What Does a Sound Engineer Do?
Here at Aura Casting, we know all about how it takes a village to create a successful video shoot.
With so many different moving parts and jobs, you may find yourself unsure about what everyone on set does. Well, have no fear, in our new series “What Does a … Do?” we are breaking down all the roles that add up to a commercial.
Today we’re breaking down what a sound engineer does on a video shoot. Sound engineers are the people who are responsible for capturing and managing the audio on set.
The duties underneath those responsibilities typically include the following:
Sound Recording.
Sound engineers are responsible for capturing the on-set dialogue and environmental sounds.
Microphone Placement.
Similar to how a gaffer is responsible for the setup and positioning of the lights, a sound engineer is responsible for the proper and correct set up and positioning of the microphones on set.
Monitoring Audio Levels.
Once the director has called action and a scene is underway, a sound engineer’s job is to watch and monitor audio levels and make notes of when takes have good or poor audio. In between takes, a sound engineer will also adjust audio levels based on feedback and notes from the previous take.
Teamwork.
Working with the team on the video shoot and working together to quickly and seamlessly address and correct any issues that may arise on a live set is also a key responsibility of a sound engineer.
Post-Production.
After a shoot has wrapped, a sound engineer will assist the post-production team by compiling and noting specific takes and organizing the audio to the correct scenes.
A sound engineer is a crucial part of a film set are to thank for capturing and enhancing the audio elements of a production.
Written by Lauren Ulveling
