I enjoy stepping behind the podium to teach a production sound workshop. Designed for filmmakers, directors, and aspiring audio engineers, the course strips away the guesswork of capturing pristine on-set audio. The workshop aims to equip creators with the practical skills and technical confidence needed to get flawless, broadcast-ready sound directly from the source, saving hours of headache in post-production.
Bringing Me Onboard To Educate Your Customers
I recently taught a “Capturing Great Production Audio” masterclass at Canon Burbank. Tailored specifically for directors, DPs, producers, and independent filmmakers, this intensive two-hour session paired technical theory with rigorous hands-on practice.
I worked with Canon’s tech team to feature their newly launched cinema cameras and demonstrate how to connect sound equipment to their gear. Attendees learned how to master the nuances of advanced gear configurations, strategic microphone placement, and techniques for capturing pristine sound as a solo operator.
I also worked with Canon’s tech team to feature their newly launched cinema cameras and demonstrated how to connect sound equipment to their gear.
It was a packed house of dedicated industry professionals. Everyone walked away with a sharper understanding of how intentional, high-quality audio choices on set can elevate their creative vision while drastically reducing post-production time and expenses.
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.
Depending on the timing of the course, we either learn the basics or dive deep into real-world essentials, from mastering strategic mic placement and diagnosing frequency interference to managing the chaos of unpredictable, noisy shooting environments.
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 set ups
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.
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 association members about how to tackle the challenges of capturing high-quality audio on set – feel free to contact me here: Ashley Maria.
