and foods to keep you hydrated. Eat foods with healthy and good amounts of protein and iron. Wear a hat and sunscreen when outdoors for long periods of time. I tend to do emergen-C every morning as well as Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with water, a teaspoon of honey, half a lemon, a couple shakes of powdered ginger, cinnamon, clove, cayenne pepper, and turmeric. Go in for a massage at least once a month if possible or a few times a year.

Cailey: Supplements, superfood intake, and smoothies! Lots of water too. If you want recipes/ideas look into my Instagram, usually helps others get some yummy and fun ideas. @caileenwa

Marina:  Hello, I believe that when you exercise frequently, it adds energy. Think of it like it is a bank account the more you work out, the more money you are putting in for when you need to spend it. In this case, you will spend that energy at work. You are adding resistance. You will become powerful. Buy training items that you can do at work. Also, get up every hour or so and walk around. It pays.

Kip:  As tempting as it is, the donut table is a do not table.

Elaine: When I get breaks, I find a place and do some exercises. I try to make it a habit rather than sitting around and eating or doing something else… gotta integrate the movement into the crazy hours. Otherwise, there’s no way to live a healthy functioning life.

Becca: This isn’t exactly a workout, but I routinely remind myself to step outside and walk if I get a chance. Wakes me up, gets my legs moving, and does wonders for my mental well-being. Even a lap of a block or two can really help!

Melissa:  Yoga is great keeps you balanced, and flexible reduces back pain, and can be done anywhere You can do a quick 2-minute stretch or a 45 min session

Jen: My friend Andrea just started a blog/Instagram called Fit On Tour – worth checking out! http://www.fitontour.com

Terry: Take some 5lb dumbbells with you or a 10lb kettlebell. You can do the exercises .. during downtime..on the bus..etc. It’s light enough weight not to strain you, and the multiple reps will tone you. You can work all of your upper body this way

Robin: Yoga, water, breathing deeply, all the above… I love yoga because you can do it anywhere. I love mindfulness breathing counting my breaths and letting thoughts come and go gently while I was returning to my breath. You can do this (almost) anywhere too.

MH: I second the yoga! Make sure you are doing the right type of yoga. There is yoga that is more active, and there’s yoga that is more about meditation. I found a lot of relief in finding yoga routines that were stretching-oriented, but you know your body the best, and you should know what routine is best for you! But if Yoga turns you off, basic stretching and light ab workouts will really help your core and your posture which is the most important!

Alexandria: Hikes in days off so you can get cardio without having to fill on also run def yoga. Yoga=life

Randya:  I also second the “do not” table reference. Diet is essential when you don’t have the time/energy to exercise properly! Esp for weight maintenance!

More Resources:

Health and wellness on the road. Why you owe it to yourself.

The Tour Life is Hard — Homeopathy Can Help

Rock ‘n’ Roll Yogi

A Red and Sensitive Topic

Fit on Tour

Let’s Talk About Mental Health

Dealing with Burnout as a Musician

 

FOLEY 101: A Crash Course

In my journey to learn more about different jobs in audio, I have decided to share what I learn within these blog posts. My first topic is one that I am most familiar with: foley. As a foley mixer and editor, I am often asked: what exactly is foley?

If you’ve watched a film lately, you’ve heard Foley. Foley is the reproduction of sound for any visual medium. Foley is in film, television, video games, VR and digital media. The art of foley is named after Jack Foley, an early sound effects artist. Jack was a pioneering developer of performing sound effects live and in synchronization with pictures. We need to re-record these sound effects because often what is recorded on set is unusable. Microphones on set are focused on capturing the actors’ dialog as cleanly as possible; therefore all other sounds become neglected.  Everything you hear in a film – from footsteps to handshakes, kisses to puking – is created specifically for and in sync with a picture.

Foley, as we know it today, consists of a team of usually 2-3 people in a studio performing, recording and editing everything you hear on screen. Okay, maybe not everything… we leave the explosions to the sound effects editors. Each member of the team plays a different role in creating and capturing the sounds for a project. And those members are:

The Foley Artist

These are the people who begin to bring characters to life, sonically. They are tasked with recreating the sounds for anything the actors interact with and anything on screen that would make sound. The foley artist manipulates props to create these sounds as well as performing footsteps for the characters on screen.

The Foley Mixer

While the whole team has a role to play in the sonic quality, the mixer works with the microphones, preamps, and other gear that may be used to capture the foley. We generally use two microphones (a ‘close’ mic and a ‘far’ or ‘room’ mic) for interior locations on screen and one close mic for exterior locations. The mixer is in control of the balance of these microphones and uses the two in combination to create perspectives or distance in the sounds.

The Foley Editor

This is a fairly fluid role and is often varied depending on the foley studio. The editor may be part of the team before or after the recording stage. Sometimes the editor and mixer roles are combined. In general, though, the job of the foley editor is to ensure that all of the recorded sounds are in sync and without any artifacts or distortion. The foley editor uses software such as Pro Tools to perform these edits. The editor may also play a part in the creativity of the sounds; manipulating what was recorded into something different. For instance, they may pitch down a set of footsteps to give a character more weight.

The Process


An assortment of foley artist’s shoes
Photo by Jeremy Benning

First, we begin with the footsteps. The artist chooses a pair of shoes to suit the character and we go through scene-by-scene capturing footsteps. On our second pass-through, we cover all of the props. These are items that the actors interact with that would make sound. This includes simple things like putting down a glass or shaking someone’s hand to more complex sounds like swords unsheathing or a person skateboarding. The final pass is the cloth pass. This is where the artist manipulates different types of material to capture the sounds of characters’ clothing movements. The cloth pass adds another layer of subtle depth to the soundtrack; giving the characters even more life.

Once all passes have been completed, and everything has been edited and synced, we prepare the session for delivery to the final mix stage. There, our tracks will be combined with the sound effects, dialog, and music to create the complete, finished soundtrack.

When Foley is done well, you generally don’t hear it. That’s because it fits in so seamlessly with what you are visually seeing that you shouldn’t notice it. If something stands out, it can take the viewer out of the experience. That is what we aim for every day – our work to not be heard. It sounds bleak, but it is actually very rewarding. We often are so absorbed in what we are creating that it becomes almost a challenge to get a reaction out of each other. When the artist performs a perfectly in sync, great-sounding footstep pass, we all cheer. When we build a really gross sound, the usual indicator of where we’ve reached peak grossness is based on those reactions too. If the artist looks back and sees my face contorted in disgust, we know we’ve just made magic.  Ultimately, the natural human elements that foley can bring to a soundtrack are irreplaceable.

 

What’s In Your Go Bag?

A guide to building your audio tool stock

Picture this:  You’ve just gotten a call for a contract you can’t turn down, but the gig is tomorrow morning in a city three hours away at a company that is new to you.  What do you bring? What will they already have? Is it worth it to load your car with all of your worldly possessions? To ease the stress of staying prepared while still trying to not turn into that cute little junkyard monster from the Labyrinth (where my 80s babies at), I’ve prepared a list of my favorite tools of the trade.

This is my go-bag.  There are many like it, but this one is mine

Alright, so my go bag isn’t a bag at all, it’s a case.  My case of choice is the Pelican 1510 Case, and I purchased mine for half price on nalpak.com.  Because I am obsessed with Konmari Method organization, I also use a divider that is specifically made for this case.  I also have the mesh zipper lid storage attachment. What can I say? I love boxes, bags, and compartments. I prefer the Pelican to a soft tool bag because I can throw it around, leave it outside, dunk it in a pool, and my things will all stay safe inside this watertight, crushproof, dustproof, lockable case.  It’s also the FAA maximum carry on size and features a retractable extension handle. Plus, you can put rad stickers on it. That’s the mark of a real pro.

If you can’t duck it, you might as well…pony up and buy a real roll of tape.   

That tape is gaff tape, the tape we all know and love.  I regularly work with a few companies that always have a steady supply of gaff tape in all colors and sizes, so it threw me off the first time I took on a job at a company that had no gaff tape to offer!  In a pinch, I have been able to find gaff tape in local camera shops at a ridiculous marked-up price, but generally speaking, the best place to find gaff tape is on the interwebz. I order all of my tape from shop.bmisupply.com, and I’m able to curate my tape box with different colors, widths, and even different kinds of tape.  My standard gaff tape of choice is 2” black. I also always make sure I have a few colors of electrical tape and a roll of white console tape.  All of this can be purchased through the aforementioned vendor.

Testers, testers, one, two, one two…

When starting a new gig, you never know what kind of system you’re going to walk into. You would also be surprised at how often the house crew answers your questions with a shrug of the shoulders, so it’s probably going to be on you to test all that ails you.  I never leave home without my dbx CT3 Cable Tester. This is, hands down, the best cable tester I have ever had. It supports testing of DMX, Speaker Twist, XLR, DIN, RJ45, RJ11, TRS, 1/8”, Phono, and BNC.  I still haven’t told you the best part. This thing splits in half so that you can check connections that are on opposites sides of the building! If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is. I also carry my whirlwind Qbox everywhere I go.  This will satisfy all of your TS/XLR testing needs, but also features a wee little speaker so you can send signal through your line and hear it out of the QBox. This comes in really handy for running monitor lines ahead of receiving speakers or setting up a line out for a video live feed.  I got both of these little lifesavers from fullcompass.com.

Microphones, adapters, and cables, oh my!

Ok, it’s not up to you to provide all of the gear for a space unless that’s what you’ve been hired to do, but, again, you never know what little odds and ends they might be missing.  I learned the hard way that it’s a good idea to keep a little stash of adapters with me; XLR M-M and F-F, TRS, NL4, BNC, and RCA barrels, and BNC-RCA. I also keep and spare XLR and TRS cable, a DI Box, and a SM58….just in case.  Trust me on this; I have been the hero many times for having one of these available.

I hate labels, except when I need them.

The only things I love more than compartments are printed labels.  I love how uniform they look, and I love how easy it is to read them in low light situations.  I’ve been carrying around the Brother P-Touch I picked up from Office Depot 8 years ago, and it’s never led me astray.  #Protip on applying printed labels to anything: Always use a piece of electrical tape under the label. When you’re ready to change out that label, you’ll need a lot of time and patience to peel that thing off tiny piece by tiny piece unless there’s a hearty strip of electrical tape underneath holding it all together.  You know what else you can label? Your pelican.

Tools!  

This is where I sometimes go overboard.  I have packed and repacked my go bag so many times because I guess I think I’m solely responsible for building a mansion when I get called for a load-in.  Surprisingly enough, I’ve never been asked to do so! When I’m able to think logically about packing tools, I pack a cordless drill/driver (mine is a Milwaukee M12), a pack of various bits, a precision screwdriver set, an Allen set, a crescent wrench, a headlamp, and a soldering iron with all necessary accessories.  Also, never leave home without your multitool. Mine is the Leatherman Wave, and I love it with all my heart. I don’t know where it came from; I got mine from Santa several years ago.

Safety First

Again, I tend to go overboard because what if I end up on the Titanic and I’m the only one that has any medical experience from all of my viewed episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, and I don’t have a suture kit or a defibrillator with me?!!!  Y’all are learning so much about me today. So obviously none of those things are going to happen at your gig, so really, just make sure you have what you need to stay safe. A small first aid kit, your earplugs, sunblock, and some work gloves should do it.  Maybe a mobile CT Scanner. But that’s it.

All of the other things

Don’t forget the things that make your job go smoothly.  Do you need in-ears on this gig? What about headphones? Flash drives are always useful.  A snack? An emergency twenty-dollar bill? I like to be a problem solver, so if I have something I think will be useful to another department in a pinch, I might pack that too.  My go bag has a few shackles rolling around in there, a safety cable, a small mixed box of screws, various apple adapters, and an IEC.

At the end of the day, your go-bag inventory is entirely up to you, but this is what works well for me.  I got to the point where I had some things in my car, some things in my closet, some things I would leave at various sites I would frequently work, and that just was not doing it for me.  Having everything in one super stickered-up, the rad little case is definitely my aesthetic. Give it a try; you won’t regret it.

 

VUE System Training – April 19th

VUE Audiotechnik has teamed up with SoundGirls Productions and will be offering training on the new system we will be adding to our inventory.

SoundGirls that wish to work and intern for SoundGirls Productions are encouraged to attend.

Please RSVP Here

VUE Audiotechnik Product Introduction & Training Agenda

Mission: Our mission is to deliver you a demo system and provide basic training while
introducing the advanced technologies that VUE Audiotechnik provides.

Timeline
1:15 Arrival
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM: PowerPoint presentation of technology and system
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM: Hands on system setup, operation, and Q&A

Demo System
2 x h-12 Single 12-inch, Two-Way Powered System, 60° x 40°
8 x al-4 Dual 4-inch, Two Way Acoustic Line Array Element
2 x hs-25 Dual 15-inch, ACMTM Powered Subwoofer System
1 x V4 Systems Engine – (2 in/4 out) DSP/amplifier with Display
2 x SP-24 Speaker pole (adjustable) for mounting on subwoofers

Kickstart Your Mentorship

Set Some Goals

Mentorship is a vital part of our industry in particular for the advancement of women. SoundGirls has a wonderful opportunity for mentorship relationships to develop and grow over time. A fulfilling mentorship can be challenging to get started:  Meeting someone new; trusting them with your problems and worries while seeking answers and support can be hard for anyone to do, it can be even more trying in the crazy, but fantastic industry of ours too!

An excellent way to start a mentorship relationship is to get to know each other a bit. Share where you’re at in life and career including what your hopes and dreams are for now and the future.  Don’t forget your mentor may be new at this as well. These conversations are opportunities for both of you to connect, share stories and opinions, to progress together. We will likely never know the full impact we have on people, so let’s live life together learning, sharing, and growing along the way!

Jumpstart this relationship by working together to create goals. As a mentor, I want to know what you want to achieve and help you get there. A great way to establish this is by setting goals together. Your goals help me understand where you are and where you’re headed. Back when I worked with student staff, I would always ask them to set 3-4 goals for their year — at least two work-oriented and one life-based goal. For me, life is part of work and work is part of life; it is essential to progress in both, and as a mentor, I want to see you achieve great things at work and home.

Setting these goals gives you something to strive for too. It doesn’t mean they can’t change or adapt, but it helps you move forward.  When setting your work-oriented goals consider setting a skills goal and a qualities goal. For example, a skills goal could be to master the new mixer your company just purchased.  A qualities goal could be learning to lead a team of 15 people confidently.

Each of these are large work-based goals that are achievable with time. They also can be broken down into smaller steps to help you achieve the larger overall goal. Your mentor can help you with this too! To break down the goal of learning a new mixer you can take steps such as reading the manual, shadowing someone who uses that mixer on a show, spending time practicing in the shop, and getting out on a show with the mixer yourself. Then before you know it you have conquered this goal, and it’s time to create a new one!

Your qualities goal can be broken down the same way. Have a conversation with your mentor and a leader you respect; ask questions about how they developed their style. Find resources to read and start putting it into practice with smaller groups, then work your way up to the larger group.  Breaking down your large goals into smaller steps can make any goal feel more achievable! It will help you see progress along the way as well.

Your life-based goal can be anything! This is the goal I like to have the most fun with. For example, I had a goal this year to take a trip to Ireland, and I did! It was a great trip. I broke down this goal by setting smaller goals like saving money each month to pay for the trip. I conserved vacation and comp time to be able to spend a good amount of time there, and I researched the places I wanted to go to make the best of the trip. It was a vacation of a lifetime for me, and I am so happy I achieved that goal! Other life-based goals can be things like trying every flavor of ice cream in the grocery store, developing your painting skills, crafting your own beer, or even starting a family.

Goals don’t always need to be serious; they just need to be things you want to achieve. Plus, in a mentorship relationship, you will have someone to discuss your ideas, trials, and triumphs with along the way! What are your work and life-based goals? Mine are to get better at rigging points and weight balances, to become more confident in my new position at work, and to purchase a townhouse

 

Vancouver Meyer System Design & Optimization Course

Join our SoundGirls Vancouver Chapter at the upcoming

Meyer System Design & Optimization Course

Description:

This two-day course explores the relationship between the predictive perspective of the MAPP XT System Design Tool and actual sound system performance as measured with the SIM 3 Audio Analyzer, in order to provide users a more informed approach to accurately designing and optimizing systems. This course is eligible for 13 AVIXA Renewal Units for CTS, CTS-D and CTS-I certification levels. You must be present for the entire course to receive certification.

SoundGirls Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon – May 26th

Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon Day to add Women in Audio into Wikipedia. Please join us online May 26th for information, instructions, and help to add Women in Audio to Wikipedia.

Nicole Kirch and April Tucker have been very active in this important project and will be online to assist and answer questions.

In the meantime – you can review the page Nicole has made Women in Audio and read her fantastic blogs with step by step instructions.

Why is editing a Wikipedia article so important?

First of all, Wikipedia is the modern equivalent of an encyclopedia; it is the first stop in finding an answer. With over 5.6 million articles in the English language, it is one of the most comprehensive collections of knowledge available. Currently, there are very few female Wikipedia editors and a very small percentage of female-related articles. SoundGirls is looking to change that by training new Wikipedia editors. Wikipedia was made to be edited by the public, and it can be another tool to grow the influence of women in audio and to break the glass fader.

Zoom Meeting Details

Topic: SoundGirls Wikipedia Hackathon
Time: May 26, 2019 1:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/145418062

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+16699006833,,145418062# US (San Jose)
+16468769923,,145418062# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 145 418 062
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ad7JGAQE9Y

Editing Sound Girls into Wikipedia

 

Editing SoundGirls into Wikipedia

 

 

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