Preparation and Checklist

 Our checklists and resources are designed to be adaptable! Feel free to modify them to fit your specific needs.

Intro

→ Preparation: The Backbone of a Smooth Mobile Recording Session

At a mobile recording studio, every session comes with its own unique transportation and engineering hurdles. We will discuss the engineering aspect at a later series.

Transportation and Logistics:
The planning stage involves everything from permits and road closures to Wi-Fi availability.
Getting our high-tech trailer to and from each location safely and efficiently is challenging since this delicate instrument needs a lot of TLC when transporting!

In general, these are the steps we take upon arrival:
– Trailer Arrival: The trailer is parked, leveled, and stabilized. I like to keep rubber mats between stabilizing jacks and ground to guard against “low hum”.
– Power Up: If house “clean” power is available use it, otherwise power up the generator (ours is a 6500w Honda Whisper) which is an inverter and provides the clean power for electronics. And make sure it’s gassed up.
– System Startup: The trailer’s internal systems are powered up and operational. Power up the computer. Check all monitors for video signal. Check A/C.
– Wi-Fi Connection: Reliable internet access is established. We will discuss this further in the Wi-Fi checklist item below.
– Engineer’s Sign-off: Once everything is confirmed to be in top condition, the engineer gives the thumbs up and we wait for the talent.

Proper preparation is the key to smooth-sailing productions. In this series, we’ll delve into essential checklists and tips for on-location sound recording. Visualizing tasks, equipment maintenance, and logistics are just a few areas we’ll cover to ensure every project runs seamlessly:

Logistics checklist:

[ ] Wi-Fi

[ ] Engineer

[ ] Insurance

[ ] Weather

[ ] Noise

[ ] Scout

[ ] Zoom

[ ] Microphone  

[ ] Mechanical

[ ] Traffic

[ ] Amenities 

[ ] Sanitization

The Rewards of Overplanning: While it may seem excessive at times, taking the extra time to plan pays off in the long run. A successful session hinges on a well-prepared team, and that preparation starts from the very first phone call with the client. So yes, sometimes those late-night planning sessions are necessary – because when that red recording light goes on, you’ll be glad you were ready to shine!

Please join our Linkedin group “Mobile Recording Studio” to stay up to date
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14371127/

Technical and Engineering checklist:

Video

Receding connections

Preventive

Backup

Delivery

Zoom audio requirements