This Location Sound workshop will focus on both mixing and recording. The course will look at a wide variety of microphones and techniques, as well as the theoretical background information you need. The course is aimed at all those who need to improve their sound mixing and recording techniques. Whether your looking to start a career in location sound mixing and recording, or are a director looking to find out how to get better sound for your film, or an independent filmmaker looking to get another string to your bow this location sound course is for you.

This intensive course runs over a weekend and classes take place at Film Oxford from 10am until 5pm (6 hours tuition per day with 1 hour of breaks per day)

Workshop led by Dan Harbour
Dan is a Skillset-trained location sound recordist with experience in short film, features, factual and corporate video. He has experience recording on solid state, digital and Nagra formats for 16mm and 35mm productions, as well as mixing direct to camera when working with RED, HDCam, XDCam and Digibeta formats. Dan started out in live sound mixing 12 years ago and still co-runs a live PA company when he’s not on set. Notable productions Dan has worked on include the urban gangster feature, Rollin’ with the Nines (Best Feature, Raindance 2006), Robbie Williams in Venice (2013) and Bhutto (winner at International Documentary Association, nominated at Sundance and Emmy 2010).  Clients include Universal, ITV, News Corp, Impossible Pictures, Intel, Amnesty International, Sandstorm, Firehouse, Oxford University and Blenheim Palace

Comments

Lou- Dan has that rare quality of teaching a potentially heavy-going subject and making it enormous fun and understandable.

G. O’D. – makes a complex subject enjoyable.

CW- Really excellent course- very high standard of teaching and content exceeded what I’d hoped for!

Location Sound Recording Course details:

Day 1 – Intro to Sound, Equipment & Professional Mixing

10:00 Introduction

1. Registration, aims & objectives of the course
2. Discussion about previous experiences of sound recording

10:20 Overview of sound in Film & Broadcast

1. Importance of sound and common mistakes/misconceptions
2. Jobs and roles within the industry
3. Sound-gathering formats
4. Examples of good practice

10:50 Introduction to basic sound kit

1. Mics, cables, mixers, cans, poles & their uses

11.15 Introduction to microphones: how they work & how to use them

1. MKH 416 cardioid boom
2. MKH 50 hyper-cardioid boom
3. D230 dynamic reporter’s mic
4. ECM 77-b personal mic
5. EW-112p radio mic
6. Pro-42 boundary mic

11:45 Practical exercise – recording with different mics

12:30 Lunch

1:30 How does sound actually work?

1. Waves & phase
2. Sampling & frequencies
3. Mono & Stereo
4. Phantom power
5. Feedback
6. Signal routing
7. Mic & line levels

2:00 Recording to camera

1. Inputs
2. Monitoring
3. Menus
4. Consistency & quality

2:20 Recording via an SQN mixer

1. Setting up the camera to receive optimum signal
2. Setting up the SQN
3. Gain & attenuation
4. Bass roll-off & limiting
5. Panning & tone
6. Mixing & monitoring for quality & consistency

3:00 Practical exercise – ENG sound acquisition

3:45 Practical exercise – documentary sound acquisition

4:45 Summary/Q&A

5:00 End of day 1

Day 2 – Recording, Planning, & Shoot Techniques

10:00 Recap of day 1 and further Q&A

10:20 Introduction recording equipment

1. Fostex, nagra, tascam & HHB

10:40 Theory of recording

1. Pros & cons of separate sound recording
2. DAT vs. solid state
3. Crew & mic set-ups for drama
4. Multi-tracking

10:50 Setting up to record

1. Preparing the media (striping, formatting, tone, labelling)
2. Recording options
3. Logging options
4. Monitoring
5. Processing audio

11:10 Practical exercise – basic recording on DAT & memory card

11:40 Booming techniques for drama

1. Choice of mic & setting up
2. Correct handling of the pole
3. Angling and proximity of the mic
4. Tips & techniques of capturing clear sound

12:00 Practical exercise – effective booming

1:00 Lunch

2:00 Essential pre-production sound planning (interactive)

1. Scouting the location
2. Working with the director and DP
3. What to look for in the script
4. Choosing the right equipment
5. Post-production considerations

2:30 Essential shooting techniques (interactive)

1. Sound-proofing and sound-absorption
2. Rigging mics and attaching mics to actors
3. The sound man vs. the off-set crew!
4. Tips for managing different sound environments
5. Liaising with the Director & DP on set
6. Wildtracks, guidetracks & atmos.
7. Logging in the sound report
8. Keeping it clean & clear: recording tips & tricks

3:00 Practical exercise – mixing, recording & problem-solving on a mock set

4:30 Summary/Q&A/Resources

5:00 End of workshop

Answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found on our FAQ page, otherwise please email office@filmoxford.org

Cost

£165 full price

£149 10% early booking discount

£132 Discount for NUS students people on following means-tested benefits, proof required: NUS cards; ESA (income related); Income Support; Working Tax Credit (not child tax credit); Council Tax Benefit (not student/single person/reduction due to disability); Housing Benefit; Pension Credit (guarantee); Unwaged Dependent of these benefits.

All Film Oxford Courses are subsidised by Oxfordshire Skills and Learning Service

This is one of our adult training courses so please note that participants need to be sixteen years and above, for information about all of our youth activities see Youth page