Why Sound Is Important & what you are paying for.

When you watch TV, a Film, Game Show, Reality Show, do you ever think wow that sound great, camera team did alright, i don't see the lighting but it sound great, how are they achieving such sound on wide shots, bad weather, winds etc. Well this is where a team of experienced sound people come in and do all you need with hopefully ease.

So what or who is part of a sound team and what/who are you paying for?

Production Sound Mixer (HOD)

What is a sound mixer? They are the people who own the equipment, hire the team they work with, make sure the equipment works and is maintained, lets there crew know they have done a good job and it sounds great because at the end of the day the HOD sound mixer is the one who gets hired first and whose name is on the sound files. The assistants get a credit but aren't the ones who get the full recognition.

Boom Operator / 1st AS / Key

So who is this and what do they do? This Legend are the eyes and ears on set, they are the Key Boom Operator, the one that is next in line. They stay onset and find out what the director wants from there actors and lighting crew, what shots are being done, What actors are in the scene so the 2nd AS can arrange for a new actor to be radio mic'd up and if an actor already mic'd up needs a custome change they make sure the 2nd AS knows and the Mixer knows what is going on ie who to turn on and off, what mic is being put on what cast member (character name).

2nd AS (Sound Assistant) Sound Maintenance

So we have Mixer, & 1st AS. What does this 3rd in line but not 3rd in importance Legend do for the team? For me they are as important if not more important than the 2 above, Why, because they are the radio Mic technicians, the 2nd boom, they back up the 1AS and they are the legends that set up the radio mic'd ready for the actors, have know see the costume and the actor and within 10 seconds know where to place the radio pack and hide the mic itself be it interior, exterior, what the cast are wearing, also if the actor take something off during the scene, do they sit down, bend over, run, jump, what shoes are they wearing, shout, whisper. these all come into question due to the radio pack settings and where the mic is hidden. They get the off lines for the 1st AS (Boom Operator) often on a 2 or 3 shot they get the on camera lines to help the 1AS out. If you see an actor on screen, there is a mic hidden somewhere on them so you the audience can hear them.

3rd AS (Sound Assistant) Trainee

4th in line but definitely not least important, they are a very important member of the crew. They don't often handle the boom mic over an actor but they are the eyes and ears of the off set duties. The often get trained if not already know how to prepare a radio mic ready for the 2nd AS to place on the actor. If they can they put the radio on the actor off set if 2nd is busy. The are the manager of the kit, if 1st & 2nd need to change a mic, they prep it, if the director, focus puller, script supervisor, producers, guests etc want a set of headphones that they most likely wont use, the 3rd AS organises that and who has one to rescue it later on. is the battery charging manager, keeps the kit tidy and organised. if someone is ill they may setup to boom or radio mic.

Sound Recordist (all in one)

This absolute Legend is literally all the above in one for small-ish shoots. They own the kit, they boom, radio mic, directors headphones, they do it all so should be rewarded with a good rate not a low balled rate. The have less time to do everything and have to get it right 1st time. The have to listne to the actors, set the levels, figure out lighting shadows, where the camera is or will be, be ready for change, run to sort the cast out with there gear on. have back issue (jokes) They're like a pregnant lady holding a 3 metre broom in the air for minutes as a time whilst monitoring all around them and making sure sound is recorded clear.

Conclusion

All these members are very important and should be respected and cost what they cost because they have years of experience that other departments don't know anything about. So next time you are crewing up and want good sound not just it works, it has to be clear and usable sound and not be seen then this is what you need and you must pay, dont try and ask for a lower daily rate, they should be on par with the camera department. A lower rate is for short films or sub-par sound but as sound crew we cant give sub-par we have to give the best we can.