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Canada Category: Production Life
A trip to the Rycote Factory
The classic blimp-shaped microphone windscreen: It’s the most iconic image of film and video sound. Even people who are not in the business relate to this because they see it everywhere; on television news, behind-the-scenes movie productions, and when passing by a film production. That familiar shape bobbing around high overhead on a pole is […]
READ MOREWindscreens and Mounts: The Basics
The human hand can be a reasonably good suspension device. In most film and video production situations hand-held mics are not effective, one arm is too short. We need to mount the mic on a rigid pole. The rigidity of the boom pole is where the problems begin. Boom poles transmit vibrations rather well, some better than others. Many clever
READ MORETrew Audio Toronto Workflow Sessions
This past June our Tyler Wade and his staff at the Trew Audio Toronto store hosted an evening of information and discussion regarding some elements of the Sound for Picture Workflow. Our panel of experts for the evening included Charlie Parra of Denecke, Kyle Kurbegovich of PS Toronto, Julian Daboll of Technicolor, Paul Isaacs […]
READ MOREDoing a Deal
Rick Patton on the set of “Bird on a Wire” in Victoria, British Columbia. Many young people working in the movies start off with a certain disdain for business. For them it’s about the work, about the film. Money is necessary but it’s not why you do it. Young filmmakers routinely beg, borrow, and steal […]
READ MOREDifferent Economy, Same Response
Like most in this business, I started with desire, gradually adding clients and then equipment. After renting everything at first, I eventually bought my first pieces in 1980: a microphone (Sony ECM-50) and a mixer (the “new” Shure M-267). I’m better off because of the investment, so it was money well spent. And I still […]
READ MORESet Etiquette and the Chain of Command – Part 2
You have a responsibility to deliver good sound. It doesn’t matter whether you are the Production Mixer or the EPK guy. There will be times when you need something from the people around you, like quiet. It may be that the people around you will not give you what you need, even after you […]
READ MORESet Etiquette and the Chain of Command – Part I
“Etiquette: A code that governs the expectations of social behavior, according to the contemporary conventional norm within a society, social class, or group.” From Wikipedia What are the basic rules for how to behave on a movie set? Don’t draw attention to yourself. Wear dark colors and be quiet. Turn off your cell phone. […]
READ MOREThe Four Horsemen of Troubleshooting
When the crew is looking at you, the only person who isn’t ready to roll, you may hope for the Apocalypse. Alas, it is time to start troubleshooting. Checking cables for shorts, gear for correct settings, battery life, and the source of that stupid hum can drive you mad. One of the most difficult tasks […]
READ MOREA Tale of Two Productions, Part 2
Public transportation… I love it. Partly due to my roots in a small town, part gas prices, and part Nashville barely has any. So on a recent trip to Chicago to see the sights from the Sears tower, and visit some of my wife’s family in the suburbs, we used the L, city buses, and […]
READ MOREThe Indie Corner
Lately, I have had the good fortune to be a part of a few independent productions. They have mainly been student projects. Due to my impeccable good will for mankind (and the nausea bad sound creates within me) I feel it is important to try to convey some granule of knowledge about sound to these […]
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