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LECTROSONICS WIRELESS STARS IN NICOLAS CAGE'S NEW MOVIE WICKERMAN
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA: Since 1986, location sound mixer Darren Brisker has enjoyed a successful career on countless sets of both television programs and notable feature films. Most recently, he and his newly updated sound cart ventured off to a Vancouver-area island to record production sound for the film ;quot;Wickerman" a thriller starring Nicolas Cage slated for release in 2006.
Wickerman's island environment could have been a major challenge for
Brisker, as it required footage to be shot on large open vistas and up and
down massive inclines. But thanks to his Lectrosonics Digital Hybrid
Wireless(tm) microphone system, Brisker didn't chase the action and the
actors. He simply stayed put and confidently recorded great production
audio.
"We had these big exterior shots," Brisker describes. "The sets
were
literally hundreds and hundreds of meters square. Needless to say, I was a
long way from the action a lot of the time. I've used a full-time wireless
boom with Lectrosonics since they came out with their original diversity
systems. The benefit of being wireless is that it gives the boom operator
the mobility to move around without having to spend valuable time
re-cabling. We can respond quite quickly to changing environments, or shots,
or lighting, and it allows me to stay out of the way, which is a real
benefit on a movie with sets as large as these.
But what about signal reliability over long distances? No worries, insists
Brisker. He has come to trust his Digital Hybrid Wireless system enough to
work comfortably while others do the roaming. "With Lectrosonics, I always
have had rock-solid signal," Brisker says surely. "Being able to work
at
such long range is a big help, especially for this movie. Without this
wireless system, I would have had to waste a lot of time wheeling my
100-pound cart up and down these incredibly long steep hills. Instead, I
could just concentrate on how I wanted to get the sound, not where I needed
to put my cart to get the sound."
Exactly how far does Brisker stay away from the action, thanks to
bulletproof wireless signal integrity? "I'm comfortable working from a
range
of about a city block to a block and a half," he offers. "However,
out on
the countryside, I think that we've had ranges of two to three city blocks!"
The Lectrosonics Digital Hybrid Wireless system offers multi-mode
compatibility via use of both digital hybrid and analog receivers.
Operational features of the MM400a UHF belt-pack transmitter include 256
synthesized frequencies, 100mW of output power, DSP based pilot-tone signal,
DSP-controlled dual envelope input limiter, and a water-resistant, machined
aluminum chassis.
Brisker's highly capable cart features six of the MM400a transmitters with
UCR411 receivers along with a Zaxcom Cameo digital mixer. For recording he
uses a brand-spanking-new Apple G4 PowerBook running audio recording
software specifically designed for production sound recording called
"Metacorder" by Gallery. Gallery is a UK-based pro audio design firm.
"Gallery is much like Lectrosonics in a way," offers Brisker. "You
can call
the guy who runs the company and tell him you have a software improvement
idea. If he likes it, you'll probably have the changes within the hour!"
Now having permanently abandoned his DAT machine, Brisker records all
production audio with Metacorder, burning DVD-Rs for his dailies. "Unlike
the DAT, which was able to record just two tracks at 16 bits, with the
PowerBook, I have the ability to record as many tracks as I could ever need,
and all in pristine 24-bit." says Brisker. "That's another reason
why I went
with the Digital Hybrid Wireless models. They eliminate audio companding,
allowing for a real 'microphone cable' type of sound."
While the fidelity and reliability of his Lectrosonics gear keeps Brisker
loyal as a customer, it is the company's dedication to customer service that
keeps him happy. "Lectrosonics is just a fabulous company to deal with,"
he
explains. "I'm always on the phone with Larry (Fisher, company president)
asking for hardware or software changes, and they have always accommodated
me. They have a really good attitude about it. They know that we, their
customers, are all professionals who know what we need and want. As a
result, Lectrosonics takes all feedback from their customers very seriously.
It means a lot to those of us that are out in the field."
While his job may be highly demanding, which can often result in high
pressure on set, Brisker insists that he simply loves his job. "Most of
the
other people on the set don't have a monitor, certainly don't have
headphones, and they really don't know what the cast are saying and how
things are going unless they go to see the dailies," he fondly explains.
"I
listen and watch it all day long, and really get to see it come together as
it happens. It's a great job and I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Lectrosonics Digital Hybrid Wireless(tm) microphone
system
gives location sound mixer, Darren Brisker reliable, flexible performance on
the set of "Wickerman" the upcoming Nicolas Cage movie.
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
