Tonebenders Podcast

Latest Episodes:

310 - MPSE Presents: Dialog Editors Roundtable V2 May 29, 2025

Show notes

I was able to get 4 busy dialog editors all in a room together, to discuss the highs and lows of working on dialog for films, series and games. They talk about the tools they use, the road blocks they regularly encounter and the ways they use problem solving and creativity to get clean dialog tracks for each project they work on. Sophie Mapplebeck, Louise Burton, Robbie Mann & Michael Maroussas share their experiences working on everything from blockbuster films, AAA games and prestige series. Big “thanks” to the Motion Picture Sound Editors, for sponsoring this series of episodes featuring the interviews I did while in England. To learn more about the Motion Picture Sound Editors, you can go to www.MPSE.org. They are doing great work to support and advocate for sound editors around the world. If you are in The Toronto area on June 13th, come out to the Back To The Future Screening screening with one of the original sound editors, Scott Hecker, in attendance for a Q&A about how they came up with all the iconic sounds in this classic film. If you are interested in going to this screening, to see a great film and find out what being a MPSE member is all about, go to https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/vff-mpse-celebrates-back-to-the-futures-40th-anniversary-tickets-1258511534879?aff=oddtdtcreator to claim your ticket. Use the Code "VFFTONEBENDERS" for your free tickets. Episode Notes: https://tonebenderspodcast.com/310-mpse-presents-dialog-editors-roundtable-v2/  Podcast Homepage: www.tonebenderspodcast.com  This episode is hosted by Timothy Muirhead

309 - The Mix Team For Arcane Season 2 May 25, 2025

Show notes

Penny Harold and Andy Lange tell us about their work as the re-recording mixers, on Season 2 of the hit Netflix animated series, Arcane. This is a show with intense dialog, massive sound design, soaring songs, and a bombastic score. Wranglng all of these elements into a cohesive whole, was a fun challenge. Arcane's groundbreaking artwork and visual style, made it a tall order to match that level with the series' soundscape. Penny and Andy discuss their workflows, how they work as a team on the mix stage and the importance of finding the perfect compressor! SPONSORS: Sound Ideas Annual Memberships put Sound Ideas’ full range of over 600,000 sound effects, music tracks, and production elements at your fingertips with three tiers to choose from based on your Sound Design needs. The Creator’s Access Plan is perfect for the independent creator working on a smaller scale, looking for high-quality sound options at a great price. With up to 100 Downloads, you’ll enjoy significant savings compared to buying individual sounds, and have free rein over Sound Ideas’ extensive collection. Go to www.sound-ideas.com/Collection/105/Memberships/0/2 and use the promo code TONEBENDERS50 for 50% off of any Sound Ideas’ Annual Membership, to amplify your future productions. The O-MINI Microphone is a miniature omnidirectional electret microphone. Each one is hand made by Chris Trevino, a practicing field recordist, and a really engaged member of the sound community. He puts a lot of work into making and testing each mic to ensure they live up to his high standards. They are ultra-sonic capable, which makes manipulating your recordings with them a lot of fun. They are extremely affordable. At $150 American for a stereo matched pair, they offer a lot of value. Check it out at https://www.chrisatrevino.com/store/omini  Episode Notes:  https://tonebenderspodcast.com/309-the-mixing-team-for-arcane-season-2/ Podcast Homepage: www.tonebenderspodcast.com  This episode is hosted by Timothy Muirhead

308 - MPSE Presents: Finding A Film's Sonic Voice With Johnnie Burn & Paul Davies May 17, 2025

Show notes

While in London, Tonebenders was invited to Wave Studios in Soho, to talk to Johnnie Burn and Paul Davies. I brought them together, to talk about their varied approaches to finding the "sonic voice" of each project they work on. They discuss the importance of a good relationship with a director, spotting sessions, pouring over a script well in advance, identifying the ambitions of a film and lots more. SPONSOR: Big "thanks" to the Motion Picture Sound Editors, for sponsoring this series of episodes featuring the interviews I did while in England. To learn more about the Motion Picture Sound Editors, you can go to www.MPSE.org. They are doing great work to support and advocate for sound editors around the world. If you are in The Toronto area on June 13th, come out to the Back To The Future Screening screening with one of the original sound editors, Scott Hecker, in attendance for a Q&A about how they came up with all the iconic sounds in this classic film. If you are interested in going to this screening, to see a great film and find out what being a MPSE member is all about, go to https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/vff-mpse-celebrates-back-to-the-futures-40th-anniversary-tickets-1258511534879?aff=oddtdtcreator to claim your ticket. Use the Code "VFFTONEBENDERS" for your free tickets. Episode Notes: https://tonebenderspodcast.com/308-mpse-presents-finding-a-films-sonic-voice-with-johnnie-burn-amp-paul-davies/  Podcast Homepage: www.tonebenderspodcast.com  This episode is hosted by Timothy Muirhead

307 - Recent Books About Sound Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

I love a good book about sound design or other aspects of the audio post industry. Think of this episode as a summer reading guide for the audio nerd. The authors of 3 recent publications about sound, get together to talk about their books, how they decided to write them and how to best use them as resources. Emi Paternostro talks about his book "The Pro Tools Post-Audio Cookbook", Gina Zdanowicz discusses "The Game Audio Strategy Guide" that she co-wrote (with Spencer Bambrick) and both Andrew Knight-Hill & Emma Margetson are here representing their book "Art of Sound: Creativity in Film Sound and Electroacoustic Music" SPONSOR: Sound Ideas Annual Memberships put Sound Ideas’ full range of over 600,000 sound effects, music tracks, and production elements at your fingertips with three tiers to choose from based on your Sound Design needs. The Creator’s Access Plan is perfect for the independent creator working on a smaller scale, looking for high-quality sound options at a great price. With up to 100 Downloads, you’ll enjoy significant savings compared to buying individual sounds, and have free rein over Sound Ideas’ extensive collection. Go to www.sound-ideas.com/Collection/105/Memberships/0/2 and use the promo code TONEBENDERS50 for 50% off of any Sound Ideas’ Annual Membership, to amplify your future productions.  Episode Notes:  https://tonebenderspodcast.com/307-recent-books-about-sound/ Podcast Homepage: www.tonebenderspodcast.com   This episode is hosted by Timothy Muirhead

306 - Music Supervisors Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

After over 300 episodes talking mostly to sound editors and re-recording mixers, let's get to know what the people we work in parallel with, are going through in their gigs. Tim talks to two successful music supervisors, Jody Colero and Michael Perlmutter, about the trials and road blocks that they encounter overseeing the music in high end series & films. They discuss how important a good music editor is, important ways they can save the post production process time and money and why it is important to get picture editors clearable music early on. Plus, the perils of people hoping they can get an expensive song on the cheap, because their brother's, best friend's, wife used to date the bass player from the band. Spoiler alert: it rarely actually works out. SPONSOR: Sound Ideas Annual Memberships put Sound Ideas’ full range of over 600,000 sound effects, music tracks, and production elements at your fingertips with three tiers to choose from based on your Sound Design needs. The Creator’s Access Plan is perfect for the independent creator working on a smaller scale, looking for high-quality sound options at a great price. With up to 100 Downloads, you’ll enjoy significant savings compared to buying individual sounds, and have free rein over Sound Ideas’ extensive collection. Go to www.sound-ideas.com/Collection/105/Memberships/0/2 and use the promo code TONEBENDERS50 for 50% off of any Sound Ideas’ Annual Membership, to amplify your future productions.  Episode Notes: https://tonebenderspodcast.com/306-music-supervisors/   Podcast Homepage: www.tonebenderspodcast.com   This episode is hosted by Timothy Muirhead

305 - Becoming Led Zeppelin Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

For the film Becoming Led Zeppelin, a documentary about the formative years of the group, the sound of the band was one of the most important elements. Supervising Sound Editor Nick Bergh had to figure out how to get the best possible audio quality from source material that was over half a century old. From tracking down quarter inch tapes in Australia, to finding the perfect pressings of albums, and having the National Archives hand deliver historical recordings, extraordinary efforts were given to make everything in the film sound it's authentic best. Nick tells us about how he personally did all the audio transfers, how he dealt with mostly mono material for use in an IMAX mix and lots more. SPONSOR: Sound Ideas Annual Memberships put Sound Ideas’ full range of over 600,000 sound effects, music tracks, and production elements at your fingertips with three tiers to choose from based on your Sound Design needs. The Creator’s Access Plan is perfect for the independent creator working on a smaller scale, looking for high-quality sound options at a great price. With up to 100 Downloads, you’ll enjoy significant savings compared to buying individual sounds, and have free rein over Sound Ideas’ extensive collection. Go to www.sound-ideas.com/Collection/105/Memberships/0/2 and use the promo code TONEBENDERS50 for 50% off of any Sound Ideas’ Annual Membership, to amplify your future productions.  Episode Notes: https://tonebenderspodcast.com/305-becoming-led-zeppelin/  Podcast Homepage: www.tonebenderspodcast.com   This episode is hosted by Timothy Muirhead.

304 - The Listeners Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

The Listeners is a BBC series, that is not an easy project for any sound team to take on. The plot revolves around a mysterious sound that only a very small number of characters can hear, but it is intense and intrusive for those that can experience it. Over the coarse of the 4, hour long episodes, the ones that are being effected by the mysterious hum search each other out and try to band together for support. They find relief in each other, but to the outside world they look suspiciously like a cult of people, with a loose grip on their sanity. So how do you represent this idea on screen? A constant sound that only a few people hear, but they hear it so intensely that it over takes every part of their life? That was the riddle presented to Steve Fanagan (sound designer/supervising sound editor), Michelle Cunniffe (re-recording mixer) & Louise Burton (Supervising Dialogue Editor). SPONSOR: Sound Ideas Annual Memberships put Sound Ideas’ full range of over 600,000 sound effects, music tracks, and production elements at your fingertips with three tiers to choose from based on your Sound Design needs. The Creator’s Access Plan is perfect for the independent creator working on a smaller scale, looking for high-quality sound options at a great price. With up to 100 Downloads, you’ll enjoy significant savings compared to buying individual sounds, and have free rein over Sound Ideas’ extensive collection. Go to www.sound-ideas.com/Collection/105/Memberships/0/2 and use the promo code TONEBENDERS50 for 50% off of any Sound Ideas’ Annual Membership, to amplify your future productions. Episode Notes: https://tonebenderspodcast.com/304-the-listeners/ Podcast Homepage: www.tonebenderspodcast.com This episode is hosted by Timothy Muirhead

303 - Tonebenders Goes To LA Mar 09, 2025

Show notes

A few weeks ago Tonebenders' host, Tim Muirhead, flew to Los Angeles for a bunch of adventures with the sound design community in LA. From hosting interviews on the red carpet, at the Cinema Audio Society Awards, to attending the MPSE Golden Reels, to doing a bunch of interviews for future episodes of the show, Tim was busy while he was in town. By far the best night of the trip was The Tonebenders Los Angeles Sound Design Meet-up, sponsored by The Motion Picture Sound Editors. The night was a massive success with over 250 people coming out to share laughs. In this episode Tim tells some behind the scenes stories and plays clips from the interviews he did while in town. SPONSOR: Sound Ideas Annual Memberships put Sound Ideas’ full range of over 600,000 sound effects, music tracks, and production elements at your fingertips with three tiers to choose from based on your Sound Design needs. The Creator’s Access Plan is perfect for the independent creator working on a smaller scale, looking for high-quality sound options at a great price. With up to 100 Downloads, you’ll enjoy significant savings compared to buying individual sounds, and have free rein over Sound Ideas’ extensive collection. Go to https://www.sound-ideas.com/Collection/105/Memberships/0/2 and use the promo code TONEBENDERS50 for 50% off of any Sound Ideas’ Annual Membership, to amplify your future productions. Episode Notes: https://tonebenderspodcast.com/303-tonebenders-goes-to-la/ Podcast Homepage: www.tonebenderspodcast.com This episode is hosted by Timothy Muirhead

302 - 2025 Oscar Pool Sound Category Round Up Mar 01, 2025

Show notes

Tonebenders was able to do an episode with every sound team, that has been nominated in the Best Sound category, at this years Oscars. So with the award show only a few days away, this week we are going to take listen to a selection of each interview, to try to get an idea of what was done on each film, to lead to it's nomination. First up we will hear from Paul Massey, Ted Caplan and Don Sylvester from A Complete Unknown. That is followed by Hortense Bailly, Cyril Holtz, Aymeric Devoldère & Carolina Santana from Emilia Perez. Jack Dolman, Nancy Nugent Title & John Marquis speak about their work on Wicked. The only animated film nominated, The Wild Robot, is represented by Gary Rizzo, Brian Chumney, Randy Thom & Leff Lefferts. The final sound team I talk to is from Dune Part 2, with Richard King, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett. What a line up on this episode! Check out Sound Ideas latest library, General Series 6000 Extension 12: www.sound-ideas.com/Product/2459/Ge…00-Extension-12 Episode Notes: https://tonebenderspodcast.com/302-2025-oscar-pool-sound-category-round-up/ Podcast Homepage: www.tonebenderspodcast.com This episode is hosted by Timothy Muirhead

301 - Hellblade II Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

Guest host Mark Kilborn jumps in to talk with the sound team behind the amazing journey of survival through Viking time period Iceland, in the game Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. This adventure from publisher Ninja Theory, follows our main character as she unknowingly deals with psychosis, including many auditory hallucinations. The audio team had their hands full to translate these hallucinations from inside a character's head into something the game's players could understand and react against. David Garcia Diaz (Audio Director), Alessio Mellina (Technical Sound Designer) and Daniele Galante (Sound Designer) discuss the entire soundscape from voices that were manipulated heavily, to their use of binaural audio, and how the music interacted with the rest of this complicated mix.Check out Sound Ideas latest library, General Series 6000 Extension 12: www.sound-ideas.com/Product/2459/Ge…00-Extension-12 Full Details on the Tonebenders Los Angeles Sound Design Meet-up, Presented by The Motion Picture Sound Editors Here: tonebenderspodcast.com/tonebenders-s…sign-meet-up/ Episode Notes: https://tonebenderspodcast.com/301-hellblade-ii/ Podcast Homepage: www.tonebenderspodcast.com This episode is hosted by Mark Kilborn

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