Location Sound Starter Kit: Building Your First Sachtler Audio Bag Setup

Last updated: 7 August 2026. Prices are in AUD and correct at the time of writing, check the linked product pages for live pricing and stock.

A location sound starter kit comes down to three things: a bag sized to your mixer or recorder, a way to carry it hands-free, and room to grow into wireless. Sachtler's audio range covers all three. This guide walks a first-time production sound mixer through building a bag setup that's comfortable to wear all day and ready to expand.

Start with the bag, sized to your mixer

Your mixer or recorder decides the bag. Measure your device, then choose the smallest Sachtler bag it fits with room for cabling and a receiver or two. The Lightweight Audio Bags come in three sizes: Small for compact mixers and recorders, Medium for a typical starter mixer, and Large for bigger units with more inputs and outputs. For most people starting out, the Medium is the natural first bag.

Step up to the Eargonizer if you run wireless

If you already work with several radio mics, look at the Eargonizer Large. It's built for operating a full rig rather than just carrying one: a transparent top window to read your controls without opening the bag, access to all mixer panels, a double floor to organise headphone cable, removable dividers, and snap-on expansion pouches for transmitters and receivers. It's the bag you grow into as your kit expands. Our Sachtler audio bags guide compares the two in detail.

Add a recorder pouch for simple jobs

Not every day calls for the full bag. The Portable Digital Recorder Pouch is a compact carrier for a single portable recorder, perfect for a lightweight second setup, a backup, or run-and-gun days when you just need clean audio without the full rig.

Carry it comfortably: the harness

A loaded sound bag gets heavy fast, and a shoulder strap alone will wear you down over a long shoot. The Heavy Duty Harness spreads the weight across both shoulders and your back, keeping you comfortable and mobile all day. For a working mixer, it's not a luxury, it's the piece that saves your body.

Your starter kit checklist

Buy the bag that fits your current mixer, add the harness from day one, and keep the recorder pouch for light jobs. When your wireless count grows, the Eargonizer is the upgrade path.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need in a location sound starter kit?

At minimum: an audio bag sized to your mixer or recorder, a harness to carry it comfortably, and cabling to your mics and camera. From there you add wireless receivers, a recorder pouch for light jobs, and a larger bag as your kit grows.

Which Sachtler audio bag should a beginner buy first?

Most people starting out are best with the Lightweight Audio Bag in the size that fits their mixer, commonly the Medium. If you already run several radio mics, consider starting with the Eargonizer Large for its expansion pouches and all-panel access.

Do I really need a harness for a sound bag?

For anything beyond short jobs, yes. A loaded bag is heavy, and the Heavy Duty Harness spreads the load across both shoulders and your back, which makes long shoots far more comfortable than a single strap.

What is the recorder pouch for?

The Portable Digital Recorder Pouch is a compact carrier for a single portable recorder, ideal for a lightweight or backup rig when you don't need the full mixer bag.

Where to buy in Australia

Black Flag Distribution is the official Australian distributor of the professional film, television and production brands featured in this guide. We supply an Australia-wide network of authorised retailers and stockists rather than selling direct to the public, so there is a local dealer who can help wherever you are. To check pricing and availability and to buy, use the Black Flag Distribution store finder to find an authorised retailer or stockist near you. Search our store finder to locate your nearest Australian stockist and purchase from an authorised dealer.