Course on Sound Location Recording?
 

Is there a course (preferrably in the Hamilton area) that one can take on how to record good sound during production. Since I have a full time day time the course would need to be in the evenings or weekends.

If there is no course in the Hamilton or Toronto area is there a week long course I can take somewhere else?

Any info much appreciated.

Not a course, but a pretty good book with good practical information:

http://www.locationaudiosimplified.com

Hiya neighbor - fellow Hamiltonian here. Don't know of any specific courses in the area other than those that are part of more extensive programs at Ryerson or Sheridan or the Toronto Film School.

I agree with Peter's recommendation of "Location Audio Simplified" as a valuable read.

I really wanted some hands on practice
 

I'm currently reading "Producing Great Sound for Digital Video". Will "Location Sound Simplified" provide similar information?

I wanted (or at least preferred) a week long intensive where I could get my hands on sound equipment and practice using it. I am taking an intro to HDV film. Which is good, and they are covering sound, but they are also covering everything: lights, camera operation, video editing, Final Cut Pro.

It seems to me getting clean sound is important. Low budget films can't really afford ADR. So I want to spend some time focusing on sound without thinking about all that other film stuff.

I am looking to take a course this fall when I'm finished with intro to HDV.

Hi, Steve, I'm waving. If you look really hard in the hammer you'll see me :)

Where are you taking your Intro course? The "Location Audio" book goes into the practical on-set techniques of mic'ing, booming, camera setup and gain staging, etc, that Jay's book doesn't cover in quite so much detail. For example, Miles shows you the proper way to coil up a mic cable while Jay doesn't mention it as I recall. OTOH, Jay goes into a number of topics that Miles doesn't mention or assumes you already know. Jay's two books are invaluable references and all three of them complement each other very well.

I've read both books and I have to agree with Steve. A subtitle on Location Sound Simplified is "no long, drawn out tech-talk, just tried and true operating techniques on how to record quality audio in the field." It pretty much delivers.

Chapters include:
"Choosing and Preparing a Location"
"Field Mixer Operating Techniques"
"Shotgun Mircophones"
"How to Boom"
"Camera Calibration"

You won't find a definition of dB or how balanced wiring works. You will find out about the material to buy to waterproof your Rycote wind screen.

The price of the book US is a fraction of what one would pay for a course and I'd think a good orientation until you find a course.

There is some practical instructional material for free at http://www.thompsound.com/Articles/QSFT/index.htm

Free Read :) although i think the book is real cool

http://equipmentemporium.com/Article...od%20Sound.htm

I would recommed Douglas Spotted Eagle's Audio Power Production Techniques. Douglas is an active contributor on this forum and a great guy.
However I do realise you're in Canada and VASST may not run seminars in Canada. But do drop them an email or contact Douglas
http://vasst.com/sony/default.aspx. I'm sure he will be able to fill you in on the details if VASST does swing by your area.

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The best course you'll find is emailing or calling mixers in your area and see if they need a free assistant on a job, best way you'll learn, someone doing the job rather than a teacher wins every time.

Thanks for the suggestions.