Author Archive
Sound Design 101 Part 1: The Anatomy of a Room
by admin on Mar.14, 2012, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Rotting Flesh Radio | Go to Original Post
by: RFR Casket Crew Maestro Macbre
I’m Baaaaaaaack! I know it’s been a while since I reared my ugly head, but I was finishing up my new album to be released in April!
With the spring right around the corner, you are no doubt preparing for your design and set up of next years haunt. What better time to go over the basic resources available to you to achieve a professional sounding haunt! As I’ve touched before in my previous posts, sound is very important in a haunted attraction. So I won’t spend as much time on that as I do basic information regarding equipment, set-up, sound creation and planning. It’s actually easier than you would think to sound like a professional haunt. If you are a professional haunt, there are always ways to improve your set up!
In this first part I will go over the process of laying out a sound system and location of speakers.
The first principle in laying out a haunt is flow and scares. With my company we often sit down first and ask the designer to “walk” us through the haunt. Although it may not be built we can still get a mental picture of space, props and feel. Some good questions to ask yourself and fellow designers:
Picture the room and imagine the set up with me.
What Kind of Music Calls to this Room?
What kind of sounds would I hear in this type of area?
You are standing in the entrance to the room. To the left you see bookshelves askew. They would shake and cave in as you walked by. The organ would then play blowing smoke and flashing lights as two “Statues” came to life and lunged at you.
What action or cue sounds are needed?
The action started with the organ blaring and vibrating. This caused the book cases to vibrate and fall.
What will I need?
All of this only used two speakers and one prop controller and one sensor.
The “Bed” of a creaky cavernous room was the preset loop on the controller. The Speaker Located at the top of the room, angled to hit the entire room with sound. As the props (the Organ and Shelves) would activate the controller hit the cue triggering both controllers.
Where are the sources?
The Cue played the Organ through a Large Powered speaker from behind the organ through the right channel and the book cases through the left. Creating two different sound sources from one controller.
This is just an example of how I broke down this room. Some are simpler and others may take more thought. The same questions should be asked though. Let’s take a closer look at the break down.
What kind of sounds do I expect to hear in this area?
This is what I like to call a “Bed”. A bed is an ambient looped track that creates a general overall feeling. For instance:
A Chapel: Wind howling through the corridors, large room reverb creates the illusion of size and depth.
A Crypt: Closer Cavernous reverb and echo, with dripping sounds.
You get the point, these are often called ambient albums. For examples of these check out “Gothic Nightmares”.
The bed will often sound distant but the closer sounds should sound as if they are close and crisp, this is where high quality speakers help. This itself is a little challenging. Finding the proper space may jump out at you, but often takes adjusting to make sure sound fills the entire space. The best way to plan for this is to look at the room highlight the path of the patrons, and figure that you want to point the sound right at them. Ideally this is directly above, however that’s not always possible. But aim high and save a space to roughly work with dialing it in. Put it on your blueprints. While you are leaving that space figure out where the source is and leave space to easily access that. It may be in a neighboring room, control room or other space, but make sure you are able to access it with little exposure to patrons. I will cover this more in part 2.
What kind of Cue is needed? What will I need and what are the sources?
The Cue needs to surprise your patrons, but also needs to make sense and come from an unobstructed source. The human ear is very keen, if your prop comes from the left and your sound from the right, it would calculate in the brain correctly, meaning that it will seem cheap and transparent. Placing a speaker for a scare is even trickier than placing a speaker for a bed. Small speakers, unless powerful and clear will not come off well, I like to use studio reference monitors for these (I prefer guitar center, because of the pro coverage replacement plan, ask me for more info). They are clear and precise.
These key elements should be focused on each room and always present in construction and design.
Transient rooms or hallways rely heavily on sound. The same careful planning should be taken for those as well. But with on important difference, the volume. The volume in these go between areas will not only create the illusion of transporting to another area, but it will also mask the sound from the previous and upcoming room, fighting sound with sound. The sources can often be shared to save money on players.
The needs are typically two monitor speakers, a boobox or mp3 player and a sensor. The placement of these will be discussed more in depth in the next segment, but spending a little more upfront on good equipment will save you money and frustration in the long run. Plan early and keep sound in mind with visual effects and props. With this in mind you can have a haunt that you do not need to turn on and off every night one mp3 player at a time! More on this in the next segment!
Until then, Sit back, relax and rot away!
Transworld “NO SHOW SPECIAL” from Dark Imaginings
by admin on Mar.14, 2012, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Rotting Flesh Radio | Go to Original Post
Dark Imaginings
Were you one of the Haunters at Transworld, or maybe didn’t get a chance to attend? Well Dark Imaginings wasn’t able to attend as well so now they are passing on a deal for haunters to take part in.
“We here at Dark Imaginings have got some bad news and we’ve got some good
news.
The bad news is that we didn’t attend the Transworld Haunt Show this
year, which makes us very sad. The good news, however, is that we are pleased to announce our first-ever “NO SHOW” SPECIAL!
What is a “No Show” Special and why are we doing it? That’s easy. It is not always possible for us to attend every show that we would like due to various circumstances, travel costs, or other obligations. However, we
don’t want our loyal customers and new friends to miss out on our fantastic show discounts, either. While we will certainly miss seeing your ghoulish grins and smiling faces in person, we are very excited to be able to bring these savings to you.
But hurry, these “No Show” Specials will expire on March 31, 2012!!!
For more information, please go visit: www.darkimaginings.com
Boneyard FX Giveaway Coming on Thursday
by admin on Mar.13, 2012, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Rotting Flesh Radio | Go to Original Post
BoneyardFX.com
Longtime friend since 2005, Larry Bones of Boneyard FX has his sights set on you Deadites for loving RFR, and making us be here 6 years and counting with over 250 shows!
Coming this Thursday will be the BONEYARD FX – FX FACES GIVEAWAY!
For three weeks we will be running this contest with the WINNER to be announced with be the new owner of an All-New FX FACE from Boneyard FX!
Larry will ship the winners prize directly from his studio. We will have all the details, full line of photos ofg the choices of masks the winner may choose and more on Thursday. So stay tuned to the RFR Website for more and Show #252 when it officially kicks off!
One Face The Winner Can Choose from Six Choices
Until Then Sit Back, Relax and Rot Away…
ABOUT THE PRIZE:
The New line of Silicone Fx Faces. They are Platinum grade silicone and come completely pre-painted. They also come with a 1 ounce kit of Skin Tite adhesive and .5 oz of Thi-vex thickener. It retails at $99.95 and they come packaged in the same fashion as our Foam Fx Faces. The Winner can choose their own choice of Skin-tite kit inside.
Transworld Haunt Show and Insane Shane Party Coverage Starts Tonight at 7:30 CST!
by admin on Mar.08, 2012, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from News & Updates | HauntersDigest.com | Go to Original Post
HauntersDigest.com Transworld HAAShow Event Coverage Starts Thursday!
by admin on Mar.08, 2012, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from News & Updates | HauntersDigest.com | Go to Original Post
Midwest Haunters Convention Official App Available for iPhone and Android
by admin on Mar.07, 2012, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from News & Updates | HauntersDigest.com | Go to Original Post
Rotting Flesh Radio SHOW #250: Creepy Collection, Transworld, Twisted Woods, Virgil Franklin, Horror Fields and more!
by admin on Mar.07, 2012, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from Rotting Flesh Radio | Go to Original Post
SHOW NOTES FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 2, 2012 SHOW #250
LISTEN NOW
http://rfrpodcast.com
or
RIGHT CLICK THIS LINK, SAVE LINK/TARGET AS
(saves it as an mp3 to your computer)
http://www.rfrpodcast.com/RFR_3_2_2012.mp3
or
SUBSCRIBE USING iTUNES
http://www.itunes.com
SUBSCRIBE USING ZUNE
http://www.zune.com
or
USING OUR FREE iPHONE or DROID APP – Search (RFRApp)
THIS WEEK’S SHOW NOTES:
Transworld is just a short time away and to get you in the Haunting mood Deadites we have CREEPY COLLECTION stopping in this week. Creepy Collection is going to give you hints to their ALL NEW item in the interactive Haunted House at Transworld, some new items and vendors for the upcoming Haunt Season and more.
In addition we have some attraction goodies for you as RFR Casket Crew’s Rabid Badger comes to us from two events in the HORROR FIELDS and TWISTED WOODS. The owners of these attractions talk with RFR about the event, highlights and what to expect in a good scare from their Haunts. And if that wasn’t enough we RFR Casket Crew Storm back with In A Haunt Minute, ranting as only a haunter can do and Master of the Ethermuse VIRGIL FRANKLIN comes to the show to announce a brand new huge project he is working on.
This week in Haunt Industry News we have information covering Dark Imaginings, Toxic Toons, The Darkness, Transworld, Mad Monster Party, Trick or Treat Studios, The Garage of Evil and more from the Haunt and Horror Industries this week.
So look at what the Bat Dragged in this week Deadites all you Fright Freaks, Haunters and Halloween Junkies, you can…
Sit Back, Relax and Rot Away to Rotting Flesh Radio!
THIS WEEK’S SHOW: LISTEN NOW BELOW OR
Right Click, Save Link/Target As To This Link: http://rfrpodcast.com/RFR_3_2_2012.mp3
(saves it as an mp3 to your computer)
PAST SHOWS:
RFR Rewind: Podcast Archives
NETHERWORLD Haunted House Hissing Roach Colony!
by admin on Mar.04, 2012, under Haunted Houses, NETHERWORLD Haunted House
NETHERWORLD Haunted House Hissing Roach Colony!
The Haunt Brief Talks With Insane Shane Party Host Shane Dabbs!
by admin on Mar.03, 2012, under Syndicated from the Web
Reposted from News & Updates | HauntersDigest.com | Go to Original Post
NETHERWORLD Monster of the Month: March 2012 Vampires!
by admin on Mar.01, 2012, under Haunted Houses, NETHERWORLD Haunted House
Vampires – for the most part – begin life as mortals, vulnerable to the same weaknesses as all human beings: aging, disease, bodily harm, and eventually death. Yet after their terrifying transformation into the undead, they are reborn as immortal creatures of the night, albeit with a brand new set of weaknesses. It is commonly believed that this change comes as the result of having been fed upon – and feeding from – a vampire, forcing a short death and resurrection as nosferatu. From that point forward, it’s a life of drinking blood, avoiding sunlight and dodging wooden stakes and beheadings.
However popular this theory is, there have been many beliefs regarding the creation of vampires. According to Slavic legend, if a cat or dog jumped over a corpse it was at risk of becoming a vamp. Russian folklore blames a former life as a witch with causing the change. Chinese tales indicate that a wound not treated with boiling water could trigger an unearthly bloodlust. There have also been a variety of methods for preventing vampirism over the ages, such as burying a corpse upside down to prevent it from rising again. Greek folklore tells of the vrykolakas, in which a wax cross and piece of pottery with the inscription “Jesus Christ conquers” were buried atop the corpse as a preventative measure. A common European practice was to sever the tendons at a corpse’s knees, and place seeds or rice around the grave, as it was believed a vampire would have to count the individual grains before moving on. Obsessive-compulsive disorder apparently goes hand-in-hand with bloodlust!
Although the legend of vampiric activity dates back as far as prehistoric times, it wasn’t until the early eighteenth century that the traditionally recognized term “vampire” came to be, as vampire superstition grew in Western Europe. This fear of the undead eventually gave way to mass hysteria, leading to suspected individuals being accused of vampirism and executed, and corpses being exhumed and staked to prevent any possible transformation to the dark side. And while imagery of the creature varied from human-like to the ghastly, it was John Polidori’s 1819 novella “The Vampyre” that established the archetype of charismatic and sophisticated vampire. This is believed to be a huge influence on Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”, released in 1897 and considered by many to be the quintessential vampire tome. Soon, the hideous bloodsucking fiend became a suave, seductive tortured soul – more a figure of sympathy than dread.
Since then, the portrayal of the undead has taken on many varied forms. From Anne Rice’s sexy, tormented immortals to the teen angst of the “Twilight” series and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” to the elusive, hunger-mad creatures of “30 Days of Night”, there seems to be a style of vamp for every taste – a true testament to the longevity and popularity of this intriguing legend. With popular television series like “The Vampire Diaries” and “True Blood” captivating audiences, there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight for the unlife of the vampire, at least as far as the media is concerned.
Atlanta’s Netherworld Haunted House is also keeping the legend of the nosferatu alive – or undead, as the case may be. Commanded by Lord Ghoulich, the vampires of Netherworld rally against the forces of the Netherspawn, hoping to end the Blood Night and forever repay a past betrayal at the hands of the gargoyles – which led to the destruction of many of his kind. Cunning and powerful, he stalks the chambers of Netherworld with his deadly, beautiful Brides, dead set on restoring the balance of power and eliminating the gargoyle race forever. As seductive as they are lethal, the vampires you find here will take your breath away.
And a bit of your blood, as well, if you’re not careful…
