Back to School with Rich Topham Jr.

[Richard Topham Jr]

Rich Topham's latest Workshop will be held in two sessions. The first session on September 14th, 2011 is Introduction to Production Sound for Film and HDSLR. The second workshop is for more advanced Sound Engineers to bring you to that "Next Level" on September 15th, 2011. REMEMBER BOTH NIGHTS ARE FREE! Both nights Rich will be speaking about real world production techniques for film and video production but at different levels of knowledge. If you have a question about which class to take, please call and speak with one of our technicians and they can point you in the right direction. Also on both nights Rich will be giving away FREE gifts to all participants and also will be holding raffles for Pro-Sound Gift Certificates.

Rich Topham's workshops were written up in the latest issue of Markee 2.0 Magazine.

CLICK HERE to see an exert from the article.

This continuing education workshop is for filmmakers and video makers of all levels who are interested in learning real-world applications and techniques related to production sound recording for film and video. The program is designed for Directors, Producers, and Sound Department Crew and Instructors who want to improve their skills, keep updated on tools of trade and take their productions to the next level.

What You Will Learn:

• Psychology of Production Sound Recording.
  
• What the Sound Mixer really hears.
  
• What the Camera Operator, Director and the rest of the world hears.
  
• Cocktail Party Effects.
  
• Digital Recorders.
  
• Sound for DSLR.
  
• Microphone Basics.
  
• Selection and Application of Microphones.
  
• Boom Operator Techniques.
  
• Practical Usage of Lavaliers and Wireless Mics. Including How-To Rig Lavaliers.
  
• Advanced Use of Plant Mics.
  
• Portable Mixers, including both ENG Mixers and Mixing Boards.
  
• Set Etiquette.
  

Rich Topham says "Education is fundamentally the most important part of the audio business" Professional Sound Services workshops cover the tools, techniques, and procedures used in the professional sound business. Students gain an appreciation of the aesthetic aspects of sound recording, learn tricks for creating an audio design and explore how to manipulate room tone, dialogue, and effects tracks for a realistic sound presence. Pre-production planning, boom and wireless microphone operation, microphone planting, tape-deck signal setup, and other techniques are also addressed. In addition, students are introduced to the latest recording equipment, inter-format recording for music videos and commercial production, time code and other management tools for post production. Each month PSS holds at least two workshops, either on-site in the NYC store or on-location at various colleges, universities or private businesses. Rich added " It's great to be with fellow audio technicians and share with them my personal stories and anecdotes."

[Nicole Hankerson]

Man I wish I could be there. Wish they did stuff like this in Atlanta.

Nicole

[John Blankenship]

I'm guessing that the "tape-deck signal setup" is for mixers who find themselves in a time-travel situation. <G>

As one who has recorded and sliced and diced countless miles of magnetic stock, it's actually nice to see the words "tape deck" again. It brings back quite a few fond memories. The tactile sense of handling the actual recording medium somehow connected one more organically to the source (Not that I don't love what digital has to offer, too.).

If I were in their neck of the woods, I'd probably avail myself of the advanced. One should never stop learning, and seeing my job through someone else's experienced eyes would be great for perspective -- an in-person analogy to what we do here on JWS. Good going, Rich and Pro-Sound!

[Marc Wielage]

I think we should make more neophyte directors take the "Set Etiquette" class.

--Marc W.

[Jeff Wexler]

I think this is a terrific thing that Rich and Professional Sound Services is doing! "Back To School" --- good name for it. I have always felt that no matter how long we have been doing our jobs, our chosen career, we should keep one foot in "school" --- education and learning are not finite projects that have a completion date. I am at my happiest whenever I have learned something new and I thoroughly enjoy the process of learning.

Thank you Rich for doing these things.

[Rich Van Dyke]

I second Jeff's recommendation, and agree that I'm jealous of our East Coast friends, as I would love to attend Rich's classes. I've known Rich for over thirty years, and I'm sure these classes will provide invaluable lessons, from someone who has always been at the cutting edge of what's available to the location sound person. They might even be entertaining!

Good luck with the classes Rich,

Rich Van Dyke

[ProSound]

Though I haven't know Rich as long as others I did meet him at NAB this past year and he was a wealth of knowledge. I buy often from Pro-Sound and know he and his staff are only a phone call away. If your in New York it is definitely worth going to.

[Richard Topham Jr]

Thank you everyone! I am humbled and appreciative of all your comments! Looking forward to seeing everyone who can make it this time and I am planning a west coast workshop soon!

[Richard Topham Jr]

GREAT NEWS! Pro-Sound will be recording both workshops on September 14th and 15th! We will be posting the videos on the Pro-Sound.com website! I will update the group as soon as they are available.