Bristol-based audio post production provider, Wounded Buffalo Sound Studios, has provided an insight into the technology powering its work on natural history documentaries, explaining how it is able to overcome the challenges of capturing audio in often extreme environments.
Working on projects such as Planet Earth III and David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet means the team often deals with footage filmed in sub-optimal conditions for audio capture.
“We often work with footage that needs the sound to be reconstructed entirely. This means creating a soundscape that is believable yet captivating,” said mixer, Ben Peace, who joined the company in 1997.
“We do get some atmospheric sound if we’re lucky,” Peace added. “Sometimes they’ll leave a remote camera with a built-in mic somewhere, and even though the sound can be pretty terrible, it’s really useful. It lets us know what we’re supposed to be aiming for.”
“Each layer is pretty fastidiously researched,” added studio manager Jim Jacobs. “The wrong bird at the wrong time of day can ruin the authenticity.”
The company’s facilities include three dubbing theatres featuring Dolby Atmos and six edit suites:
- Dubbing Theatre A (Dolby Atmos): Avid Pro Tools HDX system with S6 M40 console, and wall-to-wall speakers.
- Dubbing Theatre B: Avid S6 control surface and Pro Tools.
- Dubbing Theatre C: Two Avid S1 modules and Avid Dock.
- Sound Editing Suites: Pro Tools with various plugins including iZotope RX, a noise reduction software package.
Avid’s S6 control surface provides Wounded Buffalo with a versatile integration solution, enabling efficient workflows. Studio manager, Jim Jacobs, said, “Everything is in one place. The integration is seamless, and it brings forward everything we need for a session.”
Looking to the future, the team is exploring new use cases and interesting ways of providing immersive sound experiences. “We’re constantly evolving. Avid solutions enable the team’s creativity and precision, ensuring that their work continues to captivate and immerse audiences around the world,” said Jacobs.
