The art of recording on location can be a great way to develop your own sound when making music. There are many methods to recording music with quality production and sound. Thirty years ago, you had to be fairly successful and have a solid budget in order to afford a mobile studio. Fortunately for us, technology has made leaps and bounds in the last few decades. Currently there are several options for mobile recorders that can easily move from place to place. Whether you are going with a minimum of gear or a bus-full of recording equipment, you can now bring a mobile studio to just about any setting
In the current landscape of innovative software, it is easy to get caught up in the dilemma of which DAW (Digital Audio Work Station) to use. However, no matter what program you choose, you can avoid a lot of post-production and editing headaches by getting the best recording on location. Many location recordists choose a location based off the natural sound quality that may exist at that specific location. While a lot of adjustments and repairs can be accomplished during editing and mixing, it’s somehow always better when you capture that magical, organic, pure sound. Depending on whether you’re recording a single musician or an orchestra, consider your location with care; consider all the pros and cons before moving forward so you’re ready to tackle any issues in the post production process.
For example, there are many natural elements that can enhance the acoustics of a performance. Even with the best of microphones subtle nuances of a vocal performance can be lost in a live recording. Zoom Handheld Recorders are now popularly used for many types of field recordings and can be a great resource and tool for such scenarios.
GAIN AUDIO KNOWLEDGE
A solid foundation in audio theory is absolutely essential. A crucial concept in capturing quality sound is knowing your environment and how it propagates in that given space.
Whether it be a room full of mirrors or an oceanside location, sound behaves differently in different circumstances and environments. Knowing what to listen for and having the experience to adapt your approach to each new situation will both set you apart and keep your clients coming back.
Gain Staging & Signal Flow
Pretty straight forward, right? From the microphone to the preamp, preamp to the A/D (Audio to Digital) converter, maybe insert a compressor to even things out on the input, then EQ some basic frequencies along the way and voila, you’re done! This is actually not so true. In the field, there are a million unforeseen obstacles.
While the complexity of location recording has increased, many location recorders have had to adapt and expand their skill sets AND their equipment. There are the multiple channels of wireless microphones being received and routed to specific tracks and buses or auxiliaries in the recorder, IFB feeds, camera audio feeds, communications and talkback feeds, to mention just a few elements to consider. Under these complex scenarios it’s crucial to understand signal flow and use of the proper gain structure, otherwise things start falling apart quickly. To be successful you need to learn, and if necessary, relearn the basics.
RF & Wireless Microphones
In 2019, nearly all productions make use of wireless microphone systems. A challenge that many audio-engineers will face daily is finding clear frequencies for radio mics at each location. This is a level of complexity that only exists in the location recording space.
Polar Patterns & Microphone Types
Location recordists must have an in-depth understanding of microphone types and their polar patterns. In location sound we are constantly recording dialog in uncontrolled environments, and oftentimes our sound source (the actor) is in motion.
Knowing the best microphone and polar pattern for each scenario or location is a valuable skill to possess.
