A sound mixer is in charge of recording and mixing a film’s voices and sound effects. If you want to work as a sound mixer, you’ll need to learn about acoustics and how to use movie sound equipment. These abilities can be learned through a variety of educational programs. After you’ve mastered the various responsibilities required for this job, you’ll be able to work on a variety of films.
Although no formal education is required to work as a sound mixer, having a strong academic background is advantageous. Production sound mixers may have attended film school, audio recording school, or a technical college with an acoustics degree. Whatever type of education you receive, you must understand sound dynamics, recording equipment, and how to achieve the best results.
To work on some jobs, such as Hollywood studio projects, you must be a member of a trade union in many places around the world. Members must usually work a certain number of professional hours and pay dues to the union on a regular basis. If you want to work as a sound mixer, it’s a good idea to start putting in your hours while you’re still in school because it’ll give you plenty of practice.
To work as a sound mixer, you must be able to place a boom microphone in the best possible location to capture the actors’ voices. You’ll also need an understanding of electronics to send this sound to a recording device so that it can be synced with the movie later. You’ll also work with sound effects experts, and you’ll need to know what equipment to use to capture the sounds that give movies their realism.
Aside from the actual recording, one of the most important jobs of a sound mixer is personnel management. You will not be doing any of the recording yourself if you want to work as a sound mixer for a large production. Instead, you’ll be in charge of a crew of boom microphone operators, a cable operator, and an equipment manager, all of whom you’ll have to keep on track.
After you’ve gained the experience and skills required to work as a sound mixer, you’ll find a plethora of options. Many mixers work as independent contractors for a variety of productions. Others are assigned to feature films or documentaries by a specific studio or production company. Another option is to work for a movie-making television studio.