Reel Opportunities
Dubbing Mixer
Also known as: Re-recording Mixer
What does a Dubbing Mixer do?
A Dubbing Mixer (also known as a Re-recording Mixer) is a post-production audio engineer who creates the final version of a soundtrack for a feature film or television show by mixing recorded dialogue, sound effects, and music.
The final mix must achieve a desired sonic balance among its various elements, as well as match the vision of the Director or Sound Designer for the project.
Sound Editors, Sound Designers, Sound Engineers, Production Sound Mixers, and/or Music Editors assemble the tracks that become the raw materials for the Re-recording Mixer to work with during production or earlier parts of post-production. Professional musicians, singers, actors, and Foley Artists create the sounds that go into those tracks.
The “premix” is the first step in the traditional re-recording process. The Re-recording Mixer does preliminary processing in the dialogue premix, such as initial loudness adjustments, cross-fading, and reducing environmental noise or spill picked up by the on-set microphone. The Re-recording/Dubbing Mixers, guided by the Director or Producer, must make creative decisions about how loud each major sound element (dialogue, sound effects, laugh track, and music) should be relative to each other during the “final mix.”
What's a Dubbing Mixer good at?
-
Knowledge of film production Be aware of the whole process of making a film or TV drama
-
Hearing Be able to hear precisely and to concentrate on sound in a distracting environment
-
Understanding sound Know how it moves, how we hear, how sound can be manipulated and distorted
-
Creativity & Storytelling Be able to recreate everyday sounds to enhance the storytelling
-
Using software Record sound, have extensive knowledge of ProTools and other audio design software
-
Communication Understand the director’s vision and be able to articulate creative and technical ideas, have productive discussions and address constructive feedback, work closely with the dialogues and always keep the sound in mind
-
Organization Be able to work to tight deadlines in post-production
Who does a Dubbing Mixer work with?
The Dubbing Mixer will mainly work with the post-production sound team. This includes Sound Editors, and the Post-production Supervisor, who will keep the post-production schedule on time. They will also work with the Director and Producer of the film, so the audio gets final approval or notes.
How do I become a Dubbing Mixer?
A diploma in audio engineering is generally relevant for this job. To gear your engineering knowledge towards film, however, it is best to work as an Assistant Sound Editor and then move up to working with or as a member of each post-sound department.
More tips
For more tips on finding job opportunities, lists of training programmes, and other great resources, check out our Career Resources page.
You might also be interested in…
Sound Editor
Department: Audio Post Production
- Sound Editor
- Manages the team that looks after each part of the sound of a film or TV production.
ADR Recordist
Department: Audio Post Production
- ADR Recordist
- Specializes in re-recording dialogue or recording voiceovers in a studio setting.
Our Partner, ScreenSkills UK is the industry-led skills body for the UK screen industries. For further information, www.screenskills.com.
Profiles and profile icons © 2022 ScreenSkills Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the copyright owner.
Job Profile Design by Dave Gray. Based on an original concept by Ian Murphy/Allan Burrell.