| The
sound mixer has two counterparts in production. #1
the sound mixing equipment and then the sound person.
The sound mixer of equipment has 2+ inputs and can
have several outputs, and often a internal recording
mechanism. The hardware or equipment mixer has the
ability to split or separate or pan (assign) the audio
to separate channels or mix them together. It is not
desirable to mix together audio sources unless there
is limited recording capability in tracks or channels.
The location sound person was often termed a production
sound mixer due to the audio mixing hardware operated
during a video, TV or film production.
For
hardware - aka equipment, there are several sound
mixers for location audio from Sound Devices, Sony,
Tascam, Wendt, PSC, professional sound are the more
known. There are many others with functionality from
Roland/Ederol, Tascam, Marantz, Zaxcomm - all with
solid niches for video and film production for capacities
in mixing and recording. Sound Devices also has several
mixers that are also digital audio recorders as well.
The advantage of having a sound mixer recorder combination
is a integrated fast solution that reduce noise inerrant
in adding multiple components of sound equipment.
Very high end mixer / recorders for field production
include the Zaxcom Diva, Tascam's HS P82, and the
Sound Devices 788T. There are others from Fostex,
Shure, Emu, Roland, Sony, among others as well. The
highest end mixer recorder I use is the Tascam HS
P82 which is comparable to a Zaxcom Diva or Sound
Devices 788T. The important thing is that you hire
a freelance sound person with the previous experience,
whom knows their gear inside & out and is available.
For
the location sound mixer or production sound mixer
in the person, it's a term thought to be originated
in USA. The British and Europe audio person is called
a sound recordist more often.
Film
Audio and It's Evolution
Hardware
- The Start. The first sound mixers in film
were also recorders and sound was recorded in early
film production evolution by several ways. These included
the nagra, DAT or digital audio tape. There are other
less sophisticated methods to mix and record sound
in early film production.
With
film cameras later generating time code; it was important
for embedded time code to be recorded or recorded
separately from the audio. Embedded audio with time
code does not interfere with the recorded sound tracks
if done properly with the right equipment.
Modern
mixer recorders with time code started with DAT and
later to mixer recorders with digital recording to
solid state memory or hard drive. Zaxcomm Deva was
one of the first very sophisticated multi track recorders
introducing time code married to recorded separate
audio tracks.
The
need to add time code to recorded or mixed and separated
sound tracks benefits the editor and allows reduction
of time in post/editing/sweetening. Having good se
prate audio tracks is critical and added time code
makes editing much more efficient saving money. The
weakness of not having time code paired to recorded
sound is that if careful steps are not taken for syncing
& recording in advance, time can be lost finding
the matched audio to film.
DSLR
audio or cameras with no time code output takes some
planning for efficient sound editing. It's wise to
have a slate or hand clap in front of the camera subjects
when starting the recording / each camera take. Film
marking is another method with a slate; with early
non time code cameras marking all shot information
on a erasable slate (scene, take, location, date,
time, camera etc). There are several software's out
now that help assist matching non time code recorded
audio to the video.
Experienced
Sound Mixing People for Film - The sound
person in film production, sometimes called the sound
mixer or other synonyms has the benefit of modern
audio mixing and recording equipment reducing in size
and some in cost as well. A savvy experienced sound
mixer in film can also mix down simple audio sources
with simple mixer/recorders provided some adapters
are properly used for time code sync. If time code
in not available a hand or slate clap should always
be used for mixing and recording film sound.
If
the sound person has a time code, separate track recording
option, it's preferred for film production and the
savvy to record individual tracks per person or subject,
creating a cleaner, conflict free sound recording.
Mixing down multiple audio sources into one channel
or recording is risky business. If you record tow
sources on top of each other, you'd be lucky at days
end to have good sound. Think about trying to solo
/ isolate sound apart with 2 sources mixed together
in a recording. Count on a good experienced sound
person to provide audio tech services to your production
whom you can rely on. Call them in advance to discuss
your production, scenes, on camera talent, locations
etc - and be rest assured good clean sound is the
delivery.
Video
Production and Sound Mixers
The
sound mixer at first was no set animal in video production.
There are several ways to mix & record sound with
video camera production. The first sound mixing in
the field used the VTR directly on the camera (VTR
being the recording mechanism) or a external VTR.
As video camera improved to BetaCam SP and other others
camera mounted harnesses allowed lavalier receivers
were mounted on the camera with the audio feeding
straight into the camera or XLR cables with microphones
or hand held microphones or other audio sources.
Modern
cameras still have inputs, but a variety of ways as
well to record sound digitally and adapters from audio
sources can enable many types of microphones, cables
and connectors direct source into the camera. Modern
mixers / field mixers, also called ENG or EFP mixers
can mix several sources and feed them into the camera
via XLR connection, wireless transmitter/receiver,
or other output to input connection. Modern field
mixers or portable audio mixers also enable the sound
person to feed several cameras, monitor returns (headphone
or monitor out from the camera) and many now are starting
to integrate mixing and recording.
I've been a production sound mixer in the studio and
in the field, on production trucks and for numerous
camera people, as well as, crews professionally since
1991. I can feed cameras with mixed audio or split
audio or channeled audio while recording multi track
recordings with or without time code. I've followed
the technology from the first FP32 Shure mixer and
run the big guns today in Tascam, PSC, Sound Devices
and Marantz as a owner. My most versatile mixer recorder
is a Tascam HS-P82, 8+2 track recorder mixer that
can mix audio, slave cameras, slate cameras and sync
time code while feeding cameras. Other less complex
mixer / recorders are also available to you with my
labor as a client, along with other audio gear resources.
Why
Hire a Sound Mixer with a Sound Mixer for Your Production?
Having
sound mixing equipment enables the camera crew to
have multiple people on camera at a time or subjects.
Sound mixing equipment also keeps the camera person
happy when an audio tech is managing the sound recording.
A good sound person speeds the production along as
the director of photography/camera person can concentrate
on lighting, talent direction, camera operation and
the aspects of creativity. Some production assignments
are impossible without a sound person to do with discreet
mixed and separate audio channels/tracks. There are
other good sound decisions in hiring a audio person
to help you, and if you never have or are considering
one for your budget in Colorado, please give me a
call to discuss your options.
Nick (720) 299 2084 as I'm not always handy
by email.
Below
are listings to map links for your production planning
needs in Colorado. We'll start from the the geography
from North to South, East to West. The metro areas
in Colorado are listed afterwards as well. The largest
populated areas have direct map links or if you need
a direct map link visit http://www.maps.google.com
and type / copy & paste the city or town into
your web browser.
Northern
Colorado areas & Fort Collins
The
largest northern metro area is Fort
Collins. Greeley
& Loveland
CO are the other two larger population areas. Northern
Colorado also includes Wellington, Red Feather Lakes,
Virginia Dale, Laporte, Timnath, Berthoud, New Raymer,
Mead, Nunn, Pierce, Ault, Eaton, Windsor, Severance,
Evans, La Salle, Plateville, Gilcrest, Johnstown,
Kersay, Grover, Peetz, Crook, Padroni, Ilif, Fleming,
Sterling, Atwood, Merino, Brush, Fort Morgan, Fort
Lupton, Wiggins, Keenesburg, Hudson, and Firestone.
Other mid northern areas are Dacono, Eire and Campion
not as close to the border.
South
Colorado
South
Colorado is enormous in distances and has mountains
to the west, plains to the east and the mix of geography
in between. Southwest - Towaoc, Cortez,
Mancos, Lebanon, Dolores, Armola, Alamosa, Pagosa
Springs, Lewis, Yellow Jacket, Durango, Telluride,
Bayfield, Oxford, Ignacio, Lake City, Tiffany, Silverton,
Mountain Village, Allison, South Fork, Monte Vista
and Del Norte are the western south areas of the state.
Southern
central areas in Colorado include La Veta,
Westcliffe, La Jara, Antonito, Sanford, San Luis,
San Pablo, Blanca, Saguace, Rye, Beulah Valley, Stem
Beach, Colorado City, Pueblo, Crestone, Moffat, Center,
Walsenburg, Aguilar, Cokedale, Segundo, Starkville,
Cuchara, Branson, Rocky Ford, Salt Creek, La Junta,
Avondale, Boone, Fowler, Olney Springs, Crowley, Ordway,
Sugar City, Swink, Cheraw and La Junta.
Further
southeast Colorado includes Arlington,
Las Animas, Haswell, McClave, Wiley, Lamar, Two Buttes,
Pichette, Springfield, Vilas, Walsh, Campo, Walsh,
Atlanta and Deora CO.
Colorado's
Rocky Mountain areas
The
more populated areas in the Rocky mountains include
Vail,
Breckenridge,
Beaver
Creek, Avon,
Cripple
Creek, Georgetown,
Evergreen,
Genesee
Park, Idaho
Springs, Silverthorne,
Winter
Park, Dillon,
Aspen,
Glenwood
Springs, Bailey,
Conifer,
Steamboat
Springs, Keystone,
Copper
Mountain, Black
Hawk and Central
City are most known. Other Mountain areas include
Tabernash, Fraser, Granby, St Mary's, Victor, Hot
Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Grand Lake, Hayden, Craig,
Oak Creek, Eagle, Gypsum, New Castle, Silt, Carbondale,
Basalt, Snowmass / Snowmass Village, El Jebel, Rifle,
Parachute, Battlement Mesa, Leadville, Woodland Park,
Monument, Manitou Springs, Divide, Elkton, Goldfield,
Flourissant, Fairplay, Alma, Blue River, Climax, Red
Cliff, or Minturn. Bordering the Rockies is Golden
and into the Rockies the most populated cities are
Lakewood,
Littleton,
Ken
Caryl, Green
Mountain, Monument,
Marshall,
Superior,
Eldorado
Springs, Morrison,
and Boulder,
which all span foothills and mountain regions.
Western
Colorado's areas
Grand
Junction is the largest western Colorado area.
Other more populated western areas include Gunnison,
Crested
Butte, Montrose,
Durango,
and Telluride
having larger populations. Other western areas in
CO include Orbard Mesa, Palisade, Fruitvale, Clifton,
Redlands, Glade Park, Dinosaur, Twin Lakes, Rangley,
De Beque, Gateway, Nucla, Naturita, Norwood, Dove
Creek, Dolores, Cortez, Towaoc, Mesa Verde, Mancos,
Mountain Village, Ophir, Silverton, Animas Forks,
Bayfield, Alamosa, Pagosa Springs, Wolf Creek, Ingacio,
Alboles, Chama, South Fork, Del Norte, San Luis, San
Pablo, Center, Monte Vista, La Jara, Sanford, Romeo,
Antonito, Blanca, Fort Garland and La Veta
Eastern
Colorado areas
The
eastern Colorado areas are vast as well. From the
northern to southern border of Colorado, Eastern CO
starts from Brighton.
Other eastern Colorado areas include Limon,
Fort Lupton, Wiggins, Brush, Log Lane Village, Akron,
Otis, Yuma, Wray, Haxton, Holyoke, Lamar, Venango,
Grant, Madrid, Elsie, Wallace, Hayes, Center, Burlington,
Bethune, Stratton, Vona, Selbert, Flagler, Arriba,
Genoa, Simia, Calhan, Avondale, Boone, Olney Springs,
Fowler, Crowley, Manzanola, Rocky Ford, Swink, La
Junta, Sugar City, Cheraw, Las Animas, McClave, Wiley,
Hartman, Holly, Granada, Two Buttes, Vilas, Walsh,
Springfield, Walsh, Campo or Prichett
Denver
Colorado Areas
Denver
is surrounded by several large suburbs from Glendale,
Aurora,
Lakewood,
Englewood,
Greenwood Village,
Littleton, Sheridan,
Centennial,
Lone
Tree, Thornton,
Northglenn,
Arvada,
Wheat
Ridge, Federal Heights, Westminster,
Lakeside,
Commerce
City and Parker
all are the largest metro areas. South of Denver is
Castle
Rock, Highlands
Ranch, The Pinery, Castle Pines North or Castle
Pines Village, Franktown, Greenland, Roxborough Park.
Further west areas bordering Denver include Golden,
Morrison,
Ken Caryl, Green Mountain, Bow Mar, Broomfield, Marshall
or Superior (all near Boulder as well).
Colorado
Springs areas
Colorado
Springs is the largest city in the area, and then
Pueblo
Colorado. Cities nearby the Colorado Springs are Monument,
Larkspur,
Cripple
Creek, Woodland
Park, Cripple
Creek, Elizabeth, Kiowa, Black Forest, Divide,
Falcon, Penrose, Canon City and we also have worked
throughout other southern Colorado cities as well.
Boulder
Colorado Areas
Boulder
northwest of Denver is surrounded by Louisville,
Lafayette,
Longmont,
Niwot,
Jamestown,
Superior,
Marshall,
Valmont,
Eldorado
Springs, Niwot
and Broomfield.
Further out includes
Sugarloaf,
Estes
Park, Summerville,
Lyons,
Nederland,
Hygiene, Gunbarrel,
Eire, Eldorado Springs, Pinewood Springs, Allenspark,
Eldora, Coal Creek, and in between the Denver area
& Boulder are Golden, Arvada,
Wheat
Ridge, Westminster
areas
Nick
/ Veteran Colorado Location Sound & Production
- Since 91'
1 (720) 299 2084 |
