AJ Butterworth

I’m AJ Butterworth, a location sound recordist in Film and TV, with 30 years of industry experience.

My parents bought me my first tape recorder when I was seven, and this opened up the world of sound to me. I would record anything that made a noise, from squeaky washing machines to interviewing our dogs, this started my lifelong passion for sound.

After running a small recording studio with friends as a teenager I went on to study Theatre Sound at Rose Bruford College, where I gained my degree and a solid background in theatre production specialising in sound.

After graduation, I worked alongside some of the finest theatre sound designers in the country and regularly worked at The Royal Court Theatre in London running shows and assisting with the installation of each show’s sound system. It was whilst here that I was offered the chance to work for Shift-4, one of London’s broadcast facilities houses. There I was trained as a location sound recordist, a role I’d always wanted but was never sure how to get into. This then set me on the path to the career that I’ve followed for the last three decades..

Over that time I’ve worked exclusively in location sound, working mostly on documentary shoots, but have worked on all types of programming including series with David Attenborough and family favourites such as Bake Off. I’ve had the opportunity to travel the world whilst working on some truly stunning productions for both national and international clients and production companies

I’m honoured to be asked to be a mentor to the students at Brighton Film School and hopefully, I can impart some of my experience and knowledge to them and offer them an insight into the industry they’ve chosen to work in.