Production Sound Mixer, The Person

A production or location sound mixer is a newer term for a sound recordist. Older nicknames were a sound mixer or sound man, guy or women. A sound or audio operator, always referring to a person. They take microphone sources like shotgun microphones (boom microphones), hand-held microphones or other equipment sources to a mixer & recorder to record time code or non time code digital files. They are hired for video, television and film production assistance.

The production sound mxer in tandem also may send audio as a reference (scratch track) to camera(s) or have the ability to send audio directly into a microphone port, XLR or other sound connection on the camera. This can be done with cables or a wireless connection. Time code slates are often used in the instance of a lack of camera connectivity or for gimbals or steadicam rigs. A dumb slate (without time code display) can be used to sync sounds later in editing by software.

Nick Teti, Colorado USA, MT 1 (720) 299-2084

Production Sound Mixer, The Hardware

The sound mixing and recording equipment, is often just called a mixer, or a mixer/recorder. Good ones have more connection options including XLR, TA3F, 1/8″ microphone ports and sometimes gang input/output ports. Popular mixer recorders include Sound Devices and Zaxcom for location sound mixing and recording.

Sony, PSC Shure , Zoom, Rode, Roland and several others also make good mixer recorders. Sound Devices and Zaxcom make the costlier mixer/recorders that are more popular due to brand.  A higher priced machine does not always mean the best possible signal to noise recording.  Sometimes the gear preferences are referred to “gear snobbery” or superiority, which may not be appropriate or accurate.

Signal to Noise Ratio, S/N or S To N

This is the signal, what is desired to be recorded like voices or sound effects. Noise is often the white noise sound that all mixer recorders have to some degree. Digital pre-amps are ideal for less noise in the recording. The higher S to N ratio the better and clearer the sound recording. Less Signal to Noise is a noisier recording, but there are ways to make mixer/recorder less noisy. The higher the gain input has to be adjusted the more noise will be in your sound recording.

Reference Links

Reference links below open in another window/tab.

• Sound Devices – mixer/recorders, wireless and other audio devices for location and studio sound.
• Sennheiser – A long history of industry known sound equipment.
• Production Sound Mixer – Reference Wikipedia
• Zaxcom – mixers, recorders, wireless audio systems.
• Tascam – Sound equipment & streaming gear for the studio or location.
• Shure – Audio gear in the field or studio.
• Rode – Affordable wireless, microphones and other sound equipment.
• Wikipedia – a Reference on the production or location sound mixer (person).

Telephone: 1 (720) 299-2084

Skye – Nick, Mister Photon Media (Colorado)

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