Giovanni Tria – A Professional Production Sound Recordist
Contents
This week, Sutton Filmmakers hosted an engaging and hands-on workshop on microphone selection for filmmaking, led by award-winning composer and production sound recordist Giovanni Tria.
The session aimed to equip both beginners and experienced filmmakers with the knowledge and skills needed to capture high-quality sound in any filming scenario. Production sound recordists a wide range of information from understanding how environmental factors affect recordings to choosing the best microphone for different types of shots, the evening was packed with valuable insights and practical demonstrations.
Understanding the Recording Environment
One of the key takeaways from the workshop was the significant impact of location and surroundings on microphone choice. Giovanni highlighted the challenges of indoor recording, such as sound reflections caused by hard surfaces, which can create unwanted echoes. Soft furnishings like carpets, curtains and foam panels can help absorb excess reflections and improve the clarity of dialogue.
For outdoor recording, filmmakers must contend with unpredictable elements such as wind, traffic noise, distant conversations and planes overhead. Windshields, dead cats (fur windshields) and foam covers can help minimise wind noise, while directional microphones and careful mic placement can significantly reduce unwanted background noise. Understanding these environmental factors is essential for selecting the right microphone and positioning it effectively.
Choosing the Right Microphone for Your Scene
Giovanni stressed that the type of scene being filmed also plays a crucial role in mic selection. Filmmakers need to consider how much movement is involved, whether it is the actors or the camera, if the shot is wide or close-up and how much space is available for sound operators. These factors directly influence microphone placement and whether a boom, lavalier or other mic type is the most appropriate for capturing clean, professional-quality audio.
Key Principles for Mic Selection
Giovanni simplified microphone selection into three key principles. The microphone should be unobtrusive so it does not interfere with the scene, practical so that it is suited to the environment and logistics of the shoot, and portable if the scene requires mobility. He also touched on actor comfort, explaining that some performers dislike wearing lavalier microphones or having a boom positioned too close to their eyeline. Balancing sound quality with practical considerations is essential for achieving the best results.
Understanding Different Microphones and Their Uses
Giovanni introduced the two fundamental microphone categories. Dynamic microphones are durable and robust, ideal for loud environments but less sensitive to high frequencies. Condenser microphones require phantom power and are highly sensitive, making them perfect for capturing subtle details in controlled environments.
He then explained the most common microphone types used in film production and their applications. Shotgun or boom microphones are highly directional and designed to capture focused sound from a subject while rejecting side noise, making them ideal for dialogue scenes. Lavalier or lapel microphones are small, omnidirectional and easily hidden on an actor, making them the best choice when a boom is impractical, such as in wide shots or scenes with heavy movement.
Plant microphones are hidden within a scene, such as in a lamp or behind a prop, to discreetly capture natural dialogue. Boundary microphones are flat, disc-shaped mics that are often used on tables or walls to capture group discussions or ambient sound. Handheld microphones are commonly used for interviews, documentaries and news reports, providing excellent clarity and durability. Large-diaphragm microphones are typically used in music recording and voiceovers, offering a rich, full-bodied sound.
The Role of Pickup Patterns
Microphone pickup patterns determine how sound is captured. Giovanni explained the most common pickup patterns and their applications. Omnidirectional microphones capture sound evenly from all directions, making them useful for lavaliers and ambient recordings. Cardioid microphones focus on sound from the front, reducing unwanted noise from the sides and rear, which makes them ideal for dialogue recording in controlled environments.
Supercardioid and hypercardioid microphones are even more directional than a standard cardioid mic and are excellent for isolating a speaker’s voice in noisy locations. Figure-eight or bidirectional microphones capture sound from the front and back but reject noise from the sides, making them useful for interview setups with two speakers facing each other.
Low-tech and High-tech Sound Solutions
To improve sound quality, filmmakers can use a mix of low-tech and high-tech solutions. Low-tech fixes include windshields, pop filters, foam covers, shock mounts and gloves to reduce handling noise and minimise wind distortion. High-tech solutions include post-production software to remove unwanted noise and CGI techniques to digitally erase visible boom or lavalier microphones in wide shots.
Tackling Phase Issues
A common problem in sound recording is phase issues, where multiple sound waves reach a microphone at different times, causing a thin, robotic or hollow sound. Giovanni explained how to avoid these problems by using fewer microphones to prevent conflicting signals, placing microphones carefully to ensure sounds arrive at the mic in sync, using post-production tools to adjust phase alignment if needed and minimising unwanted reflections by choosing the right recording environment.
Final Takeaways
The workshop reinforced a crucial point: bad sound is far more noticeable to an audience than bad camerawork or lighting. Even the most beautifully shot film can feel amateurish if the sound is poor, which is why understanding microphone selection and placement is essential for any filmmaker.
For those looking to refine their sound recording skills, Sutton Filmmakers continues to offer valuable learning opportunities. Whether you are just starting out or an experienced filmmaker, choosing the right microphone is a game-changer in elevating your production quality. Learning from experienced professionals like production sound recordist Giovanni Tria is an invaluable way to deepen your understanding of the craft.