{"id":2308,"date":"2025-06-05T22:12:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T21:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/studioinsider\/?p=2308"},"modified":"2025-06-06T15:46:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T14:46:11","slug":"find-your-robbie-the-importance-of-an-industry-mentor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/studioinsider\/2025\/06\/05\/find-your-robbie-the-importance-of-an-industry-mentor\/","title":{"rendered":"“Find your Robbie”: The importance of an industry mentor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Having worked on anything from \u2018Michael McIntyre\u2019s Big Show\u2019 to \u2018Animal Planet\u2019, Matty Groark knows how to make the audio you hear on your favourite shows sound just right. But what actually is a sound recordist and how important is someone to teach you the art? Studio Insider finds out more.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


The role of a sound recordist is often overlooked in the world of TV production, but it is crucial to making the cogs turn. For Matty Groark, a music degree at Leeds was what initially planted the seed in his head. \u201cAfter university, I got an opportunity from a friend of mine whose auntie was a producer. She gave me a chance to do a trial down in London at a production company when I was 20.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


After going to London for what was, at first, a two-week trial, Matty ended up staying there for two years. During that time, he worked on Channel 4 and Discovery documentaries in the post production department. Even though the work was challenging, he knew that he was in the right place and wanted to keep working in TV. He says, \u201cI was sleeping in the office at times. I would sometimes go to work on a Monday and go back home on a Wednesday, but I knew that this opportunity was my golden ticket, and I poured absolutely everything into it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n


What actually is a sound recordist?<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n


<\/strong>They\u2019re the people responsible for capturing the sound in TV production and can also be known as sound engineers. They set up the mics and capture all of the speaking, singing and general noise in a shot. To Matty personally, being a sound recordist is \u201ca true gift like being a fly on the wall\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


He says, \u201cSound is a really good job. When you get the sound of a show just right, you’re like, \u2018This is why I do it. Everything’s perfect.\u2019 You obviously can’t control the construction and the airplanes and all of that whilst you’re on set, but it is a satisfying job. When you put your mixer down at the end of the day and you hand your card over, you’re done for the day and leave everything in the mixing room. I’m just turning up and recording good sound. I can sit and observe everyone and also have the chance to talk to incredible people.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Matty on set filming a documentary scene. (Credit – Matty Groark)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Having a mentor<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n


Having initially worked in the post-production side of TV production, Matty eventually decided that sound recording was something that he was keen to try. \u201cOne day this guy came into the office who was a sound recordist. He had just come back from filming a Discovery series in India.  I thought, \u2018Right. I’ll just ask him.\u2019 I went up to him and said, \u201cRobbie, is there any chance of you needing an assistant or a trainee? I’ve got a music background. I feel like I’ve got a good ear. I’ve been doing this for two years and I\u2019d love to try some sound production.\u201d Matty adds, \u201cI think that is the main piece of advice I would give to anyone hoping to get into the industry, if you feel like there’s a question there, just ask it. I\u2019d like to think most of the people you’d want to get an opportunity with would give you a chance. Luckily Robbie was a big advocate for passing knowledge on. Some people can be less forthcoming, but mentors really are crucial in this industry.\u201d
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After working at Jamie Oliver\u2019s production company for a couple of years, the sound recordist then moved back to production company he\u2019d initially worked for. He was offered a 10-week stint filming a series of Animal Planet<\/em> in America, with Robbie as the sound recordist.\u00a0\u201cI ended up flying out with him and then being on this show with him. I was actually the DIT camera\/sound assistant, and I got buddied up with Robbie and we become best mates. The show kept getting extended and it did really well. It was one of the highest rating shows in America. Somehow, I ended up in America for four years, and we ended up doing seven or eight series. We\u2019d be working for about five months at a time, so I was living in Denver and with Robbie most of the time. He trained me up. He really knew his stuff having been brought up within the BBC. It was the best experience.\u201d

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