COOL WITHOUT DRUGS
This one came together fast. I got the call about a day and a half before this shoot for a self-funded collection drop film for Addicts, a local Atlanta clothing brand, fast turnaround, one of those “can you make it work?” situations. I said yeah and immediately went into problem-solving mode. Borrowed gear, learned a new recorder overnight, and showed up early knowing there was no room for mistakes. On set, it was just me, a handful of mics, and a director who needed clean dialogue to carry the whole piece. I stayed mobile, stayed flexible, and stayed locked in with the camera so the audio was good right along with the picture. The final video ended up being the brand’s most-engaged long-form post and helped sell out the collection. For me, it was a reminder that good sound isn’t about ideal conditions, it’s about showing up calm, prepared, and creative when the conditions aren’t ideal at all.
Client
Addicts
Year
2025
Services
Production Sound Mixer, Film Mix, Creative Audio Direction
Category
Short Film
The Situation & The Goal
Local Atlanta clothing brand Addicts needed a short-form narrative piece that doubled as a collection launch commercial
Project was self-funded, low budget, and locked in last-minute
You were brought on as on-set production sound mixer with ~36 hours notice
Limited audio resources:
Only 3 lavalier mics available for 4–5 speaking performers
No personal professional field recorder available at the time
Goal:
Capture clean, usable dialogue for a fashion-forward narrative shoot
Deliver audio strong enough to support a social-first brand launch
Process & Key Actions
Rapidly assessed production needs under extreme time constraints and aligned audio strategy with director/cinematographer
Secured critical gear through personal network, renting a Sound Devices MixPre-10 within 24 hours
Learned and configured a new field recorder overnight, adapting workflow from prior Zoom F8n experience
Assembled a custom boom setup using:
Rode NTG-5 shotgun mic
Modified mic stand + adapter for 360° boom positioning
Managed mic scarcity creatively, prioritizing the three primary speakers while maintaining coverage continuity
Handled full mobile audio rig via Orca bag (non-stationary, no video village)
Pre-emptively checked and replaced batteries before crew arrival to avoid on-set failures
Mic’d talent during rehearsal to improve comfort and performance (formal attire: suits/blazers/dress shirts)
Captured ambient room tone using Zoom H4 XY setup for post flexibility
Maintained constant communication with director/DP to match mic placement to shot design
Completed same-day post audio work, mixing dialogue despite limited mic coverage
Results
Final video became:
Highest-engagement non–short-form video on Addicts’ Instagram page
3.8K likes, brand-record engagement for long-form content
Audio quality successfully supported:
Clear dialogue
Fashion-forward visual narrative
Video directly contributed to the collection selling out
Strengthened relationship with returning director (callback project)
Personal Takeaways & Skills Gained
Proven ability to operate under last-minute, high-pressure production conditions
Demonstrated resourcefulness and technical adaptability (new mixer, limited mics, mobile setup)
Gained hands-on experience:
Mic’ing talent in formal wardrobe
Running Sound Devices MixPre-10 in the field
Strengthened skills in:
On-set problem solving
Director collaboration
Social-media-driven commercial audio
Reinforced reputation as a reliable, solutions-first sound mixer in the Atlanta creative scene