Add to my list of post audio companies in LA

[DynaForte]

I've been gathering contact info for post studios in LA. I thought I'd post my list, and perhaps others can add to it little by little, helping other people in the future!

This list focuses towards places doing film work and also towards larger places. I bet I'm missing some big ones though!

Here's mine:

----------------------

20th Century Fox
Studios
5 Moes
Before Noon Post
Engine Room Studios
Levels Audio
Mindseye Production
Paramount Studios
Pirate Post
Post Creations
Post Logic
Sky Productions
Snap Sound
Sony Pictures Post Production
Sound Chef
Technicolor
The Dub Stage
The Post Group
Todd AO West
Todd AO Hollywood
Universal Studios
Walt Disney Studios
Warner Brothers
Widget Post
Wildfire
Juniper Post
----
Soundelux
Monkeyland Audio
Audio Circus
The Mix Stage
L.A. Studios (Margurita Mix)
Digital Dreams Sound
Wildwood
Media City Sound
POP Sound
BluWave (Universal lot)
Mercury Sound
SSI
Sonic Magic
Novastar

[dr.sound]

FYI: Widget is out of business.

Also add : Monkeyland Audio

[DynaForte]

Thanks for the add - another nice place in Burbank!

What happened with Widget? I know they had a bankruptcy... They were still doing enough major work I had thought...

Thanks!

[Loki]

I always consider Todd AO West (Santa Monica) separate from Todd AO Hollywood or Burbank.

Also, Soundelux

[thoogenakker]

POP Sound
BluWave (Universal lot)
Mercury Sound
SSI
Sonic Magic
Novastar

[kk@jamsync.com]

Originally Posted by dr.sound

FYI: Widget is out of business.

Also add : Monkeyland Audio

Obviously I'm not keeping up...but, both locations are gone?

I thought they were reorganizing under chap 11.

[dr.sound]

Originally Posted by thoogenakker

POP Sound
BluWave (Universal lot)
Mercury Sound
SSI
Sonic Magic
Novastar

Blu Wave is part of Universal.

Novastar is part of "The Post Group"

[dr.sound]

Originally Posted by kk@jamsync.com

Obviously I'm not keeping up...but, both locations are gone?

I thought they were reorganizing under chap 11.

"Widget" is Gone.
No Longer in Business.

[kk@jamsync.com]

Originally Posted by dr.sound

"Widget" is Gone.
No Longer in Business.

Well, that's very sad...I'm sorry to hear that.

[RichV]

I feel like this list could go on forever, it seems like each time I've thought I've found or listed all the post-specific audio houses out here, I find a handful more - and I've spent tons of hours researching and finding them as I'm currently freelancing around LA, so I've been contacting/reaching out to all of them.

The best resource is la411.com. You can go there and see the 150 listings of post audio houses, which is probably really only half. Mix magazines online directory will also add about 30 or so not listed in la411. I'd take a random guess and say there's probably 300 houses from giant mix stages to boutique style or even one or two mix suite post houses. Some smaller places do indeed handle film work, whether or not they are contracted out to do just the foley or VO/adr and whatnot.

Also, that's surprising that a place as big and popular as Widget went under. I remember watching breaking bad and thinking what a good sound job was done on the show (which was done at Widget). Shame.

[JSt0rm]

I heard Widget went under because they were TOO big. This last year has been no joke. I'm like on the bottom rung of doing exactly what I want to do and I couldn't imagine trying to get "in" right now. I've eatin so much pb&j this year I almost threw it up, but I will starve myself if that's what it takes I somehow manage to pay my west la rent every month lol.

[TVPostSound]

If we keep talking about Widget Post, this thread will disappear as all previous one did.

[kk@jamsync.com]

Originally Posted by TVPostSound

If we keep talking about Widget Post, this thread will disappear as all previous one did.

What does that mean? You have to understand that not everyone here is from Hollywood (nor would we want to be), but it's interesting to compare notes of studios in different cities. I'm sensing some touchiness about this subject that is way out of proportion to asking a simple question.

The business is definitely changing everywhere, whether for the same reasons is something to be ascertained by discussions such as this. Obviously asking for help with a list of studios brings up corrections about those which have gone under...it shouldn't start some sort of flame war because someone asks a simple question. Their website is still up and FWIW I really liked the audio work on Breaking Bad. That's it, that's all.

[ggegan]

Widget Post may be out of business, but the facility (the old Warner Hollywood facility) is still intact and there have been a couple of films mixed there over the last few months, including "Men Who Stare at Goats".

It is a great facility with an amazing history that goes back many decades, almost to the beginning of talkies. I wouldn't count it out just yet, there are too many people who value its legacy and are fighting to keep it alive.

[soundboy]

Audio Circus
The Mix Stage
L.A. Studios (Margurita Mix)
Digital Dreams Sound
Wildwood
Media City Sound
.............

[dr.sound]

While I don't know what "TVPostSound" is talking about, I do agree what Gary Geegan is saying.
My post was to state a fact. Nothing more. The reasons for Widgets closing goes much deeper than I care to describe here.
The owners are good people and so are their former employees.
Sincerely,

[TVPostSound]

The reasons for Widgets closing goes much deeper than I care to describe here.

Same here.

It was sarcasm, as Widget Post threads on GS get deleted.

[minister]

Originally Posted by dr.sound

While I don't know what "TVPostSound" is talking about,

I think he was referring to the Union Scale pay thread.

[ggegan]

Originally Posted by minister

I think he was referring to the Union Scale pay thread.

Why would that get deleted?

[celticrogues]

Also add:

AnEFX
Smart Post Sound

-Mike

[emf1138]

Hacienda Post

[ggegan]

Originally Posted by emf1138

Hacienda Post

You know, this whole concept is really kind of bogus. You can't equate all these different types of companies. They operate on totally differnt premises.

I have a post production audio company called Gegan Design LLC, and you could add it to your list, but it would be meaningless. Yes, it is a "post production audio" company, but it consists of me and whoever I decide to collaborate with on the project. I bid on deals, subcontract a supervising sound editor, do some of the editorial myself and four-wall a facility where I mix the film. That is hardly equivalent to Warner Bros. or Todd AO. You can't just lump all these companies together because it gives a totally false impression about what's really going on.

[emf1138]

Originally Posted by ggegan

You know, this whole concept is really kind of bogus. You can't equate all these different types of companies. They operate on totally differnt premises.

Sorta true. I believe all or at least most of the companies listed on this thread are stand-alone private/public companies that have self-contained mixing/editorial/and or recording facilites, with full infrastructure and several employees. People with an HD system in their garage or an 002Rack LE system in a spare bedroom are obviously not the same. But yeah, you're right the original poster was looking for facilities doing "Film and Larger places".

[Big Andy]

I agree with Greg here. 70% of my work is based on the same structure as he is talking about. In fact most work isn't starting at a studio level at all, it starts at a coffee house or at a persons own dub stage with a client.

I was a full timer at paramount for a couple years on their dub stage and most work that I had mixing was brought in by a freelancer to get the final on my stage in some cases I didn't even get the gig because they had thier own guys. That's the reality of where the business is and where it's going. Studios are mostly just shells for productions to move into when they hit post.

Paramount is now just a stage, and a lot of edit bays. All active only when rented out. No employees, everyone got laid off well before the economy went bottoms up. Hopefully, that'll change once Techicolors "Post Production Village" opens. Word on the street is that they are only bring the A list talent to the new location once it opens though. Gates open OCT 2010.