Our newest addition to Post-Op Media. Chris spent the early years of his life aboard a sea going vessel. His days were busy creating Fine Arts at Concordia University, then a year at the Corcoran ( Aka, Yee Olde Ship). When Yee Olde Ship was attacked by pirates, Chris was held in captivity knowing one day he would be free... and work in post production! Learning the trade from the scurvy dogs at Recording Arts Canada, he escaped with his life and a certificate in Audio Engineering. Now Chris spends his time running the booth and making dubs, all under the Jolly Roger flag. If you have time, ask him about Battle Star.
YAR!

Raised by a pack of wolves in the Andean wilderness, Dave was plucked from the jungle by our resident Smoke editor and journeyman explorer, Henry Holdren. Henry replaced Dave's primitive stone tools with a pen, tablet, and a fresh copy of Final Cut Studio. Then, from out of this grizzly hunter/ gatherer rose a video editor with an arresting visual command of his craft, and charming client skills to boot (just don't make any sudden movements as he startles easily). Since returning to the civilized world, his skills have benefited the likes of HBO, PBS, The Tonight Show, Discovery Channel, and Time Life Music, to name a few. From long-form documentary, broadcast commercials, or rough-cut offline editing to complex compositing and online finishing, he's ready to help craft your message (and he can whittle a mean bowstaff, too...whatever that is).

You may not be producing the next summer's Blockbuster Coming of Age Trilogy, but that doesn't mean you should use lesser tools. At Post-Op Media we employ Adobe's After Effects, Apple's Shake, and Autodesk's Smoke systems, simply because we want to provide the best for our clients.

These industry standard toolsets, hailed for their flexibility, reliability, speed and support, have been used to help deliver some of the most enthralling movies, trailers, spots and television programming. With Post-Op Media's Video Post team you can be sure that your project will shine alongside them all.

Times they are a-changing. Along with the ever-increasing real estate on your wall, High Definition Television has brought with it new terminology, new technology, and new potential headaches. But fear not. With Post-Op Media on your side, taking your project into High Definition, be it 720p, 1080i, or 1080p, is as simple as stating your needs.

We support multiple formats, so it doesn't matter where your project is destined. The only thing you have to worry about is telling your story.

Henry is not only our current social chair and recruiting officer; he is also a master of high-end graphic compositing and online finishing. His extensive production and post experience have brought a variety of clients to his suite including MCI International Communications, Time Life Music, The PBS Network, Earle Palmer Brown Agency, the Discovery Channel, National Education Association and Ogilvy, Adams and Rinehart Public Relations.

Henry has worked on major political campaigns- gubernatorial, senatorial and presidential- including George W. Bush, Clinton/Gore, Bush/Cheney, and Ralph Nader. His creativity, technical excellence, and creativity have been recognized with numerous awards including a BDA/PROMAX award, Telly awards, ITVA Best of Show, local Addys, UAB and NAB awards. Currently, Henry and his wife, Megan, are hoping for a full night's sleep while raising their two adorable children.

We're not saying that Henry will make you pick a card, but when sitting behind Post-Op Media's Smoke system he certainly has some tricks up his sleeve. When finishing a video project, from commercials to long form shows, Smoke's robust visual effect capabilities and processing speed are what you as a client demand.

It doesn't matter if you need to key your talent off a green screen or fly in type, the speed of the system is only surpassed by its creative flexibility. Which means getting it all done, on time. Whether you're working in standard definition or high definition, Post-Op Media's Smoke adds the polish to your video until it shines like a mirror.

Our resident tattooed *handsome* sound guy, Andy dropped his entrenched career path at Ben and Jerry's *Apple Computers* to learn the craft of Audio Engineering from the venerable educators at Full Sail: School of Film, Music & Media Production in 2005.

After completing the Recording Arts program in 2006, he joined the team here at Post-Op Media and has been quick to pick up any and everything that has come his way *saved this company from crippling failure... and is awesome in all ways*. Often referred to as outgoing, friendly, and hilarious Loud, weird looking and Persian!, Andy is a boisterous addition to the Post-Op Family.
****Edited by Andy.

Utilizing Digidesign's Pro Tools HD Accel hardware we are able to streamline workflow and eliminate worrisome technical issues. Each of our suites are running Pro Tools 7.3. With ICON D-Command consoles at our fingertips, mixing in Pro Tools has never been so slick. With the internal signal routing of Pro Tools and the highly flexible 192 audio interface, performing multiple simultaneous laybacks has gone from dream to reality.

When it comes to Documentary or Independent Film Post Production, Sound Design is what breathes a new life into your program. Bullets whirring by, a baby's cry, the roar of a predator, a lover's soft breath. Sounds resonate emotions that you can't pluck through images alone. Each of our five suites have access to our massive library of sound effects allowing for efficient creativity while creating your project's soundtrack. But in the event we are unable to find, manipulate or mangle just the right sound for your scene, we turn to our Foley room to get stomping, ripping, squishing and moving.

There is no better investment in your mix than the appropriate amount of time in Audio Editing. Audio Editing is time spent getting to know your program, understand its flow and work out all its kinks. We have the tools that are necessary to primp, trim, and prep every element in the timeline, so the only surprises come mix approval time are pleasant ones. Audio warts that had made you cringe in offline will been cleaned, spliced and smoothed over to flow seamlessly from one transition to the next. Track organization and signal routing will allow for an uncomplicated layback process, where new deliverables can be created with just a few clicks.

Digidesign's Pro Tools HD Accel allows us to utilize a streamlined workflow to eliminate worrisome technical issues. With the cutting edge ICON D-Command consoles ,mixing in Pro Tools has never been so slick. Each suite runs Pro Tools 7.3. With the internal signal routing of Pro Tools and the highly flexible 192 audio interface, performing multiple simultaneous laybacks has gone from dream to reality.

There is no better investment in your soundtrack than the appropriate amount of time in Audio Editing. The time spent getting to know your program, understand its flow and work out all its kinks allows your audio editor to make the most of his time in the following stages. Post-Op Media's Audio Post team has the tools that are necessary to primp, trim, and prep every element in the timeline, so the only surprises come mix approval time are pleasant ones. Sonic sores that had made you cringe in offline will been cleaned, spliced and smoothed over to flow seamlessly from one transition to the next. Track organization and signal routing will allow for an uncomplicated layback process, where new deliverables can be created with just a few clicks.

When it comes to your Documentary or Independent Film, Sound Design is what breathes a new life into your program. Sounds resonate emotions that you can't pluck through images alone. An earth shaking explosion, an ambulance screaming through crowded streets, the growl of a predator, a lover's soft exhalation. All of our five audio suites have access to our massive library of sound effects allowing for efficient creativity while creating your project's soundtrack. But if we are unable to find, manipulate or mangle just the right sound for your scene, we can turn to our Foley room to get stomping, ripping, squishing and moving.

Our Audio Engineer formerly known as The Long-Haired Sound Guy, Steve lost all street cred for the facility when he went under the knife and lost his locks. Thankfully he can still Sound Design and Mix, which is really what we hired him for.

Often seen silently staring off into space, it seems as though he's just slacking off, we'll even go so far as to give him the credit for being deep in thought. But he says he's just listening. Listening intently to the world around him, taking note of the subliminal aural cacophony that pervades the world around us. Either way, we're careful about what we say around him, just in case.

Typically, you can find him tucked away in Mix 2 surfing the internet gleaning new audio related knowledge, or furiously sound designing and mixing the latest documentary for National Geographic or Discovery Channel. Otherwise he's roaming the halls muttering about paint samples.

Post-Op Media is the where you want to bring your project for superior Audio Post Production in the Washington DC area. With twin surround sound mixing suites, a pair of stereo mixing suites, a narration booth and foley pit we've got your project covered, from the top of the tease to the final credit scroll.

Take a listen to our examples and hear what your project is missing.

In 2003 trouble was on the horizon for young Brian Cunneff. The company that was keeping him employed, Roland House, had declared bankruptcy and was heading for liquidation. After 10 years of working for Roland House, working his way up from Assistant Audio Editor to Head of the Audio Department, Brian had become quite attached to this whole "gainfully employed" business. Neurons firing, he and Mark Haskins quickly set out to see if they could establish a "Plan B."

Armed with his knowledge of facility engineering, his proven talents as an Audio Mixer, and his loyal client base, Brian believed that an independent post-production house, staffed by post-production professionals would become a creative retreat that would be able to turn out high quality results to even the most discerning of clients.

"Surely," he thought aloud, "we can make this happen."
"Of course we can," replied Mark, "just stop calling me Shirley."

excerpt from article North Haverhill Times May 19, 1968
Fortune Teller Predicts 'Sound' Future for Local Tot
By Rex Fletcher

(Woodsville) Wandering fortuneteller 'Mystic' Mary McVeet had exciting things to say about newborn Mark Haskins' future today. Gazing into her crystal ball, she procaimed that "One day, this kid's gonna sit in a windowless room week after week and mix the heck out of television programs, spots and films. A fella named 'Roland House' will employ him for many, many years. I forsee that Mark and some guy named 'Brian' or maybe 'Ryan' or 'Abner' will start their own company, and be their own bosses."

McVeet paused briefly to light a cigar, then continued. "Along the way the boy will win some Monitor Awards and a Peer Award. But most importantly, he'll win the hearts of the whole darned town. No wait, those aren't townspeople. Those are clients."

Coughing from inhaling the cigar too deeply, she sputtered, "Scratch that last bit. I made that part up. Anyway, its clear that this kid's got a real future in audio. Or maybe he'll be a mime."

She stared the infant in his eyes for a long moment, "Yeah, he's gonna be a mime. He's got that happy squint that just makes you want to punch him in the face. Definitely a mime."

But you'll probably leave Post-Op with one word on the brain... Wow.

With all of the images that populate our world everyday, how do you make your message heard above the clutter? Well at Post-Op, you can rest assured that we have the talent to help your product rise above the rest. Need high-end visual effects and finishing the likes of Hollywood? Take a seat in our Autodesk Smoke suite, and you'll be in good hands. Need a high-impact visual piece from scratch, try one of our Final Cut Studio suites.

Wherever you choose to park your project, you'll be in skilled hands. So kick back on any of our comfy couches, check your email, make those calls. Just be ready to be wowed.

We have the capabilities to handle more modest dub requests. Dub from D-beta to 6 Beta SPs? Post-Op Media's got you covered. 400 DVD copies by tomorrow? We can recommend a few other places you might want to call.

In addition to the formats above, we also can duplicate DV, DV Cam, VHS, CDs, 3/4 inch. Give a ring, or use our quote request form to the right and let us know what we can do for you.

Post-Op Media is the place where you want to bring your project for superior Audio Post Production in the Washington DC area. With twin surround sound mixing suites, a pair of stereo mixing suites, a narration booth and foley pit we've got your project covered, from the top of the tease to the final credit scroll. Take a listen to our examples and hear what your project is missing.

Whether you're in DC, LA, NY or anywhere in-between Post-Op Media should be your choice for Voice Over Recording. With ISDN lines using both APT and Zephyr codecs it doesn't matter if your talents there and you're here or vice versa. But you can always record a standard narration in our ample sized booth. Large enough to hold roundtable discussions, perform ADR, read-to-picture, or just a single talent reading your script, our Narration Booth has seen it all and is ready to address your project's needs. And with the ability to record up to 24bit / 192kHz files of any type you can be assured that your Narration Recording will provide the best quality source for your mix session.

When it comes to Documentary or Independent Film Post Production, Post-Op Media should be your choice. Utilizing Digidesign's Pro Tools HD Accel hardware we are able to streamline workflow and eliminate worrisome technical issues. Each of our audio suites have access to our database of sound effects permitting efficient creativity while developing your project's soundtrack. If we are unable to find, manipulate or mangle just the right sound, it's off to the Foley room to get what you've been missing.

Surround Sound Mixing, Audio Mixing in 5.1, Audio Mix for HD. Call it what you will, but it's here to stay and we couldn't be more delighted. Envelope your audience with your message by having your program mixed in surround.

Whether you're in Johannesburg, London, Seattle or anywhere in-between, Post-Op Media should be your choice for Narration Recording. Using both APT and Zephyr ISDN codecs it doesn't matter if your talent's here and you're there or vice versa. Of course you can always record a standard narration in our conveniently located booth. Large enough to hold roundtable conversations, perform ADR, lock-to-picture, or just a lone talent reading from the page, our Narration Booth has heard it all and is configurable to tackle your project's needs. Combined with the ability to capture audio at rates up to 24bit / 192kHz and deliver all standard types of file you can be assured that your Narration Recording will obtain the highest standard source for your mix session.

Post-Op Media is the place to go for superior Audio Post Production for any endeavor. Conveniently located minutes from Washington DC. With our two 5.1 surround sound mixing suites, two stereo mixing suites, narration booth and foley pit we have everything you need! Create an amazing production from the top of the tease to the final credit scroll.
Have a listen to our demo reel and hear the potential of your next project.

Post-Op Media is the number one choice for Documentary and Independent Film Post Production in Virginia. Implementing Digidesign's Pro Tools HD, we are able to create a streamlined, efficient workflow to eliminate worrisome technical issues that eat up time and money. All of our audio suites access a large database of sound effects, giving our Sound Designers a vast palette of sounds to create a vivid soundtrack for your project. If we can't find, finagle or mangle just the perfect sound, we'll get down and dirty in our Foley room to wrangle it.

Whether you're in Moscow, Amsterdam, Los Angels or anywhere in-between, Post-Op Media is the best choice for Narration Recording in Virginia. Employing both APT and Zephyr ISDN codecs you can record your talent here, there... or anywhere. Not necessary? Well you could always record your narration in our conveniently located booth . Large enough for a roundtable conversation, performing ADR, lock-to-picture, or single talent reading from the page. Our Narration Booth has heard it all! Combined with the ability to capture audio at rates up to 24bit / 192kHz and deliver all standard types of file you can be assured that your Narration Recording will obtain the highest standard source for your mix session.

With Digidesign's Pro Tools HD mixing platform at the heart of each of our audio mix suites, we are able to tame the wildest sounds and smooth out the roughest mixes. And by mixing in the box there's no generational loss when adding dynamic processing, equalization, creating sub-mixes, or re-routing signal. It's through this process that we are able to create a mix in Surround and simultaneously create a downmix to Stereo that is, swell for swell, eq for eq, the same. So your SD audiences won't miss the story, just the rumble of the sub and the envelopment of space that the surrounds provide.

Whether you're in VA, LA or anywhere in-between Post-Op Media should be your choice for Voice Over Recording. With ISDN lines using both APT and Zephyr codecs it doesn't matter if you're here and your talent's there of vice versa. Of course you can always record a standard narration in our ample sized booth. Large enough to hold roundtable discussions, perform ADR, read-to-picture, or just a single talent reading your script, our Narration Booth has seen it all and is ready to address your project's needs. With the ability to record up to 24bit / 192kHz files as .WAV .AIF or any other type you may need, you can be assured that your Narration Recording will provide the best quality source for your mix session.

You keep seeing the commercials: February 17, 2009 is the end of analog broadcast. But Standard Definition Television will still be around on Wednesday the 18th. So don't worry. Despite upgrading all our video suites, Post-Op Media will continue to support our clients who shoot, produce, edit and deliver in SD.

Your fine cut is approved. Critical creative decisions have been resolved. It's time to take this project into the home stretch. It's time to Online. Your footage will be re-captured at the highest resolution possible and re-conformed into a broadcast quality version of your show. It's time to bring in all of the final graphics, visual effects, titles and lower thirds (you may want to be around to catch spelling errors).

Your editor will take the time to ensure that your program will meet all the quality control technical specifications of the broadcaster. Because there's nothing more disheartening than seeing a show return you thought you'd see next on air.

No one knows better than an offline editor that the order in which you state your message matters just as much as the message you're stating. So when the research is complete, the production's wrapped, the VO script is written (and being re-written) it's time to bring your footage to Post-Op Media and piece together your story. In Offline Editing we capture your footage at low-res into our Final Cut Pro suite and start to make the first visual rough draft of your project.

Pacing is dictated, shots are chosen, rambling interviews begin to make a definitive point. Your story begins to unfold. Here, at Post-Op Media, alongside you is your editor. A critical eye, a sounding board, a fellow storyteller eager to help bring your project into existence. They can foresee what pitfalls may lie in wait based on the creative decisions you make and can advise you how to avoid the impending obstacles or direct you down a similar, less complicated, less budget-busting path.

You've whittled down the script, and your scratch track just isn't going to make the cut from here on out. It's time to bring in the big guns, the talent with the Really Deep Voice, or the Wacky Character Voice, the Soothing Friendly Voice, or the Knowledgeable Voice of Authority. And it's time to book your recording session at Post-Op Media.

With VO Recording it is imperative that you don't chose a facility that can just "get it done" but one that is there to make sure it gets done right. It's true, any joker with a mic and some recording software can get you a Voice Over, but that might not be all you get. Hum, Plosives, Room Tone, Distortion, Paper Rustle, Clothing Rustle, even an Ambulance Drive By have all been turned over to us in "Keeper" takes recorded by other facilities. And all required extraneous editing time that inflated the productions' budgets.

You need experienced ears between those speakers that know the difference between noises and can eliminate them quickly if they don't belong there. Someone who understands audio signal and can put a handle on the technical side of the project while you direct the talent. So that at the end of the session everything you walk away with will be everything that you hoped for and nothing you don't want to hear.

Are you looking for our ISDN Numbers?Click here.

Is it just us or are schedules becoming more and more hectic? The ability to gather three people in one room has become nearly impossible. Thankfully, these days technology has us closely connected. But if you think the sonic quality of conversation is sub-par, you've never participated in an ISDN session before.

ISDN is a technology that allows real-time studio quality audio to be passed between our facility a second studio utilizing ISDN. What does this mean? It means that you can be here and your talent can be in LA, but it sounds like they're just on the other side of the glass. Or you can dial in via phone patch to our control room and we can connect you with your talent who's on vacation in Southern Italy, and it's no different than if we all just met face-to-face in the hallway. Except for the whole putting-a-face-to-a-name thing. But we're working on that too...

Perhaps the recording's long over, and you need to deliver your source audio faster than FedEx, faster than ftp. Well, via ISDN you could deliver it in real time. Add to that the ability to pass timecode with the APT box, and you've got an ADR solution for when your talent simply can't take the red eye.

Up-cut syllables, mouth noise, pops, clicks, distortion, air conditioning that sounds like a 747. They pervade even the most blockbuster of budgets, but that's no reason to allow them to disgrace your production.

There is no better investment in your mix than the appropriate amount of time in Audio Editing, it's time spent getting to know your program, understand its flow and work out all its kinks. Post-Op Media's Audio Post team has the tools that are necessary to primp, trim, and prep every element in the timeline, so the only surprises come mix approval time are pleasant ones. Audio warts that had made you cringe in offline will been cleaned, spliced and smoothed over to flow seamlessly from one transition to the next. Track organization and signal routing will allow for an uncomplicated layback process, where new deliverables can be created with just a few clicks.

The Audio Mix is where we provide the sonic focus for your story. In every mix there can be a mountain of elements all competing for your attention: dialog, narration, music, sound effects, sync sound, ambience. And each of those elements can be comprised of many themselves. Through the mix process we decide what belongs in your sonic foreground, middle, and background for each moment of your program.

With Digidesign's Pro Tools HD mixing platform at the heart of each of our audio mix suites, we are able to tame the wildest sounds and smooth out the roughest mixes. And by mixing in the box there's no generational loss when adding dynamic processing, equalization, creating sub-mixes, or re-routing signal. It's through this process that we are able to create a mix in Surround and simultaneously create a downmix to Stereo that is, swell for swell, eq for eq, the same. So your SD audiences won't miss the story, just the rumble of the sub and the envelopment of space that the surrounds provide. And you don't have to worry about stretching your budget to have the best of both worlds.

Of course it did. Everything makes a sound. It may not have been the thunderous roar of a Sequoia with branches ripping and leaves thwacking that makes you run in fear of being crushed like a tiny ant under the finger of Mother Nature. (whew) But it can have that. Or we could even dial it back a little. Maybe down to an Oak tree, that fell on a barn?

Sound Design is what breathes a new life into your program. And with each of our five audio suites hooked in to our massive library of sound effects, we'll resuscitate your project's soundtrack in short order. But in the event we are unable to find, manipulate or mangle just the right sound for your scene, we are more than happy to turn to our Foley room to get stomping, ripping, squishing and moving.

So do you compete with the noise, or rise above it? A radio spot can be a simple mix of a voice over and a music cut, or it can evolve into a :60 radio drama that transports the listener away from the grind and into your marketing majesty. How you approach your production is up to you.

But you can be sure that our Audio staff will take every effort to ensure it's not just another element of the traffic din on your way home from the office. At the end of the session we have the ability to master to multiple formats without leaving the chair, so you spend more time tweaking, and less time waiting. With Post-Op Media's four Pro-Tools suites at your disposal you're never more than an afternoon away from airtime.

Post-Op Media's Final Cut Pro Editing suites are the roomiest, most comfortable, most client-friendly suites in the DC metro area*. Both of our Final Cut Pro suites offer leather couches, easy to see screens, client computers, wired or wireless internet connectivity, a tray full of snacks, and of course access to our friendly, savvy, & highly creative editors.

With experience that extends to well before the implementation of HDTV our editors know that the only thing different between today and yesterday is the technology. It's still television, it's still your story, it's still your message. So with countless tales under their belt, our editors wait patiently by their Final Cut Pro systems ready to help you tell your next story. And because we value our time to be creative, and prefer to cut short our digital coffee breaks, we have loaded up our systems to the max so changes happen faster and progress doesn't grind to a halt. So set up camp, scatter your source tapes across the vast expanses of tables and shelves, kick off your shoes and feel at home**. Isn't it time you edited at Post-Op Media?

*This may not technically be 100% true, but it's what we've heard from our clients.
**Kicking off of shoes subject to editor's odor sensitivity on day of session.

Post-Op Media's Final Cut Pro Editing suites are the most spacious, most pleasant, most stress-reducing editing suites throughout the Northern VA area*. And it's not just the plush leather couches, wired and wireless internet connectivity, large LCD screens, or the snack trays. With our charming, knowledgeable, and artistic editors at the helm of their Final Cut Pro workstation, a calm rushes over most clients, assured that their project is in good hands.

With a history in the field that reaches all the way back to the use of 1" tape (Wow, really?) our editors know that the only difference between yesterday and today is technology. It's still television, it's still your story, it's still your message. And with numerous stories to their credit, our editors look forward to helping you tell your next tale. Because Final Cut Pro has the tools and technology to eliminate the digital cigarette break, further reducing the time between "what if we..." and "wow!" So spread out, use every nook and cranny to organize tapes, strike through a script, or just catch up on emails. Kick off your shoes and feel at home** in Post-Op Media's Final Cut Pro Editing suites.

*This may not technically be 100% true, but it's what we've heard from our clients.
**Kicking off of shoes subject to editor's odor sensitivity on day of session.