Sounds In Sync have released EdiCue v3.2, which now enables an integrated workflow with Todd-AO’s Actors Mobile ADR iOS app. In this article, we look at what EdiCue and Todd-AO’s Actors Mobile ADR do, how the collaboration between Sounds In Sync and Todd-AO came about and show in detail how the new workflow will help during the current lockdown.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has resulted in many ADR facilities closing their doors, which has meant that sound post supervisors and editors have had to come up with creative ways of getting their ADR recorded.

Some have been able to develop a social distancing studio based workflow so that the actor has been in the studio on their own, but that has only worked if the ADR facility has separate studio and control rooms. Others have configured packages made up of mics, a laptop with Pro Tools and EdiPrompt and shipped them to actor’s homes and then controlled the computers remotely.

But there is a 3rd option which is centred around Todd-AO’s Actors Mobile ADR.

What Is Actors Mobile ADR From Todd-AO?

Actors Mobile ADR is a free iOS app that can be installed on an iPhone or iPad to record ADR in an actor’s home or anywhere that is suitable. Video files embedded with cueing data are loaded into the device as well as audio files that enable the actor to play the original line, and then record a take with visual and audio cues.

The Editor sends Encrypted videos to the Actor, who records and then receives the ADR takes back from the actor. To do this the editor buys an annual subscription ($29.99) to import videos, add the metadata, and send Encrypted videos. Actors use the free iOS application to record the encrypted videos that the from the editor and then send back ADR.wav files (24 bits / 48 kHz) to the editor.

Todd-AO recommends actors use an external microphone with their iPhone/iPad, like the Rode VideoMic Me-L. That said they do say that the built-in iPhone microphone Ok especially if the actor records their lines in a quiet room with minimum reverberation.

What Is EdiCue?

EdiCue from Sounds In Sync is an application designed to enable sound editors and supervisors to create ADR cues and department notes within Pro Tools. These cues and notes are generally created after a spotting session and ideally before anyone starts working on the sound for the project - including the scheduling of actors for ADR recording sessions.

Once all cues and notes have been created, with EdiCue you can export a range of files including ADR scripts and files to aid with the recording process. These files can be loaded into the partner app EdiPrompt to display to the actors whilst they record their lines as EdiPrompt displays the cues on-screen and helps automate the recoding process when using Pro Tools.

How Did The Collaboration Between Sounds In Sync and Todd-AO Come About?

A client that uses EdiCue recently contacted Mark Franken from Sounds In Sync, asking if there was some way of streamlining the process of creating the videos specifically for Actors Mobile ADR, as well as a way to use the ADR cueing information from EdiCue. This request reminded Mark that he had created an Export Movie window in EdiCue v2 some five years ago that was never released. Could this be resurrected and used to work with Todd-AO’s Actors Mobile ADR?

Working with the team at Todd-AO, Mark was able to develop a way to integrate EdiCue and Actors Mobile ADR to enable editors to prepare movie files in minutes, rather than hours. It was made a little easier as it turns out that Todd-AO already has the option to load the EdiCue data via an Excel file into the desktop app - Actors Mobile EDITOR, which is the tool in which you prepare the video files for their Actors Mobile ADR iOS app.

So how does this all work in EdiCue 3.2? We start with the previously unused Video Expert feature to export prepped videos from EdiCue with the info and cues burnt into the video.

Export Movie Window

To generate the movies for Actors Mobile EDITOR, EdiCue v3.2 now contains an Export Movie window.

One or more source movies are loaded into the top list, whereas in the lower list, the characters that you wish to export movies for, can be selected, whilst the right-hand side takes care of the appropriate settings. These include the option to export an Excel file containing all the cue data for Actors Mobile ADR, as well as configure a watermark for all exports that can contain the actor’s name.

EdiCue exports the movie files named with the cue number in separate character folders, along with the Excel file. Then to load the files into Actor Mobile EDITOR, you can simply drag and drop the character folder onto the app.

Be aware that you will need the Pro license of the Todd-AO app to enable the Actors Mobile EDITOR to be able to load the EdiCue Excel file into it.

With all the movies loaded for a character, the cue data can be embedded into each movie and then they can be encrypted ready for the record session.

Export WAV File Window

Since writing the original Export Movie window for EdiCue v2 that didn’t end up getting used until now, Mark has been keen to update the EdiCue window to load and export WAV files. But why would you want to export all of these WAVs? The answer is that some actors when recording ADR, prefer to parrot their lines, as in hearing the line, say the line.

By loading the location sound for just each cue into a sampler, the location dialogue can be played at any point during a recording. This allows the ADR recordist to create a single recording containing several takes where the sample is played before each take to provide a timing and performance reference for the actor. This allows the actor to record several takes quickly, especially useful for those short lines that don’t need to be recorded to picture.

So while resurrecting the Export Movie window, this proved to be the right time to add this new feature as well.

This window works the same way as the Export Movies window with some small changes to the settings area. WAV files are exported into character folders in the same way as the movies.

Demo Video

To see both of these new EdiCue windows and Todd-AO’s Actors Mobile EDITOR in action, take a look at the following demo video from Mark Franken at Sounds In Sync…

Other Fixes In EdiCue V3.2

Although the Actors Mobile ADR integration is the key part in the v3.2 release of EdiCue from Sounds In Sync, Mark has included the following minor updates…

• Fix so that scene band designs that use the ’SegHasChanged’ variable will now show the segment details when the scene band is re-displayed at the top of a page

• Minor bug fix for macOS light/dark mode switching in the session interface window styled text fields 

• Fix to allow summary band designs to be imported from external settings files

UPDATE: EdiCue 3.2.1 Released

Sounds In Sync has released EdiCue v3.2.1. This new version contains the following updates…

• New filter field to filter exported ADR cues by their TBW state.

• While exporting 23.976 and 29.97 FPS movies from the Export Movies window, exports without a watermark now create files at the correct frame rate.

• Fix for macOS 10.10 -> 10.13.6 users so a preview is shown in the Export Movies - Watermark Setup window.

• Bug fix to stop crash when data is loaded after the Export Movies window has been opened and closed in dark mode.

NOTE: EdiCue v3 requires either macOS 10.10+ or Windows 8+, while EdiCue v3 licenses require a 2nd or 3rd generation USB iLok or sharable iLok license.

EdiCue v3.2.1 is a free update for all EdiCue v3 (iLok) license holders.

UPDATE: Edicue 3.3 Released

Sounds In Sync has released EdiCue v3.3.0. This version includes the following updates…

• New production property to allow Custom Cue Numbers (CCNs) to work with character-based cue numbers

  • Go to Productions > Manage Productions to select Global or Character based CCNs (defaults to Character).

  • For existing productions that have been using EdiCue v3 CCNs select Global.

  • See Page 24 of the EdiCue User Guide for more information.

• New 'Files to Export' checkbox to allow export of the TBW list as a Text or Excel file.

• New Session Interface window settings menu options to set which fields are cleared when the 'Clear All' button is clicked.

• New field in the PDF shooting script import window to ignore pages that contain the entered text.

• Bugfix to enable the character cue counter when Pro Tools track names don't contain a character ID.

• Bugfix so selections made in drop-down menus of the PDF Layout lists work for Windows builds.

• Updated messaging after an AAF file export when the frame rate equals 23.976, 29.97, 47.952 or 59.94 to work-around Pro Tools load issues.

• Fix to Band Designer Formula Editor window so that quotes aren't entered as smart (curly) quotes and cause errors.

• Additional bug fixes and enhancements.

EdiCue v3.3.0 is a free update for all EdiCue v3 (iLok) license holders.

UPDATE: Edicue 3.3.1 Released

Sounds In Sync has released EdiCue v3.3.1. This version includes the following updates…

• Bugfix to stop app crashing when band designer window is opened on Windows. Bug new in v3.3.0.

• Fix to allow an AAF to be exported when ADR Cue data is imported that contains just a single cue with no out time.

UPDATE Edicue 3.4.0 Released

Sounds In Sync has released EdiCue v3.4.0. This version includes the following updates…

• New Filter controls on the 'General Settings' tab:

  • Filter by values being present or not present in a cue.

  • Presets added for easy recall. Use these to export different sets of cue sheets. For example: "Lines", "TV", "Efforts".

• While PDF scripts are loaded into the Session Interface window:

  • a password is now only requested when required to decrypt the PDF file, not when a password is set for other purposes.

  • added checkbox to 'Ignore marked up (lined) text'. Check this only while loading this type of PDF.

• Change to the message displayed after an AAF is exported to show settings required in Pro Tools depending on the frame rate and version of Pro Tools being used. Also updated for fixes made in PT2021.3.

• Fix for changes made in v3.3.0 so all fields in the Session Interface window are cleared when you get the data from a clip even when a selection of fields are set to be cleared.

• Added an 'Open Folder' button to the message displayed on completion of an export to reveal exported files in the Finder/Explorer.

• Updates to allow non-English text to be entered into the ADR Reason list and Session Interface 'Cue Status' and 'New Reason' fields.

• Custom Cue Numbers are now shown in the 'Cue Details' window when Pro Tools text files are loaded.

• Added check while loading Pro Tools text files for '.dup' tracks that have no base cue track.

• Fix in the 'Create Template AAF - Track Names' window so the list is compatible with macOS dark mode.

• Bugfix so a New Line tag at the start of the Line field is read.

• While importing data from Excel files hidden tabs are now ignored.

UPDATE Edicue 3.4.1 Released

Sounds In Sync has released EdiCue v3.4.1. This version includes the following updates:

• Fix to Session Interface window to make sure that text sent to Pro Tools clip name does not contain hidden control characters which can break the import of data from an EdiCue PDF.

• Increased the maximum number of characters that can be stored in the 'Segment Picture Version' field from 12 to 20 characters.

• For Department Notes the 'Cue Status' field data is now shown in exported PDFs.

• Changes to the Session Interface window to properly handle 'Line' text that starts with new lines.

UPDATE Edicue 3.4.2 Released

Sounds In Sync has released EdiCue v3.4.2. This version includes the following updates:

• Following fields are now exported in the clip names of AAF exports: 'Cue Status', 'BVox', 'Safety Only', and 'PDF Editable'.

• New 'PDF Editable' column in the 'Cue List' window.

• 'PDF Editable' fields are now imported and exported in 'All Fields' Text and Excel files.

• Fix so correct font style is printed in PDFs if any italics styling (tags) are set up in Line field.

• Fix to stop crash when band designer formula editor is opened and changes are made.

• Tweak so initial display of main window shows controls incorrect location on macOS Monterey.

Demo Video Of Todd-AO Actors Mobile ADR With EdiCue From Sounds In Sync

This video comes from the Todd-AO team and shows off the collaboration from their perspective.

Time Saving

With Actors Mobile ADR, a separate video clip for each ADR line is required. Before this collaboration, the editor needed to split the entire project into separate videos, one for each ADR line, to be recorded using QuickTime or Pro Tools, but it took a lot of time, especially if there were a lot of ADR cues to cover. Now with the new Export Movie feature in EdiCue 3.2, it makes this task so much faster as demonstrated in these 2 demo videos. 

Security - Uses Encrypted Files

Security is also an understandable concern, especially when sending clips of an unreleased movie around the internet to various actors devices, which makes the new feature whereby you can now export encrypted videos on the desktop EDITOR app, that means the editor can now share encrypted videos with the actors to use on their iOS devices.

macOS Only

Windows users should be aware that the Actors Mobile EDITOR software, used to prepare the videos for the iOS app is macOS only.

Supports macOS Native Video Codecs — So No Support For DNxHD

macOS users should also be aware that this new workflow can only use video codecs that are native to macOS and iOS. For Pro Tools users this means that you cannot use Avd DNxHD files as this codec is no longer a macOS native video codec. For more details please read our article Apple Gives Details Of Which Video And Audio Codecs Will And Won't Work Natively With Future macOS Releases. We Have The Full Lists.

The editor can then use a file-sharing service to send the encrypted videos to the Actors Mobile ADR iOS device to enable the actor to record the ADR against those videos.

In Conclusion

All in all, the new version of EdiCue and Actors Mobile EDITOR together now come with new features to help editors cue the ADR clips faster. EdiCue from Sounds In Sync incorporates an "Export Movie" window that automatically creates each video clip along with a .xls file with the metadata. Mobile EDITOR Pro from Todd-AO now can now import that .xls and export the video clips with the embedded metadata, directly from a macOS desktop significantly streamlining the workflow. Now that’s collaboration!