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MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE, ATLANTIC OCEAN: 28 years ago, Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the existence of hydrothermal vent fields.
Over two decades later, Dr. Deborah Kelley discovered what was dubbed 'the Lost City':
wondrous examples of Ballard's discovery located 2,100 feet below the Atlantic Ocean's surface. This year, these two scientists joined forces in
presenting a series of live cybercasts to 24 aquariums, museums, science centers, and school districts as well as to twenty Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the United States and Mexico. As a result, many interested
viewers were able to witness unseen aquatic and microbial organisms in
Immersion Presents' "Life at the Extremes," a series of live half-hour
shows
airing four times daily.
The Lost City's vent fields - different from previously discovered vents -
were captured and broadcast via 'telepresence,' a term coined by Dr. Ballard
to explain the expedition's innovative robotic and communicative operations.
The scientists viewed the footage recorded with cameras attached to Hercules
and Argus, disproportional yet adjoined underwater vehicles dipping down to
as deep as 8,000 feet below sea level. Dr. Ballard watched from many feet
above on the 'Ronald H. Brown' NOAA ship, while Dr. Kelley observed from a
University of Washington command center.
Scot Charles, a location sound mixer, was tapped to wrangle audio for the
broadcasts, which involved recording the narration of scientists and special
guests, as well as all comments made on the Ronald H. Brown's intricate
intercom system. "The job itself was a challenge," Charles explains.
"All
other things aside, just the fact that we had to get broadcast audio and
high-definition video aboard a ship in the mid-Atlantic Ocean was a
challenge. Not only did I have to make sure that the on-air talent was wired
up and mixed, we had to interface with the intercom system. It was a very
unique expedition. I've never been on anything like this before, and
probably never will again."
Unlike recording location sound for a traditional television show or a
feature film, Charles says that the presence of the film and audio crew was
secondary to the main purpose of the event. "What made it most complicated
for us was that the mission was first and foremost about science," he
continues. "We needed to be unobtrusive. It wasn't like a TV program where
the program is the main focus and everyone must cooperate. This was
different. These were scientists on a real science expedition and our job
was to capture it all without being in the way."
Tough jobs require tough equipment, and for Charles' "Life at the Extremes"
gig, that meant using Lectrosonics 205 diversity wireless microphone systems
with MM400A transmitters, alongside his trusty Sound Devices location mixer.
"The Lectrosonics systems are designed to be rugged and easy to use,"
Charles insists. "It shows in the way they construct the belt clips and
the
easy-change battery compartment. The way Lectrosonics designs their stuff
may not seem like a big deal when you're sitting in your shop or sitting on
a sound stage, but when you're trying to wrangle three or four microphones
in a hurry before broadcast time, the ship is pitching and rolling, and
there's salt mist floating in, that stuff becomes much more important.
Everything must be quick, easy, and reliable."
Charles utilized four Lectrosonics UCR205 receivers, which ran directly to
his mixer. The mixer's output feeds were split and sent to a satellite codec
and HD recording decks simultaneously. "The signals were coming back live
from a big satellite feed," Charles explains. "They went from the
ship's
site, up to the satellite, and down to the University of Rhode Island where
the whole program was directed and switched. There were signals coming from
the University of Washington as well. During the live program, they talked
back and forth, looked at the images and switched live."
The ship's intercom panel was also utilized. "We would wire into the
intercom with a five-pin plug," Charles explains. "The intercom is
a
16-toggle switch panel and it literally became a part of the system."
Dr. Ballard and scientists in the Control Van aboard
the NOAA
ship "Ronald H. Brown" viewing live images from the ROV vehicles,
"Hercules"
and "Argus" diving at approximately 2,500 feet below the surface.
Audio for
cyber-broadcasts supplied by Lectrosonics
To further complicate audio matters, Dr. Ballard wanted to be anywhere the
action was happening on-board, including various labs, as well as the spot
where Hercules and Argus were loaded and unloaded. This presented atypical
RF and radar interference as well as constant noise to deal with. "We're
talking about a ship in the Atlantic Ocean," Charles illustrates. "Moving
more than eight feet in reference to the satellites was a big deal. So these
thrusters are grinding away to keep the bow and stern in the same position,
no matter what the wave situation is. Plus, this ship has complete science
labs and Dr. Ballard wanted to do some of the segments there. I had to find
a way to get signal all the way to mid-ship, which required dropping
tie-lines for the audio and finding the best way to broadcast IFB."
Thanks to thoughtful planning and bulletproof, water-resistant
interference-bucking audio equipment, the "Life at the Extremes" was
an
extreme success. And for Charles, his gig eventually became easy enough to
manage that he was able to enjoy the uniqueness of the show's environment
and subject matter. "Once things settled down, it actually became a lot
of
fun," Charles fondly recalls. "I was then able to record the program
and
listen to content. I could focus on what they were actually saying. It was a
great experience."
For more information about the "Life at the Extremes," visit the
Immersion
Presents website at www.immersionpresents.org.
Since its formation in 1971, Lectrosonics has grown to become a premier firm
specializing in the design and creation of professional audio technologies.
Alongside creating audio processing gear such as the DM Series, Lectrosonics
is a leading innovator of wireless audio technology with many professionals
as ardent fans within the broadcasting, motion picture, and television
industries.
www.lectrosonics.com
