How to... move big kit without moving it

Every audio post production facility worth its salt has spent years honing the perfect studios - installing the highest quality kit, bespoke sound proofing for every room and plush highly finished interiors for clients. 

We battle for the best talent in the business so that we can work on the best campaigns out there and it is what each studio is known for.

Of course, there are challenges along the way - new technologies, new budgets and new ways of working to which we must adapt. But the COVID-19 pandemic has now presented us with one of our biggest challenges to date. 

Audio post relies heavily on the best quality hardware - microphones, speakers, consoles, booths, servers, and more. So how do you take this work remote? How do you access big kit without moving it?

Jungle Studios' Alex Wilson-Thame [left] and Ben Leeves in thier home-studio setups.

Take what you can

What you may not know is that the majority of sound design can be completed if you have access to high-speed servers. By linking up to our system remotely we can run sessions with clients and talent from anywhere, the same as if we were in the studio. 

Of course, before we were advised to close our doors we had already begun a contingency plan - starting to move the best transportable equipment safely into our homes.

Many producers and filmmakers are used to working remotely with their preference of sound studio and other post production facilities wherever they are in the world, so the process is not new.

Microphones, consoles and computers have all been moved into engineers’ homes allowing them to continue sound design work as normal. 

Many producers and filmmakers are used to working remotely with their preference of sound studio and other post production facilities wherever they are in the world, so the process is not new.

But for those who are new to remote working with sound, it’s just about thinking differently. 

This is no different to the myriad of creative challenges that producers come up against daily. So the key is recognising that this work is still possible and ensuring you are working with your sound designer as early on in the process as possible, so that they can guide you on the best process and timeline.

Find experienced voice over artists with technical ability 

Voiceover work and ADR perhaps present the biggest challenge in audio post when working remotely. 

When recording a voiceover it is crucial that there is no background noise, that the audio engineer can work with the talent remotely, and that they can get a clear recording on a good microphone.

As many agencies and brands pivot their strategies to produce content remotely - using alternative production methods including animation, found footage or even repurposing content, the demand for good voiceover work is rising.

Obviously, most voiceover artists and actors don’t have a sound booth in their living room. Our preference would always be to have our talent working in a proper studio BUT that doesn’t mean it is not possible. Some voiceover artists have enough technical know-how and are talented enough that they can provide top quality recordings from anywhere.

As many agencies and brands pivot their strategies to produce content remotely - using alternative production methods including animation, found footage or even repurposing content, the demand for good voiceover work is rising.

The important thing to do now is look at the talent who can deliver. Many experienced voiceover artists do their work on the move, from hotel rooms or with their own setups. The best will even own a portable ISDN and a good quality microphone. They will also know how to minimise background noise when recording. These are the type of artists you want to be working with right now.

Once you have secured that talent, work via video link to ensure they are recording themselves correctly with the equipment that is available to them. 

We’re currently developing a remote system that will even allow us to control their home set up in real time.