Audio Production: Starting out in Sound

Audio Production: Starting out in Sound

By Richard Landy

Hey there, future sound wizards!

Whether you're just dipping your toes into audio production or looking to level up your skills, you might want to check our blog series on sound and what it takes to master it in a production studio environment. 

We’ll begin with the basics, providing a broad overview of sound engineering, and then dive into the specifics of daily studio life. We’ve even partnered with Better Sound to bring you real-world examples and demonstrations using their top-notch sound gear. This collaboration allows us to show you practical use cases and give you hands-on insights into the tools and techniques used by professionals.

Ready to dive into the details? Our blog series covers a range of topics designed to help you grow as a sound engineer. From critical listening skills and live mixing scenarios to understanding broadcast standards and gaining real-world experience, we’ve got you covered.

Explore the following topics and check back with us in the upcoming weeks for a deeper dive on each! Whether you’re aiming to improve your recording, mixing, or mastering skills, our blog series is here to support your journey in the exciting world of sound engineering.

Let’s get started and take your audio skills to the next level!

Building a Strong Foundation in Audio Production

Audio production starts with a strong foundation:

Understanding Sound: First things first, let’s get you acquainted with sound.

It’s like learning the alphabet for words, right? Understanding how sound works, those pesky frequencies, and how to control volume without turning everything into a sonic mess is key. Get comfy with those squiggly waveforms too - they’re your new best friends.

At Broadley Studios, our crew collaborate closely to ensure that the script aligns perfectly with the vision of the project.

Gear Up for Great Sound: Think of microphones as your paint brushes. There are different types - dynamic, condenser, and ribbon mics - and each serves a unique purpose. Learn when to use each type to capture the best sound. Your mixer is like your conductor, so understanding its ins and outs, including signal flow, gain staging, and EQ, is crucial.

And don't forget your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) - whether it's Pro Tools, Logic Pro, or Ableton Live, it’s your digital canvas. Dive deep into its features to harness its full potential.

Microphone Placement Magic: Mic placement is like finding the sweet spot for your vocals or instrument.

Experiment and see what sounds best. Even tiny moves can make a huge difference! Learn how distance influences sound capture and how proximity effects can alter the tone.

Taming the Room: Acoustics Matter: Acoustics matter, people!

Treat your recording space with soundproofing materials like bass traps, diffusers, and absorbers to minimise unwanted noise. Proper isolation of instruments and microphones ensures a clean recording environment.

Gain Staging: Setting the Level for Success: Setting the right levels is crucial.

Properly setting gain levels at each stage of the signal chain prevents distortion and ensures a clean, consistent signal.

Mixing and Mastering: The Art of Sound Sculpting

When it comes to sound production and mixing and mastering:

EQ and Compression: EQ is your sonic chisel, helping you shape the sound.

Learn how to use it to carve out space for each instrument. Subtractive EQ (cutting out unwanted frequencies) can be especially beneficial. Compression is like a gentle hug for your sound, keeping things smooth and controlled. Understand how to use threshold, ratio, attack, and release to manage dynamics effectively.

Train Your Ears to be the Judge: Your ears are your most powerful tool.

Listen to well-mixed tracks from various genres to train your ear. Pay attention to how instruments sit together in the mix. Also, make sure you're listening in a space that’s not messing with your perception. Position your monitors correctly for the best sound representation.

Immerse Yourself in the Sonic World: The more you mix and master, the better you’ll get at audio production. It’s like practicing scales on a piano. Don’t be afraid to try new things!

Feedback is a Gift: Seek feedback from other sound engineers and musicians. It’s like having a second pair of ears. Their insights will help you improve and refine your skills.

Level Up Your Learning: Join online communities, attend workshops, and connect with local sound engineer groups. Consider finding a mentor who can guide you on your audio production journey. It’s like having a personal audio coach.

Conquering the TV Studio

Ready to take your skills to the TV world? Here’s how to prepare:

Gear Up for TV Time: Get familiar with studio gear, from broadcast consoles to different mics (shotgun mics and lavalier mics). Understand how audio signals flow through the studio, from capturing sound on set to mixing and final broadcast. Learn how audio fits into the overall television production process.

Microphone Maestro: Mic placement is still key, but now you’re dealing with different scenarios like interviews, live performances, and on-set dialogue. Master recording levels, gain staging, and avoid clipping to ensure you capture clean, high-quality audio.

Studio Savvy: Learn the ropes of studio etiquette, proper communication with directors and camera operators, and adhering to production schedules. Be familiar with safety protocols for handling and setting up equipment.

Broadcast Buff: Understand broadcast audio standards and regulations, including loudness levels (like LUFS), audio codecs, and delivery formats (stereo, surround sound). Quality control is crucial to ensure your work meets industry expectations.

Practice Makes Perfect (Especially in Broadcasting): If possible, practice live mixing scenarios where you need to balance multiple audio sources in real-time. Develop your critical listening skills and learn to make quick adjustments to audio levels and EQ during live broadcasts

Tech Time: Get proficient in DAWs commonly used in broadcast environments, such as Pro Tools or Adobe Audition. Additionally, familiarise yourself with audio-over-IP (AoIP) protocols like Dante or AES67, which are increasingly used in professional studios.

Gain Real-World Experience: Seek audio production opportunities to intern or volunteer at TV stations, production houses, or community TV programmes. Shadowing experienced engineers allows you to observe their workflows and techniques first hand.

Build Your Audio Arsenal: Create a portfolio showcasing your work. Record and mix different projects to demonstrate your skills to potential employers.

Network Like a Pro: Attend industry events, workshops, or conferences to connect with professionals in the broadcast and sound engineering / audio production fields. These connections can open doors to new opportunities. Finding a mentor who can provide guidance and feedback is invaluable for career development.

Be Adaptable and Resourceful: Develop problem-solving skills to handle audio issues efficiently, especially during live broadcasts. Be ready to adapt to changes in production schedules or technical requirements.

FAQ: How to Start in Audio Production?

Our sound engineering journey has come to an end, but the world of audio remains vast and thrilling. There’s so much more to explore, learn, and create.

The realm of sound is filled with endless possibilities, and your curiosity will be your greatest asset. Keep pushing the boundaries, experimenting with new techniques, and refining your skills. Every sound you create is a step towards mastering your craft.

So to get started in sound production:

1.  Understand sound as well as you can. 2.  Become familiar with microphones, mixers, DAWs... so you can capture the best sound possible. 3.  Learn how the position of a microphone affects the sound quality. 4.  Learn how to soundproof. 5.  Learn how to set your gain levels correctly. 6.  Work out how to mix and master from EQ and compression to using your ears professionally. 7.  When it comes to working with sound in a TV studio, get to know all of the equipment, etiquette and processes required to produce a successful film. 8.  As with any career, build your portfolio, network, and be prepared to be adaptable and flexible. 9.  Finally, practice always makes perfect...

Remember, the key to success in any studio environment is continuous learning and practice. Stay dedicated to honing your abilities, and soon you’ll find yourself excelling in any audio setting. The journey might be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Embrace the process, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes - they’re just opportunities to learn and grow.

So, as we wrap up this chapter, take with you the passion and enthusiasm that brought you here. The sonic world is waiting for your unique contributions. Go forth with confidence, and make your mark in the world of sound engineering.

Keep rocking, and conquer the sonic world!

Sound Production at Broadley Studios

At Broadley Studios, we always work closely with our clients to make sure that everything from the planning to the script to the post-production aligns seamlessly with your creative vision to produce the best possible film, video, TV programme, trailer, promo, live stream...

If you want any more information on our audio production or any info about shooting with us, please feel free to reach out to us and discover how we can help you and your production on +442077255858 or email us at info@broadley.tv.