Safety

This pandemic has altered the way we do business in the (hopefully) short term. We’re nearly out of it, but until we get the all clear from IATSE and the studios, here are the steps I am taking to continue to ensure safe production.

Cleanliness was always an important part of sound even before this pandemic. Gently rub all of your wires with rubbing alcohol swabs whenever a lav, transmitter, or IFB changes hands.  Considering Limit contact with talent whenever possible by wiring lavs into wardrobe whenever possible (and always monitor placement), and make sure the same pair of hands is in contact whenever possible (I typically split lav duties with my A2, .
Wear a mask, and wash your hands whenever possible. I always keep hand sanitizer at the sound cart.

The truth is, you don’t always need a lav, and they are usually used as a failsafe. Many interviews are better served logistically with only a boom, and the sound is usually preferable. Talk to your mixer before each take and see what the scene actually requires. 

 

For those scenes when lavs are an absolute must, I use the Zaxcom ZMT-X transmitter. In addition to being an excellent sounding, long distance transmitter, these devices record ONTO the transmitter, meaning less monitoring and maintenance is required. Most importantly, they feature a BT100 battery with up to 12 hours battery, and power and frequency can be changed remotely from the mixer. This means talent can stay wired up all day with significantly reduced contact from the sound mixer.

Anything beyond a sit down interview or a run and gun ENG shoot with limited talent requires a Boom Op, so why not have that Boom free to move around whichever way makes the set safest?  Just like the above mics, Zaxcom’s TRX742 records onto the transmitter and have a full day battery.

Confidence monitoring is even more important now that clients and producing are more frequently separated from set. I provide long range IFBs, but am also prepped for Zoom and other streaming monitors. On larger productions I provide my own monitor to reduce my need to be by video village.