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Lectrosonics Plays Key Role In Capturing Audio For Documentary On Lions

Four-part series focuses on animal behaviorist's up close work with lions, requiring electronics to be robust

Location sound recordist Sebastian Dunn utilized Digital Hybrid Wireless technology from Lectrosonics for his work on a 4-part series with a working title of “The Origin of Cats,” scheduled to be shown on British Sky Broadcasting’s Sky 1 TV.

The documentary, which took Dunn to Namibia and South Africa, focuses on animal behaviorist Kevin Richardson’s work with lions. A requirement is that the electronics used to capture audio have to be robust.

“I’ve been using Lectrosonics gear for over 20 years,” Dunn reports. “I started with the company’s M185 transmitters and CR185 receivers, later upgraded to the UM and SM transmitters, UCR411 receivers and, from there, I acquired SMQV super miniature transmitters and SRb dual slot ENG receivers.”

Dunn has been working in location sound since 1993. The first milestone in his career occurred when he covered the post-apartheid elections in South Africa for Sky News. In 2013, he was nominated in the Sound Factual category for the illustrious BAFTA Television Craft Awards. The nomination was received for his work on “Brazil” with Michael Palin.

“My contribution to the show took place in Namibia and South Africa,” he continues, “and for this, I used two SMQVs and the SRb—both on block 26. I also used a Lectrosonics SNA600 dipole antenna.” The production company is Bristol-based Offspring Films in the UK, slated for release mid-2015.

“Throughout most of my career,” he explains, “I’ve been traveling and, for the most part, working in technically challenging environments. Having used almost every wireless system on the market, there is none more robust and durable than Lectrosonics. I’ve successfully used them in extreme 130 degree heat as well as sub-zero environments.

“As my locations are always so varied and unpredictable, I can’t always check frequency compatibility but, for the most part, have not encountered problems severe enough to rule out the use of wireless mics. The SNA600 antenna is also a valuable part of my kit—particularly when the RF range is questionable. The addition of the LectroRM app for my iPhone has also been extremely useful so that I can make hasty changes on the fly.”

Dunn describes what the equipment typically encountered with Richardson” “The fully grown lions can be very rough and physically jump on him and push him around. When I asked to wire Kevin up, he said it was a huge risk. Having worked with many film crews in the past, Kevin said that most transmitters got damaged by his lions. When I mentioned that I only use Lectrosonics transmitters, his eyebrows lifted. ‘They’ll handle the punishment’ he said. Reluctantly, I clipped my SMQV onto the inside of his belt.”

“Once the crew was safely on the vehicles,” Dunn adds, “the female lioness Olivia was released and immediately launched herself onto Kevin—knocking him right off his feet. For 5 minutes, they ‘played’—with the 300 pound lioness rolling onto him and knocking him about like a ragdoll. The audio was solid throughout the interaction. Then Kevin said that the vehicles were too much of a distraction for the lions. He wanted to go further into the bush to get away from us. We mounted a few GoPro camera’s onto him and off he went. I estimate he went a third of a mile away but, with the use of the SNA600 antenna, my signal was rock solid.”

Lectrosonics
Sebastian Dunn

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