From vérité-style field recordings to immersive final mixes, we specialize in audio for documentary films, series, and short-form narratives. We collaborate with directors, producers, and editors to ensure every voice, moment, and environment feels authentic while maintaining the polish required for festivals, broadcast, and streaming platforms.

DOCUMENTARY SOUND WITH CINEMATIC DEPTH

A documentary lives or dies by its audio. Clean dialogue, believable ambiences, and subtle sound design carry the emotional weight of a true story. Whether you’re shooting unscripted interviews or crafting a feature-length narrative, our job is to make your audio transparent, immersive, and editorially sharp. We provide end-to-end audio support for documentaries, from capturing clean, usable dialogue in unpredictable environments to shaping, cleaning, and mixing everything to broadcast or festival standards, with sound design that enhances story immersion without pulling focus (after all, that's the AC's job).

WHY DOCUMENTARY SOUND MATTERS

Feature-Length Documentaries
Audio production and post for long-form films bound for theatrical screenings, festivals, or streaming platforms.

Docu-Series and Episodic Content
Audio workflows built for multi-part storytelling, delivering consistent sound quality and fast turnaround across every episode.

Short-Form Documentary Films
Powerful short stories created for brands, nonprofits, or digital platforms. We adapt audio for multiple run times and delivery formats.

Interview-Driven Documentaries
Clean, natural dialogue capture and post cleanup for sit-down interviews, testimonials, or panel discussions.

Archival and Voiceover-Heavy Projects
Audio restoration, VO recording, and mixing designed to blend old and new elements seamlessly.

Hybrid Narrative/Documentary Content
For projects that mix narrative reenactments with documentary footage, we create cohesive soundscapes that unify the storytelling.

FORMATS WE SUPPORT

FEATURED PROJECTS

TruTV & Warner Media | Taste the Culture

Broadcast Docu-Series

A television docu-series following chef Justin Sutherland of TruTV's Fast Foodies as he visits iconic restaurants in Atlanta and New York to learn about the cultural influences that inspire their cuisines and recipes. We provided Production Sound and full-scale Audio Post services for this series, including Dialogue Editorial, Sound Design & SFX , VO Recording & Editing, and Mixing for Broadcast and Web distribution.

Services Provided

Run-and-gun Production Sound Mixing leveraging a bevy of wireless microphones and booms to capture audio in a variety of locations.
Voice Over Recording and Editing for documentary narration, provided by Justin Sutherland.
Full-Scale Audio post soundscapes enhanced by Foley, Sound Design, and SFX Editorial to make the viewing experience more immersive.
Mixed each episode to spec for TruTV broadcast and Web Distribution.

UGA School of Law | Beyond Sheltering

Educational Docu-Series

Beyond Sheltering, a 4-part docu-series, explores the intersection of animal welfare and community resilience in Athens‑Clarke County, Georgia. It tackles pet overpopulation and shelter overcrowding, and shows how poverty, lack of resources, and education gaps contribute to these challenges. We provided full-service audio on this project, from capturing sound on set over the span of several weeks to recording extensive VO and mixing the entirety of the series for Web distribution.

Services Provided

Run-and-gun Production Sound Mixing utilizing wireless lavs, boom microphones, and timecode boxes to keep 3 cameras perfectly in sync.
Voice Over Recording and Editing that is featured heavily in each episode of the Docu-Series
We provided Foley, Sound Design, and SFX Editorial to make the soundscape of this series more immersive.
Each episode was mixed for Web and Social distribution.

Voices of the Academy

Documentary Short Film

This is a mini doc featuring three professors as they explore the history, significance, and ongoing challenges of African American Vernacular English in higher education and the United States, reflecting on its cultural impact and the fight for linguistic acceptance. We provided full-service audio on this doc, from production sound to sound design & a final mix tailored for a theatrical release.

Services Provided

Production Sound Mixing over the course of several days, leveraging boom & lavs in an interview setting.
Dialogue Editorial to carefully refine every spoken word by removing unwanted noise and eliminating clicks & pops.
Sound Design of animated intro sequence to help make the storytelling elements more immersive.
Final Mix tailored for theatrical distribution.

Soul Shop | Back to Church

Documentary Feature Film

A documentary about the history and influence of church in contemporary music featuring Grammy award winning artists such as Robert Glasper, Bryan Michael Cox, and Warryn Campbell. Currently unreleased (is apparently being shopped around to streaming services). We provided full-service audio for this project, from production sound to a final 5.1 surround mix.

Services Provided

Production Sound Mixing for interviews with Grammy-winning artists using boom & wireless microphones.
On-Location music recording to preserve the energy and authenticity of the artist's performances.
Dialogue Editorial & Sound Design to ensure clarity in interviews while weaving ambient textures in to enhance the atmospheric church vibe.
Final 5.1 Surround Mix for an immersive experience, balancing music & spoken word for streaming and theatrical distribution.

We adapt our workflow to the unique demands of documentary production, from unpredictable locations to fast-moving schedules, we capture every moment with clarity while preserving the authenticity of your story.

WHY FILMMAKERS CHOOSE SHINOBI SOUND

Authenticity First
We capture the reality of the scene without overproduction, ensuring voices, natural sounds, and environments feel real yet refined.

Technical Expertise
Our post team delivers festival-ready mixes, including stereo, 5.1, or 7.1, prepared for DCPs, theatrical screenings, and OTT platforms.

Collaboration with Editors
We work seamlessly with video editors, colorists, and producers to build a cohesive final product that matches the creative vision.

Fast Turnaround, No Compromise
Tight deadlines and distribution windows are no problem. We scale workflows for both small indie docs and larger multi-episode series.

ADD-ON OPTIONS

5.1 and Surround Mixing
We provide immersive mixes for theatrical or premium streaming releases, ensuring your doc sounds exceptional in every environment.

Custom Sound Design
From transitional elements to enhancing natural ambiences, our design approach adds subtle layers that support storytelling.

Audio Restoration and Noise Reduction
We clean archival audio, field recordings, or problematic location dialogue with advanced noise reduction and repair tools.

Voiceover Recording and Integration
We work with VO talent (yours or ours) to capture, clean, and integrate narration that guides the story without overpowering it.

Music Supervision and Integration
We assist in sourcing and licensing music that matches your documentary’s tone, from emotional underscores to thematic cues.

International and Accessibility Versions
Alternate-language tracks, caption-friendly audio, and mixes optimized for subtitling or dubbing workflows.

Remote Creative Reviews
Join our team for remote mix reviews with high-quality streaming for feedback and collaborative adjustments.

LET'S TELL YOUR STORY

Every documentary project is unique. Whether you’re working on an intimate short, a multi-part series, or a theatrical feature, Shinobi Sound can handle the audio from capture to final delivery. We bring technical expertise and storytelling intuition to every project.