Chicago Production Sound Mixer & Recordist

As highly experienced production sound mixer (often referred to as a sound recordist, or location sound), Battle seasoned and armed with an arsenal of gear to bring your production level up. Chicago is the largest production hub of the midwest; As a result, I have worked for quite a number of Chicago video production houses & creative agencies. Though my local city is Cleveland, I can work in Chicago for shoots with travel & accommodations provided.

Must be considered non-local hire for all video productions in Chicago Illinois

Location Sound Mixer

As a location sound mixer on a Television, Documentary Film, or Commercial Shoot, I have a lot of jobs; From Cleanly Recording Dialog, Micing Talent with Lavaliers, Recording Location Ambiences, & Production Foley Sounds, to Logging Sound Report Information, Keeping Camera & Sound In Sync, Mixing Audio to Camera, and much more. Having spent the last 10+ years of my life recording sound, I have the experience to ensure it gets accomplished correctly.

I’m love exceeding my clients’ expectations by providing top tier on set production sound services… Recording audio isn’t something simply I fell into, it’s something I’m passionate about. Starting with a home studio recording setup in 2006, I soon found myself working out of a commercial recording studio called Bad Racket. In 2015 I got hired as a boom op, and worked the union feature film, Dog Eat Dog. That was my first production job and I never looked back. Since then I have become one of the most in demand mixers in the midwest. Drawing on my varied experiences in sound & deep knowledge of recording techniques, I deliver every time for my clients, bringing up the quality of on set sound in every production.

I have experience with nearly every style of shooting, and would love to talk about your video production:

  • Commercial
  • Narrative
  • Documentary
  • Reality
  • ENG / Electronic News Gathering
  • Corporate
  • Live Television
  • Musical Performance Recording
  • Event Coverage
  • Comedy Specials
Chicago Production Sound Mixer & Location Recordist
Sound Mixer on Location for Video Production in Chicago
Interview Sound Recording for GQ Digital

Why Henri Rapp Recording for Production Sound?

My work shows my passion for high quality sound, I love deploying creative solutions & overcoming challenges to deliver quality audio 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:

Nike – Come Out Of Nowhere

Recording Studio Quality Voice Over on Location

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.

NFL – Thursday Night Films

Keeping Quality Up With Fast Paced Mobile Shooting Environment

When a shoot demands a fast paced workflow 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 quick.

Champs Sports – Going Numb

Talent In Water – Waterproof Wireless

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. Another challenge of was mounting the lavaliers & bodypacks wouldn’t come undone during action (i.e. jumping in the water), or the mic coming unaffixed from their shirts.

Childhood League Center – Isaiah & Jeffery

Getting Natural Sound for B-Roll without being Obtrusive

Working for a school that specializes in children with developmental disabilities presents a unique set of challenges and impacts the footprint we can have when shooting around their students. Relying heavily on plant mics & mic’d staff, 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.

Sprint – Olmsted Ice

Delivering Quality Audio in Sub-Zero Conditions

One of the challenges of this shoot being at an ice factory was hopping back and forth between warm & below freezing conditions. Working with top tier brands like Sound Devices, DPA Microphones, & Lectrosonics I can be sure my gear will keep working will pushing the limits of workable temperatures. Cheap gear will often break down under these harsh conditions, but I don’t take chances for my clients.

Aaron Lewis – Bluestone Sessions

Recording Studio Quality Music Performances on Location

Recording studio quality audio for a musical performance video with Aaron Lewis created a number of unique challenges. The client wanting the listener to have an immersive experience, I chose a combination of a stereo room mic (to put the listener in the space) & spot mics (to give a defined clear sound). Anytime you use room mics with acoustic instruments, having a quiet space is imperative, so all refrigeration & HVAC was killed

Zach Space  – Crossroads

Delivering High Fidelity Sound in Remote Locations

One of the unique challenges of the production 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 quite environments that allow for exceptional boom mic dialog.

Shenandoah – George Jones Sessions

160+ Musical Artist Performance Videos in 4 Shooting Days

Consistently delivering high quality sound when recording so many live performance videos in such a shorts spane demands a lot of prep and being 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 pressure to get it right.

Production Sound Gear

Every video shoot has varied sound requirements, I offer 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, & Utility. Every equipment package is different based on the needs of your video 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, Canon C300, Panasonic Varicam, & Panasonic EVA1, etc), and know how to set them up properly for any audio & timecode workflow requirements.

Now matter what gear you need, I’ve got an equipment package to suit your needs:

  • Multitrack Field Recorders
  • Wireless Lavalier / Talent Mics
  • Boom Microphones
  • Stick / Handheld Mics
  • Studio Microphones for Instruments
  • Timecode Sync Boxes / RF Master Clock
  • Timecode Smart Slates
  • IFBs / Comteks
  • Camera Hops
  • Playback System

Working In Chicago Illinois

I love go to Chicago, and have quite a number of clients based there. Working as a sound recordist or production mixer in Chicago, I am considered an out of town hire, and will not work as local. Working in Chicago I will need to have travel, mileage, lodging, & per diem compensated. Contact me for a custom quote based on your needs.

Production Sound Mixer Recording Dialog for Television Commercial
Wireless Camera Hop & Timecode Sync Box for MLB Allstars Game