use. One is a large diaphragm condenser microphone.

This microphone is great for voiceover. If you plan on

recording voiceover for your animation projects this is the

ideal microphone to use.

The other is a 416 shotgun or boom microphone which is

good for mimicking sound recorded on set. ADR can be

controversial because it is challenging to replicate what the

environment sounded like on the day the dialogue was

recorded and successfully implement ADR in your film

without it sounding unnatural in comparison to the other

dialogue. One important step that is taken to help the ADR

sound more similar to the original recording is to use the

416, which is a common boom microphone that is used on

set during production.

The ADR facility at USC is divided into three rooms:

ADR Stage: this is where the actor will perform. There is a TV in the room so the actor can watch

the scene back and listen to the original production track and match their performance.

Timecode will be burned in the picture, which makes it easier to identify the exact moment

where the cue takes place.

The actor wears headphones which allows them to hear the original dialogue that is being

replaced and it doesn’t interfere with the new ADR lines being recorded. The headphones also

allow the actor to hear the engineer who is on the other side of the ADR stage when they

communicate with them.

Control Room: this room looks into the ADR stage and is where the engineer or qualified sound

technician (QST) operates the recording equipment. Here they play back the scene as many times

as needed. They also add three distinct beeps before the line that is getting replaced so the actor

gets into a rhythm. Then the line is recorded and can be re-recorded as needed until the new

performance accurately matches the picture.

Machine Room: this is where the computer and other hardware are stored.

ADR Rules

- You are only allowed to book 4 hours in a room each day

- You can make a reservation up to 10 days in advance

- No food or drinks are allowed in the room

- Do not unplug or remove anything from the room

How to Book the ADR Room?

If you need to record voiceover for your animation projects email the Animation Sound Support

Specialist Amaya Cranston, acransto@usc.edu. In your email please include the date and

preferred time you would like to record. Additionally, please CC your animation professor when

making your request so we can verify your request is for an SCA approved project. Amaya will

then reply to confirm the day and time of your ADR session based on the Sound Department’s

availability.