What they don't tell you about tape syncs 🎚️
Beware of the dog
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I thought that tape syncs might be a casualty of the pandemic and the associated Zoom / Squadcast migration. But if the call-outs on radio list servs are anything to go by, tape syncs are alive and well.
Which is great because they’re a nifty way for us audio producers to earn some extra income and keep our technical skills up. It’s also great because IMO you just can’t beat that gorgeous real-mic-in-front-of-an-actual-person sound quality.
If you haven’t done a tape sync, or need a refresher, I recommend Transom’s overview Get Good Tape (Sync); Andrew Norton’s hilarious video Sounds Good; and this primer from producers Courtney Kocak and Michael Castañeda. AIR’s tape sync rate guide is here, and Tape Syncers United’s fair rates card is here. (You can join TSU here.)
All that being said, there are a few things not mentioned in these resources. With a fair number of syncs under my belt, I wanted to share what they don’t tell you about tape syncs…
🐶 Dogs are not your friend
That’s right: dogs are the enemy of lovely clean tape. Oh sure, they’re cute now. You’ll look at the little shih tzu / labradoodle / whatever, and think, “how bad can it be? Let it stay!”
That’s a mistake, friends. Even if you’re lucky enough not to hear a full-blown woof, your mic will pick up all manner of scratching, shuffling, whining and heavy breathing. Your tape sync may even be brought to an abrupt end altogether if the doggo’s monthly visitor makes an untimely appearance on your interviewee’s cream carpet (yes, this really happened).
🎭 Actors are your friend
On the other hand, consider yourself very lucky if you’re tape syncing an actor. They’re the unexpected ally of tape syncers the world over (or, well, in Hollywood, which is where I’ve mainly recorded). Reason being – jobbing actors are used to recording themselves at home for auditions, so they’re really well attuned to the noise in their apartments / houses – and may have turned off the fridge / AC before you even have to ask. Wonderful.
✈️ Planes, trains and automobiles
Word to the wise: do some Google Maps snooping and check out the tape sync location beforehand. If you’re going to be recording near an airport, train tracks or otherwise noisy form of transport, plan ahead and see what you can do to minimize those inevitable interruptions.
⏰ Get there early… but not too early
You definitely want to give yourself plenty of time to set up – and explain the slightly strange process of tape syncing to your interviewee. But if you arrive too early, there’s the risk of catching your pants-less interviewee in the middle of getting dressed in front of their floor-to-ceiling apartment windows (I wish I was making this one up).
💪 Embrace the pain
You know what folks, tape syncs hurt. They physically hurt. Even if you’ve got the ideal setup – ie your mic-elbow resting squarely on something solid – your back and torso will be all twisted out of whack in no time. Plan ahead for that, and do yourself a favor and do some yin yoga after the sync (it’s basically a moving nap).
Any tape sync mishaps in your career past? I’d love to hear them.
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What I’m listening to
🎧 Mystic Mother, the gripping new show from Campside and Sony: what some saw as a spiritual home, the state considered a brothel.
🎧 Sound Judgment, the excellent new show from Elaine Appleton Grant and Podcast Allies that explores what goes into great hosting. The first ep is with Lemonada’s Stephanie Wittels Wachs, about making and hosting Last Day.
📺 And the final thing is TV, because it’s literally all I can think about: Bad Sisters, Sharon Horgan’s fantastically clever new show. If you’re as obsessed as I am, you’ll also want to check out this great recap series in Vulture.
Thanks for reading everyone! As ever, please forward to anyone you think might appreciate this newsletter. 💌