One of the very first lessons I learned when I began working with Pixel Corps was the priority sound takes in motion pictures. Alex Lindsay is fond of saying “If your sound is bad, your image can be pristine and the viewer will disconnect.” For this reason, every talented filmmaker I know is fanatical about their audio records, regardless of how big or small the job.

I planned a longer article on the importance of sound in video, but the following video dropped into my Twitter feed. In this behind-the-scenes look at The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the fine folks at Park Road Post broke it all down for me.

While the subject is cinematic, big screen sound mixing, the core principles apply to every video you might capture and cut.

For more excellent coverage of sound in film, follow Michael Coleman on Vimeo.