Location Sound Recording for Film and Television | National Film and Television School

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Course summary

Become a professional in a field actively seeking out the next generation of talent.

The Diploma in Location Sound Recording for Film and Television is a comprehensive program designed to prepare you for a career in location sound recording. It has been designed to meet the industry's growing demand for highly trained sound crew for film and television productions.

Taught exclusively by Industry professionals, the course will give you high quality training in the theory and practice of recording sound for picture, both on location and in our state-of-the-art 4K multi-camera television studio, as well as Fisher boom training and experience of in-studio music recording and post-production techniques.

You will also get vital production experience, as you collaborate with fellow students in other specialisms to make several films.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be well-equipped for a variety of careers in the film and television industry, including Production Sound Mixer, 1st Assistant Sound, 2nd Assistant Sound and Sound Utility.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

Understand the fundamentals of sound, acoustics, and audio equipment.
Operate professional location sound recording equipment effectively.
Capture high-quality audio in various on-location settings.
Collaborate with film and television production teams.
Troubleshoot common sound recording issues.
Adhere to industry standards and best practices for location sound recording.
Demonstrate professionalism, communication, and teamwork skills in a production

Course Facilities

We offer access to industry-standard sound location recording equipment, using the latest technology. Sound Devices multi-track recorders, including the 888 and 688. Radio microphone systems from Audio Ltd and Sennheiser. Plus, you'll have access to an extensive suite of microphones for all applications and Sennheiser IEM systems for production sound distribution.

Modules

Introduction to Sound
Basics of acoustics
Sound propagation and reflection
Audio physics and terminology
Practical exercises and demonstrations

Audio Equipment and Technology
Overview of audio recording equipment
Microphones, and mixers
Wireless audio systems
Recording media and formats
Maintenance and troubleshooting

Location Sound Recording Techniques
Pre-production sound planning
On-set audio setup and monitoring
Boom operation and microphone placement
Field recording and soundscapes
Noise reduction and sound isolation
Working with directors, producers, and other crew members
Effective communication and teamwork
Understanding the script and project requirements
On-set etiquette and professionalism

Industry Standards and Best Practices
Safety protocols on set
Industry regulations and unions
Networking and career development
Practical application of skills on real-world projects
Internship opportunities with industry professionals
Portfolio development

Entry requirements

You will need a proven interest in sound - particularly recorded sound - a lively interest in film, television and music and a willingness to work as part of a team. We are looking for people who are practically minded and who have a good general education although there are no specific educational requirements for this course. Interpersonal skills are as important as practical ones, because as a sound recordist, you’ll need to be able to work effectively as part of a team. You’ll also need to be fit and have plenty of energy, as sound recording can be physically demanding.

While we don’t select applicants on the basis of their ability to drive, we strongly recommend that you learn to drive, as a clean, current, driving license will be essential in your future career.

While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification.

International students Visa and English language requirements

If you have any questions, please email info@nfts.co.uk

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Students with EU settled / pre-settled status are still eligible to apply.

A non-refundable deposit of £500 is required against the cost of your fees on confirmation of your place.

All production costs are included in the course fees, including the use of School facilities and equipment.

The NFTS is committed to ensuring it is open to students of genuine ability, no matter what their background or financial circumstances, which is why we award more scholarships and bursaries to British students, relative to the size of our student body, than almost any other educational institution in the UK. We will do all we can to help you make the finances work to come to the NFTS, so please visit our funding guide to find out more about what support is available to you.