Capturing Great Production Audio (Training)

Production Sound Training at Canon

I occasionally teach a production sound class or workshop, focusing on the essential skills needed for capturing high-quality audio on set.

Key Focus Areas

  • Importance of Location Sound and how to support your Sound Team
  • Understanding how your location affects sound quality
  • Techniques for capturing clear audio in various environments

Equipment Options

  • Overview of essential sound equipment: the choices…what to avoid
  • Hands-on experience with tools like portable sound mixers and wireless microphone systems

Communication with Sound Mixers

  • Strategies for effective collaboration with sound professionals
  • Importance of clear communication to ensure optimal sound capture

Why is this so important?

Poor audio can detract from the viewer’s experience, often more so than bad visuals. Because sound shapes so much of the viewing experience, audio quality must be a priority during production.

You’ll find that I like to promote these classes on social media so that filmmakers in the LA area, and those who can attend my Zoom classes, can gain valuable insights that help them minimize post-production work. By focusing on sound quality during filming, they can enhance the overall production value of their projects.

The courses I offer can be a couple of hours or days long — but all emphasize practical skills, allowing students to apply what they learn directly to their filmmaking endeavors.

I recently taught a 2-hour Capturing Great Production Audio class at Canon Burbank. It was targeted to anyone who is a director, DP, producer, or indie filmmaker. The class was educational, and then – because we were working with Canon cameras – we had an awesome hands-on segment where everyone learned about the gear, mic placement, and how to capture clean sound even in tough environments.

It was a packed room full of professional filmmakers who walked away understanding how good audio can empower them to make better and more intentional creative choices during production that will save them time and money in post.

I am excited to see how my production sound classes and workshops have become an invaluable resource for filmmakers looking to improve their audio skills!

If you’d like to have me come to your organization to teach your customers or members about how to be well-prepared for and tackle the challenges of capturing high-quality audio on set – then contact me here: CONTACT.

sound for filmmakers class

Director Ashley Maria Named Scriptation Brand Ambassador

Ashley Maria named Scriptation Brand Ambassador

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Director Ashley Maria has been named an official Scriptation Brand Ambassador, joining a select group of filmmakers, directors, and actors chosen to represent the industry-standard, Emmy®-winning script reading and annotation app Scriptation. This role recognizes Ashley’s commitment to innovative, sustainable, and organized digital filmmaking workflows.

As a recognized leader in narrative and documentary filmmaking, Ashley has championed the use of Scriptation to streamline the production process. The platform is widely utilized throughout the film and television industry for its proprietary note-transferring technology.

Using the Scriptation app

Scriptation eliminates the tedious, eco-unfriendly need to manually recopy handwritten notes or collate paper script pages when new drafts are released. By going paperless, ambassadors actively support environmental sustainability on set, a core initiative highlighted by the Scriptation Nation 2030 Coalition.

As a Scriptation Brand Ambassador, Ashley will help fellow creatives discover how to utilize the app’s powerful annotation, character breakdown, and file-management tools.

“Scriptation has completely transformed how I prepare for a project. It allows me to seamlessly transfer my notes across script revisions, as well as manage my shot lists and storyboards all in one place, saving me hours of work and keeping me completely organized on set,” said Ashley. “I am incredibly honored to join this talented community of creators and share my workflow with the wider production world.”

For more information about Scriptation or to test out the software yourself, explore the Scriptation website.

ABOUT ASHLEY MARIA:

Ashley Maria is a Los Angeles-based director, writer, and production sound mixer. She runs her own production company, Ashley Maria Productions. She is best known for her 2021 feature documentary Pioneers in Skirts, which explores barriers affecting women’s career ambitions. The film aired on PBS for two years, screened at SXSW EDU in 2023, and is now available on several leading streaming platforms. Ashley is also known for her short impact film Super Human Anxiety, a fan favorite at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con Independent Film Festival, with more to come in 2027.