Project Overview
A Boy Called Porro represented the most technically demanding project of the three and involved full responsibility for studio operations, recording direction, sound design, post-production, and asset delivery. This included selecting microphones, configuring recording software, leading recording sessions, organising extensive audio data, and compiling final master outputs.
The production generated several hundred hours of audio recordings across numerous sessions, with actors frequently performing multiple roles within the same session.
Challenges
The studio’s acoustic environment presented ongoing noise management difficulties. Performers portraying multiple characters often resulted in overlapping dialogue takes, unintended vocal bleed, coughing, or audible emotional breaks. These issues required careful editorial intervention to isolate usable material for final assembly.
Due to time pressures, it was not feasible to perform detailed corrective recording during sessions through punch-ins or live edits. Instead, editorial reconstruction was completed almost entirely during post-production.
The scale of the project also created logistical challenges. Managing, transferring, and archiving large volumes of data safely within deadline constraints required a reliable and systematic workflow.
Workflow and Techniques
Microphone choices and DAW configurations were designed to prioritise vocal clarity and reduce background interference wherever possible. During recording sessions, actors were guided toward performance methods that minimised acoustic bleed while preserving emotional authenticity.
Post-production focused on detailed dialogue editing, including separation of overlapping takes, removal of unintended artefacts, and selective noise attenuation. This allowed performances to remain natural without compromising intelligibility.
To manage the data load, I implemented strict file organisation systems involving templated folder structures, consistent naming conventions, and multi-location backups. Audio files were compressed appropriately for transfer, with delivery secured through both cloud platforms and email transmission to ensure redundancy and deadline compliance.
Outcome and Learning
The project was delivered to technical and creative specifications despite the limitations imposed by studio noise, time restrictions, and data scale. A Boy Called Porro greatly expanded my capacity for technical leadership, studio direction, and advanced post-production problem solving. It demonstrated my ability to balance performance authenticity with editorial precision in complex, high-pressure production environments while maintaining reliable delivery workflows.
