The Danish docudrama “1864” is a docudrama about the war between Denmark and Germany that occurred in 1864. It is currently being filmed at various locations in the Czech Republic and Denmark.
The 22m recording of “1864” will be the foundation for both a movie and a TV-series to be released in 2014 to mark the 150th anniversary of the war.
Ministi Film and Martin Saabye Andersen (sound mixer) are spearheading the project.
Andersen decided to utilize transmitters and receivers from Lectrosonics throughout the shoot for their trustworthiness and reliable operation.
There are several challenges in handling sound recording in drama documentaries. The complex, historically correct costumes require careful concealment of the microphone in order to obtain the best possible recording while avoiding unwanted noise from the movement of the clothes.
Noise from the environment, such as cars passing on the street, crew, wind or animals, can be problematic. In addition, the large variation of the sound pressure from intimate dialogue to passionate arguments can make recording tricky.
Lastly is the potential for drop-outs on the wireless system caused by interference.
Andersen takes care of the varied conversation sound levels with the use of gain adjustment through the convenient LectroRM App for Apple and Android, and the sophisticated DSP-based limiter in the Lectrosonics transmitters.
The potential for drop-outs is handled with the reliable Lectrosonics wireless link. With optimized transmitters and highly sensitive receivers, the radio link is secure and reliable, and affords Andersen the ability to focus on the other challenges and reduce the risk of failures.
The use of the systems has been challenged with a random 250m tour in open terrain with steady cam. The Lectrosonics wireless equipment performed flawlessly with no dropouts and strong signal. This is one of the reasons Lectrosonics is Andersen’s preferred wireless system.
The equipment used on the set is Lectrosonics Octopack with 4 SRA/SRB receivers, 7 SMB transmitters, and 1 SMDB connected to an Ambient UMPII phantom power supply for boom with a DPA 4017 microphone.
For the talent, the choices were DPA 4060 and 4061 microphones. For recording, an Aaton Cantar X1 is deployed.
Ministi Film was forced to find a new solution for the wireless equipment, as Denmark previously used the 800-820 MHz band (from 2013 for LTE) for wireless microphones.
After various tests, the choice was Lectrosonics with its range of SR receivers in Octopacks and SM and SMD transmitters. The choice was clear with Lectrosonics’ emphasis on sound quality, ease of use, range, size, reliability and price.
Ministi Film has played a major part in some of the recent successes of Danish Film—not only by supplying the on-location recording, but also with postproduction in a Dolby and THX certified cinema screening facility at their Lyngby Office.
Even as it seems popular to increase the bandwidth of the wireless systems, there has not been any problem to facilitate 8 simultaneous channels in block 24. In Prague, there are two adjacent TV channels in the upper 10 MHz of block 24.
If a channel needs to be moved, the handy LectroRM app makes it easy to change the channel on the transmitter, even when concealed in wardrobe. Further, the talent thinks it is cool to be reprogrammed, however; not too often!
