What does a Field Recordist do?
A lightning storm. Rush hour traffic. A burbling brook. Birdsong. These are a few items in the vast library of environmental sounds that field recordists capture for use in video games, films, television, and other media. While a small number are full-time employees at large video game or audio production companies, most are freelancers who work on a contractual basis recording and delivering sound effects for libraries and individual projects. A day's work might be as straightforward as recording the ambience in an office building lobby or as complex as making a multitrack recording of guns being fired—using 20 microphones to capture sound from all angles and perspectives.
Typical duties include rigorously researching the targeted sound (learning how it differs from similar sounds, such as a 1969 Mustang versus a mid-'70s model), finding a location to capture the sound, negotiating with gatekeepers for access (e.g. to a shooting range or NASCAR race), booking a team of assistants, selecting and renting gear, placing microphones, and mixing and mastering recordings. Of course, field recordists also have to contend with the numerous curveballs that crop up in this profession, such as changing weather, equipment failure, and damaged recordings.
At a Glance
Working as a field recordist is usually a freelance job, for which there are no real apprenticeships or internships. While the fastest path for aspiring field recordists is to learn the craft independently, put together a basic field recording kit, and practice until they're good enough to assemble a sound effects library, there are also many established fields and careers in which beginners can start to develop the basic skill set—and into which experienced field recordists may wish to transition.
Sound designers in the video game industry and effects editors in the film industry sometimes perform their own field recordings. And working as a boom operator, utility sound technician, or production sound mixer in TV or film can provide aspiring field recordists a crash course in different microphone capabilities, mic placement, and live audio mixing. Recording engineers and broadcast engineers for radio programs also tend to capture live, on-location audio as part of their work.
Field recordists, who are usually freelancers, might work on commission for individual users and projects, offer and sell their recordings outright to commercial distributors and web shops, or create their own libraries and online stores to sell sounds directly to users. Either way, networking with supervising sound editors, sound designers, effects editors, and owners of sound libraries is crucial. Some industry websites, such as Soundlister, post job listings.
- On-location recording
- Live audio mixing
- Audio mastering
- Sound design
- Acoustics
- Microphone selection and placement
- Research
- Great ears for detail and nuance
Capturing elusive sounds—like a lion's roar or the sound of a glacier melting—requires great patience and exquisite attention to detail. Equally important is flexibility and a sense of adventure, because the job often involves working odd hours in strange locations. Additionally, being a persuasive and effective communicator helps field recordists gain access to restricted areas, which can lead to rare and valuable recordings.
While field recordists likely do a certain amount of work in a home studio—mastering sound recordings, looking for commissions, and/or selling their wares—when on the hunt for a new sound they work wherever and whenever circumstances are most favorable for capturing it, even if it's in the middle of the night or in a far-flung locale.
Sometimes they're well-funded and have the benefit of working with a large crew and a truckload of gear, and sometimes they work alone with a small recording kit. A few field recordists might land rare staff jobs at big sound production outfits or video game studios, sacrificing freedom and flexibility for stability and security. For most, however, work is piecemeal and other jobs may be necessary to make a living.
