Lesson 1Cables, connectors, and adapters: XLR wiring, impedance, phantom power, and ruggedizationCheck out cable, connector, and adapter options for solid location work. Learn XLR pinouts, balanced vs unbalanced wiring, impedance matching, phantom power supply, strain relief, and toughening strategies to stop hum, crackle, and breakdowns.
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 small directional mics and long shotguns for inside scenes. Look at room echoes, off-axis sound changes, reach, and handling, learning how ceiling height, wall distance, and echo time guide mic length and pattern for clear talk.
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 depthCheck field recorders and mixers by preamp quality, gain range, limiters, pads, and digital specs. Learn how sample rate, bit depth, media backups, power choices, 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 mic types and placement tricks. Compare omni and directional lavs, capsule build, mounting gear, hiding under clothes, and cable runs to cut 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 key accessories that keep mics steady, safe, and sorted. Compare shock mounts, wind shields, headphones, and cable tools, focusing on noise cut, toughness, comfort, and quick setup on tough 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 work on and off axis. Learn how polar response, rear lobes, and rejection angles affect isolation, room sound capture, and boom or plant mic positioning.
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 shield from wind while shaping tone. Learn trade-offs in size, wind cut, and high-frequency loss, plus placement, upkeep, and testing for various weather.
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 mics by length, capsule size, and sound profile. Learn how interference tube design, frequency response, off-axis colour, and self-noise affect reach, indoor echoes, and fit for film or doc 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 mics beat booms or lavs. Explore set placement, phase links, surface echoes, and time alignment to keep clarity and mono/stereo match.
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 analog, latency, encryption, channelization, antenna best practicesStudy wireless audio for location jobs. Compare analogue and digital links, delay, encryption, channel spacing, antenna types, and gain setup, plus coordination to cut dropouts, noise, and interference on busy 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 fiber vs aluminum, length choices, telescoping vs two-stageAssess boom pole materials, lengths, and mechanisms for different gigs. Compare carbon fibre and aluminium, locking collars, internal cabling, and handling to reduce tiredness, handling noise, and vibes during long talks.
Carbon fiber vs aluminum trade-offsTwo-stage vs multi-section designsLocking collars and maintenanceInternal vs external cable routingBoom operating posture and grip
