How to Become a Production Sound Mixer
Sound is one of the most important elements of a piece, second only to visuals. There are many people whose job is to ensure the finished product sounds exactly the way it should, and one of those is the production sound mixer. If you think the sound department might be for you, check out this all-inclusive guide on how to become a sound mixer.
What is a production sound mixer?

The production sound mixer is the senior-most position in the sound department, responsible for capturing all audio during filming. Sound mixers report directly to the director and cinematographer while overseeing a team that includes boom operators, sound assistants, and cable runners. On sets with a smaller budget, the production sound mixer can also serve one or all of these roles themselves.
A production sound mixer is also occasionally referred to as location sound mixer, location sound engineer, or location sound recordist.

During preproduction: The location sound mixer meets with the director to determine the desired sound and the equipment needed to make it happen. It is their duty to then assemble the sound equipment within the project’s budget, as well as hire the sound team.
During the prep process, the sound mixer will also visit any shooting locations to evaluate possible audio-related problems, such as echo, background sounds, or nearby noisy businesses in the area. Read More…