In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to ‘Mr. Loudness’, Mike Thornton, about the issues of television programme loudness and dialogue intelligibility. Why is the background music too loud? Why can’t the viewers hear what the actors are saying? And why are films so loud in the cinema?

In a comprehensive and compelling journey starting with radio transmission concerns in the 1930s, to the present-day woes of broadcasters and streaming platforms, Mike’s accessible and understandable explanations demystify the raft of complex sound challenges that filmmakers continue to face in delivering effective soundtracks.

About the presenters:

Mike Thornton -

Web: https://www.production-expert.com/author-bios/2019/11/26/mike-thornton

Loudness tutorials:

Start here for Part 1 of Mikes series of 6 videos: https://youtu.be/jvcfwtrL0uw?si=QVhc9ee-wgWb-cO8

Neil and Jason –

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers and how to contact them is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at

https://www.drneilhillman.com and https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to emerging Australian sound designer Andrew Dean about his work, in particular the award-winning films ‘Mud Crab’ (written and directed by David Robinson-Smith), ‘Gorgo’ (directed by Veniamin Gialouris) and the forthcoming feature film ‘Salt Along the Tongue’, (directed by Parish Malfitano), that Andrew sound designed and mixed.

Andrew describes his journey from working in a Bathurst multi-screen cinema, then studying for a music degree, moving from recording studios to mixing television shows for SBS, and then studying sound design at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Andrew graduated from their Masters programme in 2022 and has subsequently pursued several creative endeavours with AFTRS alumni.

About the presenters:

Andrew Dean -

Web: https://www.andrewdeansound.com

Films:

‘Mud Crab’, (2022), available at: https://youtu.be/hclZdRKflNw?feature=shared

‘Gorgo’, (2023), trailer available at: https://vimeo.com/905788706

Neil and Jason -

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at https://www.drneilhillman.com and at https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

AFTRS:

Learn more about The Australian Film Television and Radio School here: https://www.aftrs.edu.au

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas

In this episode, Neil and Jason talk to Julian Treasure, the author and presenter of several of the most viewed TED Talks of all time, including ‘How to Speak So People Want to Listen’ which has been viewed more than 150 million times. A self-proclaimed ‘listening evangelist’, Julian shares remarkable insights into the ways in which conscious listening brings about positive change both in personal and professional relationships, how low-cost acoustic considerations for classrooms deliver remarkable educational improvements and how sound in space created life, the universe and everything.

About the presenters:

Julian Treasure -

Web: https://www.juliantreasure.com

Julian’s Books:

‘Sound Business’, (2006), published by Management Books 2000 Ltd

‘How to Be Heard’, (2017), published by TMA Press

TED Talks:

https://www.ted.com/talks?q=julian%20treasure&sort=relevance

Neil and Jason -

Details of Neil’s 1-to-1 and Coaching Programmes for ambitious media professionals are available at https://www.drneilhillman.com and at https://soundproducer.com.au/coaching

Details about Neil and Jason’s work as dialogue editors and mixers is here: https://www.theaudiosuite.com

Also mentioned in this podcast:

Harville Hendrix, ‘Making Marriage Simple: Ten Relationship-Saving Truths’ (2014), is published by Harmony.

R. Murray Schafer, ‘Soundscape: Our Sonic Environment and the Tuning of the World’, (1993), is published by Inner Traditions Bear and Company.

Gordon Hempton, One Square Inch - https://onesquareinch.org/ and

Quiet Parks International: https://www.quietparks.org/

Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/forest-bathing-nature-walk-health

Technical notes:

Written, produced and presented by Jason Nicholas and Dr Neil Hillman

Recorded using the Squadcast remote recording system

Programme edited by Jason Nicholas