In the production world, there’s an old saying that every producer eventually learns the hard way:

“Audiences will forgive a bad visual, but they will never forgive bad sound.”

As a producer, your Production Sound Mixer is your primary insurance policy against expensive post-production disasters. But not all “sound people” are built for the same tasks. Depending on your project, the stakes of your sound can range from “inconvenient to fix” to “project-ending.”

Here is how to find the right partner for your specific shoot.

1. The Reality Check: Scripted vs. Non-Scripted

The first step in hiring is understanding the stakes of your specific format.

• In Scripted Projects: You might have the luxury of a “Take Two.” However, getting the lines clean on every take is vital. Your goal is to capture the performance in its purest form. This gives your editor the freedom to choose the best emotional take without being limited by technical glitches. Relying on ADR (looping) later doesn’t just balloon your budget; it often strips away the magic of the actor’s original on-set performance.
• In Docs, Reality, Corporate, and Live Events: There is no safety net. You can’t ask a CEO to “loop” their dialogue in a studio, and you can’t recreate the raw, spontaneous emotion of a documentary subject. If the audio is garbled, the story is gone.

In these worlds, “fixing it in post” isn’t just expensive—it’s usually impossible. You need a mixer who gets it right the first time, every time.

2. Know the Role: It’s More Than Just a Boom Pole

A professional Sound Mixer is a Department Head. Depending on the scale of your production, the role evolves:

• The Production Sound Mixer: On narrative or corporate sets, they manage the recording and a small team (Boom Ops and Utilities).
• The Reality Sound Supervisor: For large-scale reality or competition shows, you need a Supervisor. This person doesn’t just mix; they hire and manage a larger crew of mixers and A2s (Audio Assistants), coordinate complex frequency plots for dozens of wireless mics, and oversee the entire audio workflow across multiple units.
• The Technical Core: Regardless of the scale, they are responsible for timecode sync across all cameras, managing wireless interference, and ensuring the dialogue is broadcast-ready.

3. Vetting the Gear: Beyond the Basics

You don’t need to be a gear-head, but for high-stakes projects, you must look for Redundancy. Ask your candidate: “Do your carry backups in case equipment goes down?”

Always having a backup plan is a good sign your candidate has been there and done that.  

4. Three Questions to Ask Every Candidate

To separate the amateurs from the pros, try these three targeted questions:

1. “How do you handle high-noise environments where we can’t stop down?” (Look for a proactive attitude toward mic placement and kit mobility.)
2. “What is your philosophy on ‘Wild Tracks’ and Room Tone?” (A pro thinks like an editor and captures ambient sound to help the post team bridge edits.)
3. “Do you provide ‘Hops’ and ‘Comteks’?” (A “Hop” sends audio to the camera for easy syncing; “Comteks” are the headsets that allow you to hear the take live. If you can’t hear it, you can’t quality-control it.)

5. Red Flags to Watch For

• The “Quiet” Mixer: If your mixer doesn’t speak up when a refrigerator hums or a generator is too close, they aren’t doing their job. A pro is a “quiet advocate” for the final film.
• Lack of Insurance: Professional kits cost upwards of $30,000. Ensure they carry their own gear insurance.
• Low-End Equipment: Avoid mixers who rely solely on entry-level consumer brands for professional work. You are paying for the reliability of professional-grade wireless coordination.

The Bottom Line:

Expertise Matters. Partner with Stickman Sound

When the stakes are this high, you need a partner who has seen it all. Stickman Sound is that partner. 2026 marks our 30th year working at the highest levels of production sound.

Whether it’s a high-pressure live broadcast, a sprawling reality series requiring a full supervisory team, or a “one-shot-only” documentary, we bring three decades of technical mastery and problem-solving to every frame. We don’t just record sound; we protect your story.