Paddy123

Thanks for the reply and advice! Yeah doing volunteering isn't in my plans for the long run, but I really need to experience afew sets before I can start planning any further. I'm boom opping on a low buget film set in 2 weeks which will be a huge leap as I'm sure I'll learn a tonne of things. Kit wise - I'm thinking of a 416 (Or even 415 looks like an interesting alternative -we used them in OB's occasionally), and G3 RF kit as I'm very comfortable using evo series. My biggest concern is the mixer, as I see all sorts of different views on starter mixers, especially when it comes to the F8 vs 633 topic. 633 looks alot more futureproof but an F8 would open my budget up to invest in other bits of equipment. I'm more willing to invest heavier into Mics/Boom poles as I feel whatever mixer I buy with my budget, I'll most likely be wanting a new one down the line. If the industry is anything like OB's, I know that mic technology/preference hasn't changed in a very long time. OB choice of FX mics has been the 416 for many many years, and can't see it changing anytime soon. One option I've been exploring is a 442 running into an f4 or something similar. This all depends on what I can find in the second hand market though.

Hi all, I'm new to this forum so apologies if this is in the wrong section.. I've recently left my staff job where I was a sound assistant for 3 and a half years in the outside broadcasting industry. Pretty bad timing with the pandemic, but it is what it is. My primary trade going into the freelance market will be working on OB's, but I've always been really interested in getting my foot in the door with the sound recordist role, and being self employed seems like the best way to get about this as I can take up on opportunities without being tied to my previous, very sporadic rota. Just hoping to find out how others got their foot in the door in this industry, and tips/advice regarding kit (How high end for a newbie, hiring vs buying ect). I'm not really expecting to be a fully fledged sound recordist any time soon, I'm seeing this as a fairly slow goal of mine whilst making a living in the OB world. So far I've been using sites such as Mandy to find smaller productions and see whether I can come along free of charge and absorb it all. I feel I've got a lot of transferrable technical skills, but general etiquette on set seems very different to what I'm trained in. Any of your stories would be greatly appreciated ! Cheers Paddy