Sound Supervisor

Sound technicians are required to assemble, operate and maintain the technical equipment used to record, amplify, enhance, mix or reproduce sound. They identify the sound requirements for a given task or situation and perform the appropriate actions to produce this sound. Sound technicians of different types are required in a range of industries including film, broadcasting (radio or television), live performance (theatre, music, dance), advertising and audio recordings. Sound Supervisors also monitor the safety and effectiveness of all sound equipment throughout each shoot, troubleshooting where necessary. Sound supervisors are sepreated into two different areas, production and post production. 

Specific activities for a sound supervisor in production usually include:

Assessing the acoustics of the performance area and assembling and operating the necessary equipment;

Consulting with producers and performers to determine the sound requirements;

Selecting, positioning, adjusting and operating the equipment used for amplification and recording;

Applying technical knowledge of sound recording equipment to achieve the determined artistic objectives;

Recording sound onto digital audio tape or hard disk recorders;

Monitoring audio signals to detect sound-quality deviations or malfunctions;

Anticipating and correcting any problems;

Maintaining and repairing sound equipment.

Specific activities for a sound supervisor in post production include:

Integrating (synchronisation) of pre-recorded audio (dialogue, sound effects and music) with visual content;

Re-recording and synchronising audio (post-synching);

Mixing and balancing speech, effects and music;

Creating and altering sound effects for use in films, television, etc.

Sound supervisor work is open to all graduates, a successful candidate will need to show a good understanding of the physics of sound, technical aptitude (including an awareness of current sound technology and equipment), good aural skills, excellent communication skills and acute attention to detail. A good general education will be useful. GCSEs or A-levels in maths and physics and qualifications in electronics will be particularly beneficial. Also a degree would be beneficial in:

• Music/sound technology;
• Sound engineering;
• Media technology and/or production;
• Technical theatre.

A typical starting salary would be: £16,000 - £18,000 in an established studio or in television and radio. A typical salary with experience, e.g. after ten years in the role would be approximately: £30,000 - £35,000. These wages are often supplemented with unpredictability or unsocial hour allowances. A freelance sound technicians can earn £230 - £500 per (ten hour) day. Sound technicians frequently have to work long days and unsocial hours (the average working day is ten hours) including evenings, nights and weekends. They often need to adopt flexible working patterns in order to work on breaking stories, to tight deadlines or to ensure that the creative process is not interrupted.

Radio Producer

A radio producer is in charge of all content on a radio show. They have to manage all the staff  involved in the broadcast such as the dj's/presenters, engineers, IT staff etc. They also may have to manage the business and finance side and may have to book guests for a show. They have a huge impact on what is heard by the listeners however, majority of the time they don't speak and aren't heard on the radio. The main activities a radio producer would have to take up are:

• generating and researching ideas for programmes and pitching for commissions;
• developing content, writing material for scripts, bulletins and links;
• sourcing potential contributors and interviewees;
• selecting music appropriate to the programme, the audience and the station;
• producing pre-production briefings for presenters, reporters, technical staff and other contributors;
• managing the logistics of getting people, resources and equipment together to the right place at the right time;
• undertaking editing, interviewing and reporting duties as necessary;
• presenting programmes or managing presenters for both pre-recorded and recorded output;
• checking that copyrights are cleared and understanding media law;
• converting text, graphics, video and audio files into other formats;
• contributing to and making use of an archive of audio resources which can be re-used;
• responding to audience feedback, referring on to other departments as necessary;
• producing and making use of user-generated content;
• using technology, such as Radioman, Cool Edit Pro, Protools and Adobe Audition, for editing and production purposes;
• ensuring that health and safety standards and trade union requirements are met.

This area of work is open to all graduates and diplomates, a degree in broadcast journalism or media studies may increase your chances. Around 70% of all radio workers have a degree or postgraduate qualification. However, work experience and relative skills are considered more highly than any qualifications you may have. Skills that are considered quite important include:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• An ability to work as a part of a team and also independently;
• Good organisational skills and an ability to cope under pressure;
• An awareness of current affairs and good general knowledge;
• A real interest in and curiosity about all sorts of people;
• A lively mind, able to make connections between different ideas and subjects;
• The ability to get to grips with new subject matter quickly;
• A willingness to embrace new technology and learn technivcal skills;
• self-confidence, persistence and determination to overcome rejection and break into this competitive industry;
• A passion for radio.

• be clear about why you want to work in broadcast rather than print or television;
• take an interest in the changing face of the radio industry, key developments and their impact on radio output;
• become a connoisseur of radio programmes in your area of interest;
• email producers with comments on their programmes;
• take and make opportunities to meet people working in radio - most love talking about programmes they have made.

Salaries in this field are quite variable. A graduate with some relevent experience might earn up to £16,000, however non- graduate entry posistions could earn approximately £12,500. Typical salaries at senior level or with experience (10+ years) would be around £30,000 - £45,000.

Camera Operator

Camera operators ensure that cameras and associated equipment are ready for the required set-up. Camera operators must be able to multi-task, and to watch, listen and think on their feet while carrying out complex technical tasks. They also might have to supervise assistants to move the camera, and carry out simple camera fault-finding. Camera operators may work closely with performers, giving them constructive advice in order to achieve the required picture composition. A camera operator usually works under a director so they need to be able to listen to instructions and perform under pressure at times. The job is based in three areas, in a studio, outside and on location. If working in a studio, you would usually have to follow a camera script in which an order of shots are given. You would have to practice and rehearse these shots so when the director asks you to record them for the final edit you know how to do the shots properly and to ensure there are no mistakes. If you are working outside you usually work with a team of assistant to make sure everything runs smoothly. Working outside is usually the most difficult work as more setting up needs to be done to be protected for all weather conditions. Working outside would often mean you are filming live which means that the shot has to perfect each time. Working on a location (house or building etc.) is where you can usually get the most creative shots as there is no effects to create the location, it is all natural and no studio equipment around.

To become a camera operator you need to have been to university and is available to all graduates/diplomats however you need to have had some experience in:

• media studies;
• performing arts;
• photography/film/television;
• journalism;
• media production.

They also look for experience in lighting, optics and cinematography, however it isn't extremely important if you haven't. Technical abilities and experience is considered far more important than any qualifications you may have. For example film companies look for:

• sound theoretical, practical and technical knowledge of cameras;
• the ability to frame and compose shots;
• the ability to perform camera moves accurately;
• interpersonal and communication skills;
• the ability to multi-task and take direction from others;
• teamworking skills and the ability to lead and motivate others;
• tact and diplomacy;
• the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines;
• flexibility;
• creativity;
• patience;
• attention to detail.

Camera operators usually work very long days, usually 10-14 hour shifts. the standard going rate for camera operators on TV factual/documentary programmes is £285; for commercials £411; and for TV news £227. The main work areas are usually based in the big cities where the studio's are such as, London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow and Cardiff. However job availabilty is a bit pot luck, especially in your early career but eventuallly after a bit of expierence you should find it easier to get a job. 

Technical Jobs

A technical job in the media industry requires a good imagination and creativity. If you were working on a camera you'd need to work out what the best camera angle or what type of shot is needed. If you were working on lighting you'd need the best light for the mood of the film or scene being shot. If you were to work on sound you'd need to create the best sound effects for the scene. For example if there was an explosion in the scene you'd need to create a distinctive sound effect to make it a recognisable noise. You also need to make sure the sound effect is in sync with the action.

Marketing Jobs

Someone who works in marketing is needed to sell their product to bigger companies. In the media industry the sales executive is needed to get companies to advertise or sponsot their film. For this job you need good people skills to connect with the customers and create a good relationship to keep theior service. They have to be enthusiastic with what they are selling so they really make their product sound amazing and make people invest in you.

Managerial Jobs

A manager or director in media has the final say in all production produced. They have a say on the final edit, the lighting, the camera angles etc. They are basically in charge of everything in a production. They also, most importantly, come up with a creative storyline and a good idea for a film and they need to know exactly how they want their shots done. They also have to talk to a lot of the productuion team like the finance manager, actors, camera man etc. so that they can get the best out everyone and make sure all the film is within budget. A manager (producer) of a radio show is needed to make sure everything on the show goes smoothly e.g. the links go well, all the equipment is working properly. They also need to understand the radio's target audience to make sure the show appeals to them.

Legal Jobs

A legal job (lawyer) in the media industry deals with everything across media. There are three main areas of media law. The first area is print media and they decide what can and can't be printed in all the newspapers and magazines. There has been a lot in the news about this recently based on privacy of some of the Royal Family. The second area is telecommunications. This consists of judging what is acceptable and what isn't on TV and radio. The third area is digital communications and that decides what circulates on the internet and what can't be shown on the internet. The main subjects they will have to work on is privacy, how to make things legal and protecting copyright