Our recording approach and Theory :

 At Roll Sound Inc., I have found that a constantly dynamic approach, coupled with my basic theory of recording sound is in fact necessary from job to job, no matter what project we are working on. In other words, things are always different, but require the same strong and basic recording ideas and practices!  Use good dependable gear, Maintain it, get the mics close, record fat sound...dont over mix... don't over complicate.

  I believe that a good sound team does not take the easy or lazy path while deciding how our little audio puzzle is solved. A few Mixers or sound teams sometimes take that "just throw a boom in 6 feet over the talents head" approach to their job. We are not those guys.

  I am not a minimalist, Some mixers are...  I try not to be suprised, left digging in my shipping cases off set in my van,  holding up production in the process. Again, we are not those guys... Our gear is on the set and ready to go at any givin time.....

   I constantly strive to bring home the quality audio by using all of the tricks learned over the many years I have been doing this. The experience matters.  You simply do not get second chances when reacting to changes in script or miking the shot. You need to know what to do NOW and it needs to work, and work well. This process is further helped by the arsneal of equipement and gadgets I stock in my comprehensive package. Again, clean, dependable, organized and modern equipment is a must.

  Most important, I know what good sound, sounds like! Some people actually don't..... I am not a fan of the thin and weaselly mix....I also know when to hold up production for noise that can be controlled, and when NOT to make a fuss and simply get the quality audio when it can't.

  These day's I am more often than not required to mike a shot for multiple cameras. This can be a difficult situation due to the strange perspective of shooting the close ups while at the same time shooting the wides. I have become pretty comfortable in this scenerio, although we as sound guy's don't always care for it. A Lav is not always the best option....Wardrobe, or the talents action can sometimes be problematic, but we almost always work through it.

  Many times while recording even what seems to be a "regular boomable shot" If background noise or other problems exist, I will offer both a boom and a radio mic option on seperate tracks for the editor whenever possible.

  The use of the NEW Multi-track recorders now being used by myself and many other quality mixing teams can help the workflow process in many ways. File based recorders allow instant access to data, financial  savings in post,  a higher quality of audio and, an exact back-up saved on a hard drive for that unexpected emergency. Files that are kept on our hard drives can be accessed at a later date, and either transfered to another DVD RAM disc or a DVD-R disc. Or, the files can be sent using an FTP site over the internet to the post house directly.

 File based is here to stay. 

  I also think that any good sound team should be as invisible as possible to the production crew, always being ready to go,  and,  being backed up with both equipment and approaches to miking any particular shot. I try to think things through and flow with the punches.... I always seem to land on my feet.

  Just get us a place to park, (we're always an afterthought, like it's the first time they have thought of us)  give us a few minutes to set up, keep the generator at a workable distance, keep the set quiet, keep us informed, be practical and the show will have good sound.... It really is that easy.....

  Lastly,  I take my job very seriously....  (as you can see in the photos)

I have never been late one minute, nor have I ever missed ONE day of work in over 24 years!!!! 

  You can depend on us to do the job right, and get there to do it.

 Mike  Fredriksz