Post sound guys/music mixers...how did you start?

mbradzick · 21st March 2008

Hey guys,

I've been recording and mixing music years, and I'm on the verge of a big change in my career. I've found through the course of time that I LOVE mixing. I love producing and writing too but I can tweak a sound for hours until it sounds right.

I want to know if post sound or music editing/mixing is for me. Please tell me how you started, if you like what you do, what the hours are and so on. I know PT very well so that part's out of the way.

Thanks for any insight.

philper · 21st March 2008

We've had a lot of threads on this forum lately on this and related subjects (intern or no, recording school or no, what city to work in or move to, making contacts etc)--why not do a search for them? In general, I'd say that most of us worked on whatever we could get until someone was willing to take a chance on us and we could start to build a rep. Without meaning to be discouraging, you should know that there are VERY few actual "jobs" in this field, most of us are either freelancers or have our own rooms.

Philip Perkins (CAS)

Henchman · 21st March 2008

I started in music in SF. I moved to Vancouver ith a platinum bum under my belt. Ended up working as an ADR assistant, taking notes on ADR sessions. One thing led to another and 10 years later got a staff gig at one of Vancouvers biggest studio as a Re-recording mixer and ADR recordist.
4 years later I moved to LA.

So, my career change has been going for 15 Years.

Having a mild form of OCD helps too.

Mikkel Nielsen · 21st March 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henchman

Having a mild form of OCD helps too.

Brent Hahn · 21st March 2008

I was a music guy at National in New York. One day they said, "We've just bought a device called a Q-Lock for your room. Not quite sure how it works, but you're a bright kid; you'll figure it out. Good luck, son."

Frank S. · 21st March 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henchman

Having a mild form of OCD helps too.

So true...but sometimes it'll bite you in the butt. I find it hard to hand over projects to other mixers or get projects from others that haven't followed my instructions of how I want things. Many late hours have been spent just organizing the tracks while being quite anal about them.

I started by taking a position as a QC tech and video dubber. Along with that I was gripping on shoots, recording audio on shoots, assisting in the audio rooms and helping the systems engineer. I did pretty much anything I was asked. A lot of long hours and low pay for a long time.

ggegan · 22nd March 2008

I've been a feature film sfx rerecording mixer in Hollywood for about 18 years. Before that I mixed ADR and Foley for about 8 years, and before that I owned a music studio in Toronto where I recorded scores I wrote for TV, documentaries and industrials as well as rock and jazz albums.

Right off the bat I can tell you that as a re-recording mixer you won't have hours and hours to tweak sounds. Studio time runs anywhere from $500 to $1200 per hour and the post supervisors rarely book enough time to get everything mixed at a comfortable pace because you're the last step of getting the movie made and the money is already spent, so the pressure is on to get the job done. There's very little time to play around, you have to go for what you know most of the time and pick your battles very carefully or else you will never make the schedules. When a director asks you to do something he means immediately if not sooner. People are generally very impatient, so if you look like you are fumbling or unsure the sharks will eat you alive. It can be incredibly stressful at times.

All that being said, it can also be a creatively rewarding job that commands a lot of respect and pays extremely well. You get to work with some very interesting and creative people as well as some self absorbed jerks.

21st March 2008	#1
mbradzick Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 1,405 Thread Starter 1 Review written	Post sound guys/music mixers...how did you start? Hey guys, I've been recording and mixing music years, and I'm on the verge of a big change in my career. I've found through the course of time that I LOVE mixing. I love producing and writing too but I can tweak a sound for hours until it sounds right. I want to know if post sound or music editing/mixing is for me. Please tell me how you started, if you like what you do, what the hours are and so on. I know PT very well so that part's out of the way. Thanks for any insight.

21st March 2008	#3
Henchman Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: LA, USA Posts: 6,836	I started in music in SF. I moved to Vancouver ith a platinum bum under my belt. Ended up working as an ADR assistant, taking notes on ADR sessions. One thing led to another and 10 years later got a staff gig at one of Vancouvers biggest studio as a Re-recording mixer and ADR recordist. 4 years later I moved to LA. So, my career change has been going for 15 Years. Having a mild form of OCD helps too. __________________ www.markhensley.tv IMDB Credits

21st March 2008	#5
Brent Hahn Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,167	I was a music guy at National in New York. One day they said, "We've just bought a device called a Q-Lock for your room. Not quite sure how it works, but you're a bright kid; you'll figure it out. Good luck, son." __________________ Brent Hahn http://www.radioactive.la http://www.studio-noho.net

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21st March 2008	#2
philper Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco area Posts: 2,422	We've had a lot of threads on this forum lately on this and related subjects (intern or no, recording school or no, what city to work in or move to, making contacts etc)--why not do a search for them? In general, I'd say that most of us worked on whatever we could get until someone was willing to take a chance on us and we could start to build a rep. Without meaning to be discouraging, you should know that there are VERY few actual "jobs" in this field, most of us are either freelancers or have our own rooms. Philip Perkins (CAS)

22nd March 2008	#7
ggegan Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2008 Location: The Heart of Screenland Posts: 1,603	I've been a feature film sfx rerecording mixer in Hollywood for about 18 years. Before that I mixed ADR and Foley for about 8 years, and before that I owned a music studio in Toronto where I recorded scores I wrote for TV, documentaries and industrials as well as rock and jazz albums. Right off the bat I can tell you that as a re-recording mixer you won't have hours and hours to tweak sounds. Studio time runs anywhere from $500 to $1200 per hour and the post supervisors rarely book enough time to get everything mixed at a comfortable pace because you're the last step of getting the movie made and the money is already spent, so the pressure is on to get the job done. There's very little time to play around, you have to go for what you know most of the time and pick your battles very carefully or else you will never make the schedules. When a director asks you to do something he means immediately if not sooner. People are generally very impatient, so if you look like you are fumbling or unsure the sharks will eat you alive. It can be incredibly stressful at times. All that being said, it can also be a creatively rewarding job that commands a lot of respect and pays extremely well. You get to work with some very interesting and creative people as well as some self absorbed jerks.