Professional Sound Services is a preeminent dealer of high-end audio equipment in the United States. The company provides support, sales, service, and rentals to sound professionals who work in film, television, and music productions throughout the country and have offices in New York, New Orleans, and Fort Lauderdale. The founder of Professional Sound Services is Rich Topham Jr., who has worked for clients like Paramount, Universal, Warner Brothers, and all the major networks. He has received six Emmy awards for his sound work.

In New Orleans, the Professional Sound Services office is run by Justin Ditch and Lukas Gonzales, accomplished audio professionals in their own right. They both set aside some time to show us some of the equipment they offer and share tips on how to record better audio.

I shot and edited a video of their demonstration. In the video, we learn:

• a specific kind of boompole that can make things easier for a boom operator
• what kind of sound recorder and mixer is right for the job
• the benefits of using high-end wireless microphones
• when to use a stereo microphone or a short shotgun, and more

Watch

To go along with the video, I’ve included an audio track below where I talk more about the making of the video, specifically some of my insecurities and mistakes that came up while I was working on it. I actually had a certain mindset that almost killed the project, and it took me some effort to plow through. From what I’ve seen and read, it’s a mindset that impedes a number of creative types, so I thought I’d share it with you, in case it helps:

Listen to the Episode