Utility Sound Technician
The above mentioned third person on the sound crew is known as the Utility Sound Technician. In the old days, the position might have been known as Cableman. As a result, a lot of people think that all a Utility person is needed for is to wrangle mic cables.
Back in the Golden Era of Hollywood, cameras and sprocketed sound recorders (not exactly portable, but at least the trucks that carried them could drive around) had to be physically linked by thick, three-phase power cables that drove the sync motors. These cables were huge and heavy. Also, in those days, microphone technology was nothing like it is today -- hence the need to rig a fair number of mics strategically all over the set. So there was a definite need for a few cablemen!
Today, what with crystal sync, portable digital recorders, radio mics, and condenser microphones -- there is no longer the physical need to run thick cables over great distances, nor even the need for as many mic cables
But there is still the need for at least one more person on the sound crew, namely the Utility! The main function of the third person is not to run cable, but to run boom.
Very often, the dialogue will span a distance greater than one mic boom can deal with, due to the time and travel required to cue from one actor to a distant one. The solution is to deploy a second boom or fishpole.
Radio mics require skilled hands to test them and rig them on actors. During the take, receiver antennas must often be “boomed” to keep up with action.
Microphone cables must still be rigged for plant mics hidden in the set; and sometimes there is still the need to manage cable behind a walking boom operator (although this can be done by anyone).
Scenes shot to sync playback of music or special tracks require a Playback Operator -- a skilled person to cue up and operate the playback deck.
Finally, it is valuable to have another trained person on the sound crew who can fill in at anytime for either the Mixer or the Boom Operator, or who can go off and record second unit on their own.
Utility Sound Technicians are not as common on non-union industrials and corporate productions. When they are present, their salary can range from as little as $75 per day on up, depending on their skill and necessity. Sometimes, they can earn as much as the Boom Operator, particularly if they are needed frequently for second boom or sync playback.
In union parlance, the Utility Sound Technician is designated Y-7a. Scale pay rate is approximately $400 for a basic 9-hour day, plus overtime.
Others on the Sound Crew
Depending on the nature of the production, other personnel may need to be added to the basic crew.
Additional Boom Operators may be permanently needed, particularly in multi-camera “live” shows. Sometimes on a regular feature or episodic TV series a second Boom Operator may be normal in addition to the Utility Sound Technician.
A specialist Playback Operator is usually brought in on situations calling for extensive or complicated playback sequences. Good Playback Operators can understand and read music, as well as converse in music phraseology with composers and choreographers regarding cue points.