Film Sound
Photo credit: Christopher Commander
A film and tv location sound recordist / mixer based in Shropshire near Birmingham and 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 but my love for recording sound never left 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.
I've been lucky enough to be involved in recording sound on some interesting documentary / reality shows for broadcast. My selection of Zaxcom kit ( see below ) allows me to travel light and be nimble and unobtrosive on location while providing very sophisticated capabilities and sounding great.
I recorded the master interview with Jay at his workshop in Telford, Shropshire. The documentary was brodcast on BBC One in 2022 and has been nominated for "Best Science Documentary" at the 2022 Grierson British Documentary Awards .
Presented by Richie Anderson I provided location sound for this One Show insert celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the construction of Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham.
I recorded interviews in Birmingham for this documentary following 14-year-old disabled dancer Neisha as she works with choreographer Kate Stanforth to devise an artistic dance video with an industrial robot.
I provided live sound from Solihull in Birmingham for interview inserts into a Good Morning Britain "Cost of Living" special, co-presented by Martin Lewis.
I recorded live sound for an episode of this online show as presenters Mike and Julia compare real life drone racing with a video game. Recorded at Weston Park, Staffordshire.
Location sound on a documentary for the Cyrille Regis Legacy Trust’s Strike a Change mentoring programme. The documentary features six students talking to their parents or a member of the community from a Commonwealth country.
A trip to the Royal Welsh showground to record a piece about the Smalholding and Countryside Festival for a future episode of "Escape to the Farm" with Kate Humble.
A few of the corporate jobs I have worked on as sound recordist and which at the time of posting are available to view online ( Youtube / Facebook / Vimeo ).
Click the images to view (external links).
Interviews recorded as Gregg Wallace visits a family in Oswestry, Shropshire who have been helped by the charity Family Fund, supported by McCain.
In this edit the two contibutors from Avonvale vets in Warwick, West Midlands, were recorded by me on a day spent with customers and staff.
Product explainer videos recorded in the reverb chamber that is Junction 1 1 Studio 1, Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Following the three day roofing apprentice training and competition recording interviews and actuality at BMI's training centre in the Cotswolds.
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.
I recorded the interviews with Jithin Kannanthara and Mathew Storey from Birmingham and Cranfield Universities explaining their entries into the BAe Systems iCase Awards.
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.
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 film based on the true story of WW2 Irish fighter ace Brendan Finucane.
Role: Sound Recordist
A middle-aged Muslim woman finds a box of old tapes filled with the memories of her husband's previous relationship.
role: Sound Recordist
Set in Victorian Wales, an orphan who scavenges on the riverbanks is taken in by a widowed salmon fisherman.
role: sound recordist
A supernatural short film.
roles: sound recordist
A feature length hostage drama shot in near realtime
role: Sound Recordist
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
Feature film based on the true story of WW2 Spitfire pilot Brendan Finucane.
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 film and tv sound work after very little persuasion.
"We were lucky enough to find Ian quite late in prep for our feature film "The Unlock". The film had incredibly difficult challenges for a sound recordist and lan always had a solution for every situation. The fact that the main character had no scripted lines, was tied to the ceiling of a room, had never met any of the other cast, had never rehearsed, couldn't have a mic attached to him and was free to do whatever he wanted, didn't phase Ian. The sound we got, with the set up that Ian put in place, was great and flowed nicely into our post workflow. I don't know many sound recordists who would've tackled this challenge so diligently and without ever complaining...Ian is a pro through and through, and a great guy to work with."
"I can highly recommend Ian and his vast array of skill and knowledge as well as top end kit. He has always been able to ascertain just what I have needed and the best way to capture the best sound. I have thrown him some quite difficult scenarios and he has always stepped up with a calm and professional approach to find the right solution alongside the DP and other crew."
"Ian Edwards was great to work with! He arrived to the shoot early and prepared, and was ready to jump straight into our full-on day. Ian worked swiftly and efficiently, carefully catering to the various different locations that had a variety of potential sound issues. Ian is very friendly, including with contributors, and fit effortlessly into the team. Post-shoot, Ian sent over our sound files very promptly. I would definitely work with Ian again!"
"Ian’s professionalism on set, coupled with his undeniable expertise made for a great experience. He was a joy to work with and his sound recording always felt top quality."
"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. "
"Ian!!! Thanks so much for the email. You were brilliant and totally deserved that credit. We loved you on set and I’d love to work with you again."
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.
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.
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. Capturing stereo atmos in 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.
"The right mic in the right place at the right time"
My rig is based around the Zaxcom Nova, a compact, lightweight and power efficient audio mixer / recorder from a leading US manufacturer. Highlights of this machine are it's sixteen record tracks, six analogue inputs, and, with the two receiver modules I have installed, up to eight channels of built in digital wireless. The Nova uniquely features the Zaxnet remote control system enabling rapid set up and adjustment of wireless transmitters from the mixer.
This makes for a very powerful and portable system. I am able to move quickly from location to location and have worked in the tiniest of spaces. This rig is perfect for documentary and reality work while being totally capable of handling corporate and narrative.
In addition to my Zaxcom kit I can feed timecode and audio to up to four cameras, and have a growing range of microphones ( Sennheiser, Neumann and Sanken ), booms, stands, sound blankets etc perfect for every occasion!
To sum up, 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 have Enhanced DBS and am a BBC external supplier.
I am based centrally in Shropshire and have easy access to Birmingham, 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!
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