The sound department records all the dialogue and sound effects heard on the set. They also record the room tone, which is essentially the sound of silence on a given set or location. Recording the background noise of a room makes the other recordings sound more authentic. Room tone is also used to make audio edits sound smooth and natural.

The department consists of a mixer who is responsible for all the recordings. A boom operator operates the microphone boom, which is used to suspend a microphone above the scene. The utility sound technician puts radio microphones and transmitters on actors as required. They also assist the boom operator and keep the cables organized.

The sound department is represented by IATSE.

Technical skills

Team members must be up-to-date on all the latest innovations in recording technology.

Problem-solving

Recording on-set or on-location presents unique challenges. Sound technicians must come up with solutions.

People skills

Fitting actors with microphones means working inside people’s personal space. It’s important to be able to put people at ease.

Physical fitness

Recording sound can mean being on your feet, moving cables and holding the boom mic for long stretches.

A lot of audio work occurs during post-production, but everything starts with the sound captured on-set. A high-quality and comprehensive sound recording is crucial to the success of any production.