My Journey To Sky Production Services – #16: Tom Nursey (Audio Mix Technician)

How It Started

What was your first ever job?

My first ever job was as a guitar teacher teaching a small group of primary school students.

What brought you to SPS and how long have you worked here?

I joined SPS during my placement year at university, where I was studying Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister programme). I joined as an Audio Assistant/Trainee Dubbing Mixer in the Audio department, working for 15 months before moving to a freelance contract during my final year of studies. After graduating, I started full-time as an Audio Mix Technician and have been in this role for just under a year.

Is your role the same now as the day you joined?

My role has developed since first starting as a placement student, presenting me with more opportunities to get hands-on as my experience and knowledge of audio post production grew. Since joining as a Mix Tech, I’ve had the opportunity to balance both the technical and practical sides of editing and mixing audio, which has been a fantastic opportunity to develop my skills in both areas.

What was your biggest professional challenge and what was your greatest achievement?

My biggest challenge was learning to engage the students while teaching guitar. Being quite shy, this forced me to develop my people skills – something that I’ve realised is very important in a client-based industry. My greatest achievement was whilst doing little bits of freelance graphic design, taking the Adobe Certified Associate exam. Scoring in the Top 10 in the country, I was invited down to the Adobe headquarters for the day.

How It’s Going

What does your day to day work life look like?

My day to day work can vary hugely and it’s dependent on what shows are currently being worked on in the audio department, and what challenges they present. This means one day I could be taking a Mac apart or fixing an Avid S6 console, to recording a VO or editing dialogue the next day.

What’s been your SPS career highlight and why?

My highlight so far has been working on the latest series of ‘Hitmen’, both in a technical and workflow support capacity, as well as taking on some practical sound editing responsibilities. As the first full drama series to be mixed in Dolby Atmos here at SPS, it’s provided a great insight into the technical and practical elements of Dolby Atmos and allowed me to expand my skills in both areas – as well as the added head-scratcher of the “work from home” element.

What can you see yourself doing next?

I eventually would like to move into a full-time dubbing mixer role here at SPS, taking on the responsibility of the overall mix and creative audio decisions for shows that we work on.

How It Can Be Done

What are your top 3 tips for becoming an Audio Mix Technician?

• Watch TV and learn to notice the audio techniques used. This is a bigger teacher than anything and will help to develop your own creative style.
• Early is on time, on-time is late, and late is unacceptable.
• Get to know computer operating systems and audio software like the back of your hand.

What would you tell your 16-year-old self?

The hard work is definitely worth it, and “nerd” is a compliment.