Bartek Baranowski Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 Hi I'm writing to ask for advice for an upcoming job. It's an underwater shoot and here's the script: I'll have a presenter wearing diving gear going 15 m down into the sea. I need to record her dialog while she's in sea water 15m below and I'm on the surface on a boat with the recorder. I've never done such a thing yet and wonder if: 1. Can I and how to safely put the trx inside the diving foam and the mic in the "helmet" type mask? 2. will my Sennheiser 2000 bodypack G3 (100mw output) work and transmit the signal to the receiver which is 15m above the divers on a boat? 3. will water affect/alter the RF and singal in any ways? what is the best place inside a diver's foam to put the trx to best protect it from a possibility of sea water getting to it? 6. will placing it in a condom be an effective enough water protection? 5. are there any other precautions i need to take with such job? I know Lectrosonics make water resistant trx but thats not an option for me. I also dont have time to order any waterproof casing for the trx since the job is thisTuesday. Any advice appreciated Cheers Bartek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 does the dive suit have a communication system? if so there may well be an interface box on the surface that you can tap into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason porter Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 Any chance you can rent a Zaxcom system with the recording transmitter? Other than that...can you record the mic with a small flash recorder and send the headphone output IFB the recorder to the Tx? Chances are, the RF will not penetrate that much water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsnd Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 Chances are, the RF will not penetrate that much water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Collins Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 For future reference saw these guys at NAB years ago. They lean towards sports. Really really tiny TX's http://www.q5x.com/products/wireless-transmitters/qt-256-aquamic/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartek Baranowski Posted May 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 Hi, Thanks for the replays not sure about the communication system. will try to find out. slim chances for zaxcom gear for rent here Think my best bet might be to put a zoom 4hn into the suit but that'a a bit bulky and not sure it will fit into the suit without cousing too much discomfort for the diver. Unfortunately I can't check it until the actual shoot. Do you think RF will not go throgh that amount of water? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 one of the best things for absorbing rf is water. so i doubt youll get anything as soon as the transmitter is submerged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartek Baranowski Posted May 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 Ray, this Aquamic looks very nice indeed. do you know the pricing of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartek Baranowski Posted May 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 one of the best things for absorbing rf is water. so i doubt youll get anything as soon as the transmitter is submerged. aha, so that solves the "tx in the suit problem" i gues... thanks Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Norflus Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 Aside from the rf not penetrating the surface - which I don't think it will. I would be more concerned with the pressure at 15 meters on what ever equipment you send down there. I'm not sure but I don't think most equipment its rated for that depth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 No RF underwater, at least on the freqs we use for wireless. You have to get into the diver's own comm system (maybe be pretty strange sounding), and try the onboard-recorder thing. You need both, one for monitoring and a feed for cameras,the other for decent audio fi. phil p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominiquegreffard Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 I wouldn t put any non diving specific equipment down there. I also tend to think that the only way to acheive this is to tap into their communication system. Lav s sound like crap the second they get a drop of water on the capsule. Test test test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewFreedAudio Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 RF will not penetrate 15 meters of water. You will have to record both on the diver and tap in to the com system. Your best option that I'm aware of in terms if battery life, sound quality, and on-board recording is a Zaxcom transmitter. The Zoom recorder is very bulky and you still need to hard line a lav mic inside her dive gear. Water protection of the equipment is obviously a major factor. A small pelican case housing the transmitter/recorder will be your best bet (I think). You may need to drill a small hole for the lav cable to pass through then seal the opening with a silcon to prevent water from entering the case. In short...the Sennheiser G3 or 2000 system simply won't work for this application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pindrop Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 Might be worth calling these people, they seem to have a number of options - http://www.oceanreefgroup.com/index.html How much actual lip sync will be seen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Tirrell Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 I would go with one of the com units made for use underwater like the ocean reef. It is highly specialized so there are only a couple of manufactures but they will do the job. you might even be able to rent one from a local dive instructor or industrial dive company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Collins Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 Ray, this Aquamic looks very nice indeed. do you know the pricing of it? Sorry no, check their distributors, anybody heard of these guys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 This has come up before, and none of our usual equipment is even remotely suitable! the pressure of the water at 15 meters is tremendous, and special diving rated gear is absolutely required both for proper operation, and safety! BTW: NAUI certified since my teenage days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartek Baranowski Posted May 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 thank you all for your valuable input. I'm now sure not to attempt putting my tx down there and into a risk. also I feel wiser and more confident to explain to the producer (who says "it can def be done") why i'm not sending any of my equipment 15m down. I also spoke to the divers and they will try to get a special suit with the communication system for my to tap into. thanks again to you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted May 20, 2012 Report Share Posted May 20, 2012 " "it can def be done" " correct, just not without proper gear, and our gear is not the proper gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Tirrell Posted May 21, 2012 Report Share Posted May 21, 2012 " "it can def be done" " correct, just not without proper gear, and our gear is not the proper gear. +1 to that The correct kit for this is something along the lines of a full face mask with coms unit installed. The best examples of this that I can think of off the top of my head was anything done by Steve Irwin underwater where he would narrate through the com as he went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundslikejustin Posted May 21, 2012 Report Share Posted May 21, 2012 This is what is needed: http://www-oceantechnologysystems.clients.mwrc.net/through-water-communications-further-explained/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 RF is impeded by water As soon as my Lectro MM400's are submerged it's all over! I have used these units during Cousteau expeditions. http://www.oceantechnologysystems.com/commercial/ mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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