How do they do that?

Question

I love it when you're watching a group of people singing on tv or in a movie and they show the whole group (like in a church, or wherever) and you hear the whole group sing, but then they focus on just one person and you hear that one person's voice over everyone elses. They always do that and I find it so funny!

Answer 1

good for you

Answer 2

They record/film the whole thing more than once... the first time, the sound guys record the whole group, the second time they concentrate one the one person, and then again over and over with each person they focus on. Then, later in editing, they use cuts from each take.

Answer 3

They are shot in multiple takes in different angles, etc. The whole group singing, then the one person singing. Also, with the group shots, a boom mic is usually used whereas in the individual shot, the actor/actress is more than likely mic'd.

Then in editing, the group audio and the individual audio each have their own tracks and their volumes are adjusted to have that effect. :)

Answer 4

They do it by miking everyone individually then use a mixing board and other equipment to achieve the sound they desire.

Answer 5

They are probably wearing a microphone and that microphone is turned up when they zoom in on that person.