Intermediate Audio Production Week 9: Field Experience

Today we learned that as an audio technician working on a film or television show, you are really in charge of one whole dimension of the production. As asked of us in the quiz, the most important part of any video is the audio, so as the audio overlord you are really in command of the production (but let's not voice it out loud with the director and the actors). Finlay's in depth look at field recording was real interesting and at first glance it looks relatively simple, keeping a mic tracked on an actor gather as much sound as possible. When we tried it out for ourselves I think we all learned how difficult it actually is though. Especially as the darn Boom operator. You must be as skillful with it as a Jedi is with a light saber. Having to watch the shadows and making sure you keep the microphone pointed at the talent without smacking them in the face. The mixing demo Brian took us through was definitely packed with a kitchen full of food for thought. Although he taught us various techniques as to how mixing is usually done, when you get down to it there is never a %100 right or wrong answer. There are "preferred" ways of doing things but not necessarily "perfect" ways of doing things. I bet some of the greatest records out there came from accidental or experimental mixing techniques that never intended to sound good but somehow they became hits.