Film Sound
Photo credit: Christopher Commander
I am a sound recordist / editor / mixer based near Birmingham in the West Midlands. I trained
in Film and TV technical operations at Ravensbourne in the early 70's and started in studios when four track analogue was all there was. I have worked as a sound engineer in
broadcast radio for most of my long career, working for Radio Luxembourg (London), Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton, BRMB Radio in Birmingham, and the Capital Radio Group. My roles included producing commercials, recording and editing all
genres of music, documentaries, quiz programs and live event broadcasts.
In the mid 90's my career diverted into IT, rising to Head of Infrastructure for the Capital Radio Group. I was based in Birmingham but covering the whole UK. In 2005 I left to form my own IT business. My love for recording sound never left me though and, in 2016, after working on a couple of short films, I used the location
sound recording course at the NFTS to adapt my skills to recording sound for film, and so a new chapter began. Since then I have worked as sound recordist and sound designer on independent short and feature films, corporate, live broadcast and documentary.
If you need an experienced set of ears, an easy going but professional
attitude, with good technical skills and some great kit on your next project I'd love to
talk. Interested in recording drama, documentary, reality and corporate.
It was a pleasure to be involved as sound recordist on this mini documentary from Format Factory for CBBC, recording sequences shot in locations around Birmingham. Hopefully I'll have more documentary projects to list here soon!
The Top Gear Gaming Show contrasts video games with real life experiences. I was sound recordist for the location audio in this episode featuring drone racing filmed at Weston Park in Staffordshire.
I recorded the master interviews for a documentary looking at Jay Blade's struggle to read as an adult. Recorded at his workshop in Telford, Shropshire. Due to be broadcast early 2022.
A few of the corporate jobs I have worked as sound recordist on which at the time of posting are available to view online.
Click the image to view.
I recorded Jithin Kannanthara from the University of Birmingham explaining his entry into the BAe Systems iCase Awards.
Labour Party campaign film. I was sound recordist for interviews and a group discussion between students from Stoke-on-Trent and Labour leader Keir Starmer.
A dawn to dusk golf marathon raising money for prostate cancer. Location sound was recorded "on the run" at the Cotswolds Golf Club in Oxfordshire.
A touching story made by Azara Media for Winston's Wish, a charity that supports children bereaved by suicide. Filmed at a school near Coventry.
A promotional film for Nova Innovation based in Edinburgh aimed at potential investors. The sequences I recorded are intercut with archive material, you can hear the difference ( hint: my audio is better ).
Part of the "Why I Make" film series for the British Council. Made by DGS Media profiling glass blower Jahday Ford, recorded at The Red House Glass Cone in Stourbridge, West Midlands.
Neolith is an Italian company importing granite surfaces to the UK. this was filmed on their stand at the Kitchen Bathroom and Bedroom show at the Birmingham NEC in 2018.
One of a series made by the Rural Media Company in Hereford for Travellers Times Films to promote mental health awareness amongst the traveller community.
This is a music video directed by Dwane Perks for Meme Detroit with an opening dialogue sequence I recorded in a car park in Worcester.
Some of the narrative titles I've been involved with as sound recordist, boom op, sound designer, or all three. Most of these films have been nominated for or won awards including Best Film at the Birmingham Film Festival 2019 for "Hello Darlin".
Tap or hover the posters for more info.
Feature crime drama from Sutopia Films directed by Gary Delaney.
Roles: Location Sound Recordist and Sound Designer.
A horror short from Dark Matter Films directed by Carl Timms and starring James Cosmos and Alison Steadman.
roles: Location Sound Recordist and Sound Designer.
A spooky Halloween short from Harmsway Studios directed by Hendrik Harms.
role: Location Sound Recordist
A straight to DVD feature length horror from Champdog films directed by Louisa Warren.
role: Location sound Recordist
An urban drama from Dead in the City directed by Waheed Iqbal.
role: Location Sound Recordist (daily)
Another feature length horror DVD from Champdog Films
role: Location Sound Recordist
A tense adaptation of the Steven King story written and directed by Hendrik Harms.
role: Location Sound Recordist
A short Groundhog Day inspired film directed by Joe Gaffney set during the Battle of Worcester.
role: Location Sound Recordist, Re-recording Mixer.
A super natural short from Shunk Films directed by Paul Holbrook
role: Boom Op
A short period drama from Middle Realm Productions written and directed by Daniel Arbon. Set in the aftermath of WW1
roles: Sound Designer, Music Producer
Some nice things people have said about me and my work after very little persuasion.
"Ian is one of the most diligent colleagues I have ever had the pleasure to work with. As the head of our sound department and sound recordist on three of our projects, I would highly recommend Ian and his work ethic. He is friendly, hard-working and never complains when the shoot day inevitably overruns and is always there with a quick-witted joke to keep the morale high. Ian captures clean, crisp audio. I have never felt more confident in a team mate."
“Ian is always an asset to a shoot. Calm and unflappable, he goes quietly about his business with the minimum of fuss and maximum effectiveness.
The quality of his work is beyond reproach. Great attitude. Great sound!”
“Ian is a professional delight. The quality of his technical abilities – which include diverse tasks from clean-up, to mixing and mastering – is unquestionable. This is backed up by his excellent, fast communications – and speedy turnaround under tight client deadlines. I would not hesitate to recommend him for any of his audio services.”
"Ian Edwards is a really nice guy and great soundman , having worked with Ian on a number of productions I knew how he approached the task of sound recording in all types of location and that he really did get great results, so off went the script and I'm pleased to say Ian also joined what had now become a really good creative team."
"I've worked with Ian on a number of occasions. Each time I've known him to be an orderly, conscientious and professional sound operator who always brings intelligence and flexibility to his work. I'm looking forward to being able to bring him in on productions in the future."
"Working with Ian on my last feature film was a great experience. As a Director it was great to know that once we had talked through the shot I could just leave him to get the results we wanted. At times I didn’t even know he was there but I had confidence that he would appear if he didn’t like anything that was being recorded. It was great to have Ian as part of my team knowing I could just let him get on with the job giving me one less worry to think about.
Working with Ian in post production was also a good experience. He went above and beyond and lifted some scenes with his own creative sound ideas. When I make another film Ian will definitely be the first person I call. "
Some behind the scenes shots showing some of what I do.
Preparing for a take of the tavern scene. I'm checking settings ready to boom "Tavern goer 1" played by Vern Griffiths, who has dialogue as he walks into the scene and sits, while I have a plant mic on the seated "Story teller" played by Lynn Hunter. Photo credit: Andy Peters-Halligan
Simple car rig for the feature film Hello Darlin' with actors Doug Allen and Daisy Badger.
Ready for the set piece courtroom scene employing three lavs, boom and two plant mics with my trusty Zoom F8. This setup has been superceded by my Zaxcom rig. Photo Credit: Caroline Hajny
Rigging a corporate interview setup for a training video for BAe Systems in Glasgow.
Recording battle sound effects with The Sealed Knot. Photo credit: Andrea Edwards
Actor Ariya Larker cornered by my plant mic in this short horror from Henrick Harms.
Micing up actor James Cosmos for a night scene. Photo credit: Gary Moore
Setting up to record an interview sequence for this mini documentary for CBBC. Photo credit: Ash Connaughton
Recording the music for "White Feather" with Highley Colliery Band. Seen here with the band, musical director Roy Osborne and the film's director Daniel Arbon. Photo Credit: Middle Realm Productions.
A highlight has to be Hello Darlin' winning Best Film at the Birmingham Film Festival 2019. An ambitious project to work on but a great cast and crew nailed it.
I do like it when actors are seated! A scene from Hello Darlin' featuring Douglas Allen and Nimmi Harasgama.
Checking the framing of shot in a church in Sutton Coldfield with DOP Ash Connaughton.
I just had room to stand behind this table and behind me was a wall. Two actors in this scene and as there was little room to swing a boom they both wore wireless mics. The compact Nova mixer with built in receivers proved it's worth that day!
The Blues Brothers roll up for an internal corporate video for IMI produced by Best Bit productions.
Live sound mixing tv coverage of the round the world Clipper Yacht Race start from Liverpool Docks. Mixing audio from several cameras, vt playback and two commentator positions.
A corporate film hopping around Birmingham's public transport system PSC style.
I think this is what you'd call a field recording. A beautiful setting in the Wye Valley.
My Tentacle Sync E feeding timecode to an audio track on this Canon C200. I also have Timecode Systems Ultrasync Ones which I prefer for cameras with a timecode input.
Corporate interview about robot and human interaction at Cranfield University.
Filmed on locations in Birmingham, another nice seated actors scene where it's all about the dialogue.
In the studio at DRPG in Hartlebury near Kidderminster. Two camera shoot with timecode using Ultrasync Ones.
Recording a profile piece with British heavyweight boxer Delicious Orie (DJ) at his home in Wolverhampton prior to departure to Japan as part of the GB boxing team at the Olympics.
Recording a discussion between Keir Starmer and a group of politics students in Stoke-On-Trent for a Labour Party campaign film. Wirelessly feeding timecode to two cameras via Timecode Systems USO's.
"The right mic in the right place at the right time"
New for 2021 I have started to re-equip with kit from US manufacturer Zaxcom who have been a major manufacturer of audio equipment for the film industry for over twenty years.
Features I didn't want to lose through an upgrade were the small size, low weight and long battery life of my Zoom rig and the Zaxcom Nova meets those requirements. This mixer / recorder is a game changer and I have now completely bought into the Zaxcom ecosystem. The Nova houses up to eight digital radio mic receivers internally, has sixteen record tracks and six physical outputs. It includes IFB and timecode distribution and Zaxnet remote control of radio mic receivers. No more intrusion on talent to adjust the level on the mic transmitter. My Zaxcom bag is about the same weight as my Zoom bag was and slightly smaller as a lot of the dangly bits have been integrated.
Along with my Zaxcom kit I have a growing range of microphones, stands, boom poles and fixings for optimum location sound capture. I also carry Tentacle Sync E and Timecode Systems time code units for sync.
If that's all gobbledegook all you need to know is it sounds great, it allows me to be mobile with quite a sophisticated rig and work fast even in confined spaces on set, and carrying it all around won't break my back.
Seen here on set for Mudlark
This showreel from 2018 shows some examples of my work both as a sound recordist and sound designer. Please check back shortly as I'm working on an updated version of this with a lot more material.
Location sound recording for narrative, factual, documentary and corporate.
Post production re-recording, foley, dialogue edit, audio cleanup, mixing and sound design.
Please do get in touch to chat through your film sound requirements. I am based centrally in Shropshire and have easy access to the West Midlands and beyond.
Location sound recording in the West Midlands serving Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, location sound mixer in Oxfordshire. Film sound recordist in Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Sound Recordist in Birmingham, Worcester, Hereford, Gloucester, Stafford, Birmingham and the Black Country. and travel UK wide. Post production sound, sound design, mixing, restoration and clean-up operating remotely for anyone anywhere!