About Henri Rapp Recording
Henri Rapp Recording is a world class Production Sound & Location Recording Company. Specializing in Audio Supervision for Film, Television, & Commercial Video Productions. I bring refined production sound through extensive experience & top tier sound recording equipment.
Recording Sound, it isn’t just a “Job” for me, it’s my passion. With every new client I aim to bring a new level of quality & professionalism. I’ve worked extensively in most areas of Audio Engineering, and bring this comprehensive knowledge to every production I work on. This has taken me everywhere from going on location as a sound recordist for television to producing music in the recording studio, and sound designing & mixing video projects. Over the years I have even been lucky enough to record a few Grammy winning musicians! Whether working on a Narrative Film, Commercial, or with a Musician, it’s ultimately about capturing a performance and transporting the listener to another time & place.
Having more than 12 years of sound engineering experience, I ensure the job gets done right the first time; When you hire me you can expect quality through expertise. Coupled with my extensive knowledge base, I have the equipment to handle projects of any scale.
When I’m not on set working, I love to cook delicious food, play with my two cats (Jones & Oliver), travel, build furniture & hifi speakers, sip some espresso, and learn about SEO.
Production Sound Clients
Production Sound Mixer
As a Production Sound Mixer (Often called Location Sound, Sound Recordist, Production Sound, Location Sound Recording, or Sound Mixer) working in Film, Televisions & Commercials, I have a lot of responsibilities; From Recording Clean Dialog, Ambiences, & Action Sounds, to Wiring Talent, Ensuring Audio & Camera Sync, Creating a Mix, Logging MetaData, and much more. It takes a lot of experience & an extensive knowledge-base to draw on to provide exceptional location sound recording services for video productions.
Passionate about exceeding the expectations of my client’s, I love delivering exceptionally great sounding audio by employing creative solutions to elevate the level of sound recorded during production. Having more than a decade of experience to draw on, I know what it takes to deliver top tier sound quality. From Large Scale Multi Camera Productions to Fast Paced Run & Gun Crews, I have done it all. Having also worked extensively in Audio Post-Production & Audio Restoration, it better informs my job as a Sound Recordist, knowing not only what needs to be captured, but how to best accomplish it. All while keeping a keen ear out for things that could cause issues down the line in post.
Every video shoot has different sound requirements and challenges. Offering ‘a la carte’ field recording packages, anywhere from lightweight run and gun bag based production sound rental kit to a full scale cart based sound recording equipment package with a fully staffed sound department that includes a Sound Mixer, Boom Operator, & Utility. Each gear package is tailored to the needs of your specific shoot!
IATSE Union Sound Mixer
As a production sound recordist, I’m available to work any union motion pictures or commercial productions. I’m in good standing with IATSE (Motion Picture Studio Mechanics) Local 209 of Cleveland, Ohio. I can work as a local in Ohio, or as an out of town hire for productions in other jurisdictions, with permission from the local IATSE.
Experienced Sound Recordist
There is no substitute for experience, especially when working on location as a sound recordist. I’ve been working as a professional sound engineer for more than a decade now, and have experience in nearly every production style & workflow, as well as the recording studio, live sound & post-production. Having this strong knowledge base to draw on allows me to deliver no matter the video production style:
Documentary Sound
Most documentary shoots consist of sit down interviews, verite style shooting, and b-roll with accompanying natural sound. Since interviews are the backbone of the story in documentary style video content, capturing clean dialog is of the utmost importance. I love employing tricks to tackle the challenges of working in less than ideal shooting locations such as extreme background noise & reverb.
Commercial Productions
Commercial shoots vary a lot in content and scale, so it’s essential to be flexible enough meet the commercial’s sound requirements whether it’s lines to camera or complex one shots with a lot of moving parts. I’ve done many commercials with a wide range varying complexities in workflow; Often including high channel counts, timecode audio playback, timecode boxes & hops on cameras, IFBs (For Clients, Agency, Producers, & Directors), timecode slates, and much more. Let’s discuss your project’s specific needs today!
Narrative Film Sound
Doing Film Sound for narrative content is one of the most challenging types of productions to do sound for. Made possible by working with a full team of a Sound Mixer, Boom Operator, & Sound Utility, we capture the film’s sound on location during production with boom mics, wireless lavaliers on talent, & plant mics. In addition to recording discrete isolated tracks, the sound department is responsible for sync, providing a reference mix, IFBs, & coordinating with other departments to solve problems on set.
ENG / Live TV
ENG & Live TV production requires the experience to make sure things go right the first time, because there are no redos. News gigs often consist of one or more correspondents in the field talking back to a television studio via an IFB (often over a phone line) & a mix fed through the camera back to the tv studio. Many locations like sports stadiums require RF coordination to operate within them.
Musical Performance Recording
Musical artist performance videos have become a popular way for brands to build awareness. I have the experience to capture each instrument cleanly while minimizing bleed for other sources goes a long way towards quality. Music has a lot of harmonic rich sources that can obfuscate each other in the mix; Based on the context of the source, style, instrumentation tonal & aesthetic choices in the way it’s captured need to get made. These choices will have one of the biggest effects on the end results.
Recording Sound for Comedy Specials
Recording sound for comedy specials aren’t just about capturing the comedian, but the audience in the room as well. Having done a number of comedy specials, I’ve got the experience to deliver high quality production sound for this unique style of production. With comedy specials typically having high camera counts and long takes maintaining multi camera & audio sync is essential. There is a lot more that goes into it then simply recording the show; Here is my approach!
Reality Television
Reality shows are fast paced and all about capturing moments in real time. To make reality shooting style possible, the workflow typically involves high wireless count (such as talent mics, hops to cameras, & producer IFBs). With the long take “always filming’ approach of reality TV, timecode and genlock sync boxes are typically used to maintain long term sync.
Audio Playback with Timecode
Films, Music Videos, & Commercials often need audio playback to match performances to music. Scalable PA speaker systems and playback files striped with timecode fed wirelessly to a smart slate to flash camera as a sync marker. This makes sync in post incredibly simple even when shooting on cameras that reference mics can’t be used with (like the Arri Alexa Mini).
Unique Location Sound Solutions
My work shows my passion for high quality sound, I love deploying creative solutions & overcoming challenges to deliver quality location sound despite each shoot’s unique challenges. Drawing on more than a decade of audio production experience, I bring a depth of knowledge more extensive than run of the mill sound mixer. Drawing on my experience in recording studios, with post-production, classical music recording, live sound reproduction, & much more. I love unique projects and the challenges that come with them.
Ultimately I let my work speak for itself. Here’s a selection of projects with largely different workflows:
Keeping Quality Up With Fast Paced Shooting Environment
NFL – Thursday Night Films
When a shoot demands a fast paced workflow across multiple locations to meet deadlines, or capture an event with a limited timeline; I have the tools prepped & experience to get it done right when there are no second chances. Working in high noise environments with little to no control I was able to deliver great sound despite those major challenges. Traveling with a lightweight run and gun bag, boom & backpack full of the essentials from extra wireless lavs, batteries for the full day, mics for each scenario we might encounter, and a few redundant accessories, we kept a light footprint and moved quickly.
Recording Studio Quality Voice Over On Location
Nike – Come Out Of Nowhere
Recording on location can provide a number of unique challenges, and being forced into an overly reflective locker room to record the voice over for a national commercial spot with Lebron James would not have been my first choice. However with plenty of setup time we were able to acoustically treat the room and turn it into a fantastic sounding & incredibly quiet room. Read my article on recording studio quality voice overs on location.
Delivering Quality Production Sound In Remote Locations
“It’s A Bird Snuggle!” – Birds Of North America – Topic.com
One of the unique challenges for a location sound mixer is being able to deliver high quality sound in extremely remote locations, with limited access to things like power. On the other hand working in isolated locations in rural areas leaves you with quiet environments that allow for exceptional dialog.
Recording Sound in Sub-Zero Conditions
Sprint Wireless – Olmsted Ice
One of the challenges of this shoot being at an ice factory was hopping back and forth between warm & below freezing conditions. Cheap gear will often break down under these harsh conditions, so I work with top tier brands so I can count on my gear to keep functioning as intended when pushing the limits of workable temperature ranges.
160+ Musical Artist Performance Videos in 4 Shooting Days
Country Rebel Clothing – Tracy Lawrence – Time Marches On
Consistently delivering high quality sound when recording so many live performance videos in such a short span of time demands a lot of prep to be ready for anything that happens. Dealing with numerous grammy winners & big country names, while also working in The George Jones Museum in Nashville, this was one of my most challenging shoots that demanded a lot of attention to detail to get right.
Audio To Timecode Playback & Recording Production Sound
Ohio Lottery – Ohio Wins
A complex workflow involving music playback for a band to match performances to & recording of the commercial’s dialog in real time. The audio playback system (via PA System & IFBs) was additionally stripped with timecode wirelessly fed to the slate for music & camera sync. Both cameras had sync boxes on them. Opting for a handheld dynamic mic to help reject bleed allowing for cleaner dialog in the end product.
Recording Talent Sitting In Water With Waterproof Wireless
Champs Sports – Going Numb
Anytime water is involved, It presents significant challenges for both audio & camera alike. Fortunately for Going Numb, since the contestants are sitting in an ice bath, I was able to source two waterproof transmitters for them to wear. This made capturing clean production sound feasible in this challenging scenario.
Getting Natural Sound For B-Roll Without Being Obtrusive
Childhood League Center – Meet Isaiah & Jeffrey
Working for a school that specializes in children with developmental disabilities impacts the footprint we can have when shooting around their students. Relying heavily on plant mics & mic’d staff for the verite portion, I was able to capture audio that helped bring this branded documentary a more cinematic & immersive experience. Some of the interview locations presented challenges like excessive reverb & uncontrollable background sound, but close mic placement coupled with acoustic treatment, & a little noise reduction, everything turned out phenomenally.
Recording Studio Quality Music Performances on Location
Aaron Lewis – Lost & Lonely (Acoustic)
Recording studio quality audio for a musical performance video with Aaron Lewis created a number of unique challenges. Wanting the listener to have an immersive experience, I choose a combination of a stereo room mics (to put the listener in the space) & studio microphones for instrument spot mics (to give a defined clear sound).
Sound Recording Equipment for Film Production
Every video production has varied sound requirements, offering scalable field multitrack recording packages tailored to the needs of your production. Ranging from lightweight bag based sound equipment packages to a cart based sound recording system ready for complex workflows with a full team that includes a Sound Recordist, Boom Operator, & Sound Utility. Every equipment package is different based on the needs of each production.
From Large Multi-Camera Shoots to Small Lightweight Crews, I have done it all. Having worked with most cameras on available (Including Red Dragon, Red Gemini, Red Helium, Red Monstro, Arri Amira, Arri Alexa SXT, Arri Alexa Mini, Sony F55, Sony F5, Sony FS7, Sony Venice, Canon C300, Panasonic Varicam, & Panasonic EVA1, etc), and know how to set them up properly for any audio & timecode workflow requirements.
Now matter what production needs, I’ve got an sound equipment package to suit your project:
- Multitrack Field Recorders
- Wireless Lavaliers / Tallent Mics
- Boom Kit w/ Interior & Exterior Mics, Wind Protection, etc
- Timecode & Genlock Sync Boxes w/ RF Master Clock
- Timecode Smart Slates
- IFBs / Comteks for Client, Producers, & Directors
- Wireless Camera Hops
- Audio Playback System
- Stick Mics / Handheld Dynamic Microphones
- Studio Microphones
Production Sound Services On Location
While based in Cleveland, I offer productions sound services throughout the United States. Available for travel into any location, I regularly work through the midwest and beyond.
Recording Studio Services
Cleveland Recording Studio
As a seasoned Cleveland Recording Studio engineer, I have countless credits for recording, mixing, and mastering; ranging from Music Production to Audiobooks, Podcasts, & Commercial Voice Overs. Working out of Bad Racket Studios, I am proud to record call one of the Midwest’s best recording studios my home. The recording studio has an extensive collection of Microphones, Preamps, Compressors, & an Analog Recording Console, paired with acoustically accurate recording rooms & control room; there is nothing like the quality a pure recording chain offers.
Audio Post-Production & Sound Design
Amazing audio is seamless, this is where Audio Post Production comes in!
Audio Post for Film requires a number of independent processes starting with the Production Dialog Edit, Voiceover, & ADR. From there the score, sound design, & foley brings the rest of the soundscape to life! With some final balancing & enhancements in the mix stage your Narrative Film, Commercial, or Documentary will leave polished ready to bring an emursive auditory experience to the audience. Armed with an acoustically accurate mixing stage, extensive sound library and audio software collection, your videos will come to life!
Music Production
In every project I do, I bring a unique sonic aesthetic that is tailored specifically to your music. Every choice I make from how I mic instruments, to how hard the preamps get pushed, how I EQ & compress each source; it all comes together to bring a powerful representation of your performance in the recording studio. After Recording it gets mixed & mastered, and ready for your audience to enjoy!