Production
Field Recording Gear for Cinematic SFX
NFX PROD4 min read
A short field guide to building a portable rig that captures cinematic sound effects on location — the kind you can layer into trailers without cleanup marathons.
The minimum viable rig
A shotgun mic, a portable recorder with clean preamps, and a pair of over-ear headphones. Everything else is optimization.
Choosing a recorder
Look for 32-bit float and dual XLR inputs. 32-bit float means you stop worrying about gain staging — you set it roughly and fix in post.
Storage discipline
Name files in the field. impact_metal_close_01.wav beats REC_0042.wav six months later.