Inside the Sonic World of Sound Mixer Akinori Chen

In a fast-evolving media panorama, sound mixer Akinori Chen 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 experience of finding the most comfortable playback volume at a young age has ultimately helped me develop my interest in sound mixing.”

Raised in Ogikubo, Tokyo, Akinori Chen’s auditory instincts had been solid in a transitional period—between CD and MP3—the place his Walkman turned 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, Akinori Chen dove headfirst into indie units, studying agility and effectivity below stress.

“Many of the sets were fast-paced and operated with minimal crew… an ideal boot camp for me as I was just starting out.”

Mentorship performed a essential position. “I received a lot of technical advice from CSUN alums and LA Sound Mixers,” Akinori Chen says. That generosity fueled his personal pursuit of excellence—each in manufacturing and in group.

Craft Under Lockdown: Chapman MFA

When the pandemic halted shoots, Morita pivoted to academia, pursuing an MFA in Film Production at Chapman University with a sound design focus. There, he honed an experimental, tech-savvy strategy to audio.

“I installed DPA’s 6061 lav mic near a Harley-Davidson engine and a Tentacle Sync TRACK E under the seat… 32-bit float captured that explosive sound perfectly.”

Guided by Chapman’s Andy Rovins, Akinori Chen remodeled principle into motion. His schooling deepened not simply his sonic vocabulary, however his capability for collaboration.

Commercial Precision vs. Narrative Grit

Branded work for UNIQLO, ALO Yoga, and Microsoft introduced new scale—and new stakes.

“Depending on the client… the shoot can shift into a fast-paced, documentary-style environment. It’s important to stay flexible and adapt quickly.”

He remembers a GATORADE marketing campaign the place dialogue needed to punch by roaring surf. “I used the Shure VP89L shotgun mic… Its strong directionality helped isolate the actor’s voice.” Watch his reel here.

Cannes, Cats & Classroom Chaos

His work on Before the Winter, which premiered at Cannes, examined each ability.

“The actress and the cat had to appear in the same frame… the cat’s unpredictable movements created constant environmental noise.”

Using reside walla recordings with pupil extras and agile increase mic repositioning, Akinori Chen 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.

Live Sound vs. Studio Isolation

From reside gigs to home-studio finesse, Akinori Chen thrives in each sonic extremes.

“While film and live sound differ in scale, the fundamental concept of signal flow—from input to output—remains the same.”

In submit, he turns to Pro Tools for modifying and design; on set, he adapts gear to scale—from moveable bag rigs to full cart setups.

The Tools He Swears By

“The most underappreciated tool? The boundary microphone.”

He champions them for group scenes and background realism. For mics, Akinori Chen turns to hometown heroes: Sanken’s CS-3e shotgun and COS-11D lav.

High Stakes, No Excuses

“High-pressure projects have taught me that unexpected situations are inevitable… being adaptable and thinking on your feet is essential.”

Preparation, communication, and a psychological backup plan are his holy trinity.

East Meets West, Technically and Philosophically

“One of the core values I bring from my Japanese background is a strong sense of attentiveness and consideration for others.”

Akinori Chen blends rigorous precision with a heat, collaborative ethic—a concord of Eastern mindfulness and Western manufacturing tempo.

The Dream Gig? Japan on the World Stage

“I’m deeply motivated by the goal of contributing to the global recognition of Japanese storytelling.”

With Shōgun’s Emmy buzz and Hiroyuki Sanada’s success, Akinori Chen envisions a future the place he helps sonically sculpt a Japanese-led movie that wins on the Academy Awards.

“Being part of that moment… would be the ultimate fulfillment of my personal and professional aspirations.”

Advice for Freelancers: Learn the Rules, Then Invent Your Game

“Build a solid understanding of basic workflows, then develop a specialty—something you’re uniquely good at.”

Flexibility is essential, he insists—being grounded in a single lane whereas remaining open to others.

Most Unlikely Recording Location? A Duck-Filled Park

“The honking and quacking made it a real challenge… I had to get the boom as close as possible.”

Because typically, the soundscape fights again.

Where He Comes Alive

“I tend to find meaning in the moment… I’m often inspired by the amazing scripts I get to work with… or the real-life stories from documentaries that expand my perspective.”

Each style breathes one thing totally different into Akinori Chen evolving soundscape. But all the time, it’s the sign circulate—technical, emotional, human—that drives him.