In a fast-evolving media panorama, sound mixer Shunichi Morita brings a singular mix of precision, poetry, and cross-cultural imaginative and prescient to each body he touches—whether or not capturing dialogue amidst crashing waves or coaxing the purr of a cat on set in Cannes.
“The expertise of discovering essentially the most comfy playback quantity at a younger age has finally helped me develop my curiosity in sound mixing.”
Raised in Ogikubo, Tokyo, Morita’s auditory instincts had been solid in a transitional period—between CD and MP3—the place his Walkman grew to become a coaching floor in nuance. That early sensitivity would later form a profession constructed on each technical mastery and deep listening.
From CSUN to the Soundstage
After incomes his BA from CSUN in 2019, Morita dove headfirst into indie units, studying agility and effectivity underneath strain.
“Most of the units had been fast-paced and operated with minimal crew… a perfect boot camp for me as I used to be simply beginning out.”
Mentorship performed a crucial position. “I acquired quite a lot of technical recommendation from CSUN alums and LA Sound Mixers,” Morita says. That generosity fueled his personal pursuit of excellence—each in manufacturing and in group.
Craft Below Lockdown: Chapman MFA
When the pandemic halted shoots, Morita pivoted to academia, pursuing an MFA in Movie Manufacturing at Chapman College with a sound design focus. There, he honed an experimental, tech-savvy method to audio.
“I put in DPA’s 6061 lav mic close to a Harley-Davidson engine and a Tentacle Sync TRACK E underneath the seat… 32-bit float captured that explosive sound completely.”
Guided by Chapman’s Andy Rovins, Morita reworked idea into motion. His schooling deepened not simply his sonic vocabulary, however his capability for collaboration.
Industrial Precision vs. Narrative Grit
Branded work for UNIQLO, ALO Yoga, and Microsoft introduced new scale—and new stakes.
“Relying on the consumer… the shoot can shift right into a fast-paced, documentary-style surroundings. It’s essential to remain versatile and adapt shortly.”
He recollects a GATORADE marketing campaign the place dialogue needed to punch by way of roaring surf. “I used the Shure VP89L shotgun mic… Its sturdy directionality helped isolate the actor’s voice.” Watch Morita’s reel right here.
Cannes, Cats & Classroom Chaos
His work on Earlier than the Winter, which premiered at Cannes, examined each talent.
“The actress and the cat needed to seem in the identical body… the cat’s unpredictable actions created fixed environmental noise.”
Utilizing reside walla recordings with pupil extras and agile increase mic repositioning, Morita crafted sonic authenticity. He additionally recorded the feline actor’s actions meticulously—each scratch, meow, and rustle turning into a part of the story’s acoustic soul.
Dwell Sound vs. Studio Isolation
From reside gigs to home-studio finesse, Morita thrives in each sonic extremes.
“Whereas movie and reside sound differ in scale, the basic idea of sign stream—from enter to output—stays the identical.”
In publish, he turns to Professional Instruments for modifying and design; on set, he adapts gear to scale—from transportable bag rigs to full cart setups.
The Instruments He Swears By
“Essentially the most underappreciated software? The boundary microphone.”
He champions them for group scenes and background realism. For mics, Morita turns to hometown heroes: Sanken’s CS-3e shotgun and COS-11D lav.
Excessive Stakes, No Excuses
“Excessive-pressure tasks have taught me that sudden conditions are inevitable… being adaptable and considering in your toes is important.”
Preparation, communication, and a psychological backup plan are his holy trinity.
East Meets West, Technically and Philosophically
“One of many core values I convey from my Japanese background is a robust sense of attentiveness and consideration for others.”
Morita blends rigorous precision with a heat, collaborative ethic—a concord of Japanese mindfulness and Western manufacturing tempo.
The Dream Gig? Japan on the World Stage
“I’m deeply motivated by the objective of contributing to the worldwide recognition of Japanese storytelling.”
With Shōgun’s Emmy buzz and Hiroyuki Sanada’s success, Morita envisions a future the place he helps sonically sculpt a Japanese-led movie that wins on the Academy Awards.
“Being a part of that second… can be the final word success of my private {and professional} aspirations.”
Recommendation for Freelancers: Study the Guidelines, Then Invent Your Sport
“Construct a strong understanding of fundamental workflows, then develop a specialty—one thing you’re uniquely good at.”
Flexibility is vital, he insists—being grounded in a single lane whereas remaining open to others.
Most Unlikely Recording Location? A Duck-Crammed Park
“The honking and quacking made it an actual problem… I needed to get the increase as shut as potential.”
As a result of typically, the soundscape fights again.
The place He Comes Alive
“I have a tendency to search out that means within the second… I’m usually impressed by the superb scripts I get to work with… or the real-life tales from documentaries that increase my perspective.”
Every style breathes one thing totally different into Morita’s evolving soundscape. However all the time, it’s the sign stream—technical, emotional, human—that drives him.