Location Sound Recording

Filmcraft Workshop Series

The Cinematic Arts Filmcraft Workshop Series gives students the opportunity to learn hard skills and advance their ability in practical areas of filmmaking, such as cinematography, editing, post-production, and sound. The workshops run for six weeks, starting the Friday that drop/add ends, January 19. Each workshop is offered twice, on Friday afternoon and the following Saturday morning. No experience or registration is required.

Location Sound Recording

This workshop is a guided tour through the bewildering variety of tools and the unintuitive best practices of location sound recording for film.

Compromised sound is a fatal flaw for a film, and one which dogs many filmmakers long after other skills have been mastered.  This workshop directly addresses the difficulty and importance of sound recording.  Students will receive a crash course in current sound recording practice, including the important features and settings of high-end sound equipment, and equally importantly, the applications of wig tape, lamb’s wool, and other staples.

This workshop will over the following elements and techniques:

• The technology of sound recorders and microphones
• Hearing and monitoring good and bad sound
• Boom microphones and their operation
• Body mic technique
• Workflow and collaboration

About the Instructor

Aaron M. Bittikofer is a professional audio recordist, audio engineer, and musician.   As a production audio recordist he has worked on numerous short and long-format films, and countless commercials over the past ten years.  He has studied upright and electric bass with Carol Kaye and Medeski, Martin and Wood, has recorded numerous albums, and has logged many miles of touring experience with music groups such as Hipbone, Ecco La Musica, and Sidecar Social Club.  He is obsessed with audio, be it production recording, music or sound design.

About the Location

This workshop meets in the Cinematic Arts Studio located in Room 232 in the Rubenstein Arts Center.