Lesson 1Cables, connectors, and adapters: XLR wiring, impedance, phantom power, and ruggedisationExamine cable, connector, and adapter choices for reliable location work. Learn XLR pinouts, balanced vs unbalanced wiring, impedance matching, phantom power delivery, strain relief, and ruggedisation strategies that prevent hum, crackle, and failure.
Balanced XLR wiring and pin standardsImpedance, capacitance, and cable lengthPhantom power specs and safety checksRight-angle, locking, and barrel adaptersRugged jackets, boots, and strain reliefLesson 2Compact directional mics vs long shotgun trade-offs for indoor dialogueCompare compact directional mics and long shotguns for interiors. Examine room reflections, off-axis coloration, reach, and handling, learning how ceiling height, wall distance, and reverb time guide mic length and pattern choices for dialogue.
Room acoustics and reflection controlShort shotguns and supercardioidsLong interference tubes indoorsCeiling height and boom anglesChoosing mics for tight locationsLesson 3Field recorders and mixers: preamp quality, gain range, limiter/Pad, sample rates and bit depthEvaluate field recorders and mixers by preamp quality, gain range, limiters, pads, and digital specs. Learn how sample rate, bit depth, media redundancy, power options, and monitoring tools affect headroom, noise, and reliability on location.
Preamp noise, headroom, and gain stepsLimiters, pads, and safety track useSample rates, bit depth, and formatsPowering, batteries, and runtimeMetadata, routing, and backup mediaLesson 4Lavalier microphones: omnidirectional vs directional lavs, mic capsules and placement tipsDive into lavalier microphone types and placement strategies. Contrast omni and directional lavs, capsule construction, mounting hardware, concealment under clothing, and cable routing to minimise rustle, sweat damage, and RF or handling noise.
Omnidirectional lav strengths and limitsDirectional lavs and aiming challengesCapsule size, grills, and moisture guardsMounts, tape, and clothing concealmentCable routing to reduce rustle noiseLesson 5Accessories: shock mounts, headphones, wind jacks, cable management, and soft carry casesReview essential accessories that keep mics stable, protected, and organised. Compare shock mounts, wind protection, headphones, and cable tools, focusing on noise reduction, durability, comfort, and fast deployment on demanding shoots.
Shock mount isolation types and ratingsClosed-back vs open-back headphonesWindjammers, covers, and storage careCable ties, reels, and strain reliefSoft cases, padding, and layout planningLesson 6Polar patterns: cardioid, supercardioid, hypercardioid characteristics and off-axis rejectionExplore how cardioid, supercardioid, and hypercardioid patterns behave on and off axis. Learn how polar response, rear lobes, and rejection angles affect isolation, room tone capture, and boom or plant mic positioning choices.
Cardioid pickup and proximity behaviorSupercardioid pattern and rear lobe controlHypercardioid reach and side rejection limitsOff-axis coloration and tonal changesChoosing patterns for typical locationsLesson 7Wind protection and high-frequency impact of foam, zeppelin, blimp, and deadcatUnderstand how foam, zeppelins, blimps, and deadcats protect against wind while shaping tone. Learn trade-offs between bulk, attenuation, and high-frequency loss, plus placement, maintenance, and testing methods for different weather conditions.
Foam covers and mild breeze controlZeppelin shells and suspension choicesBlimp plus deadcat for strong windsHF loss, EQ compensation, and testsRain, dust, and cleaning proceduresLesson 8Shotgun boom microphones: models, capsule sizes, frequency responseCompare shotgun boom microphones by length, capsule size, and voicing. Learn how interference tube design, frequency response, off-axis coloration, and self-noise influence reach, indoor reflections, and suitability for film or documentary work.
Short vs long interference tube designCapsule size, sensitivity, and noiseFrequency response curves and voicingHandling noise and suspension needsMatching models to shooting scenariosLesson 9Plant/spot mics and boundary microphones: when to use, placement, and phasing issuesLearn when plant, spot, and boundary microphones outperform booms or lavs. Explore placement on sets, phase relationships, reflections from surfaces, and time alignment techniques that maintain clarity and mono and stereo compatibility.
When to choose plant or spot micsBoundary mic physics and use casesPlacement on walls, floors, and tablesPhase, comb filtering, and timingBlending plants with boom and lavsLesson 10Wireless systems: digital vs analogue, latency, encryption, channelisation, antenna best practicesStudy wireless audio systems for location work. Compare analogue and digital links, latency, encryption, channel spacing, antenna types, and gain staging, plus coordination strategies that reduce dropouts, noise, and interference on crowded RF sets.
Analog vs digital link characteristicsLatency budgets for dialogue syncEncryption options and key handlingChannel planning and intermod spacingAntenna placement and diversity useLesson 11Boom poles: carbon fibre vs aluminium, length choices, telescoping vs two-stageAssess boom pole materials, lengths, and mechanisms for different jobs. Compare carbon fibre and aluminium, locking collars, internal cabling, and handling techniques that reduce fatigue, handling noise, and vibration during long dialogue takes.
Carbon fiber vs aluminum trade-offsTwo-stage vs multi-section designsLocking collars and maintenanceInternal vs external cable routingBoom operating posture and grip
