DPA Microphones Delivers For Game Of Thrones

Production Sound Mixer Daniel Crowley has discussed how DPA microphones have helped to deliver crucial sound for the latest season of HBO hit fantasy show Game Of Thrones.

"My first encounter with DPA was in music recording studios and I was drawn to the transparency of the sound the mics captured," explained Crowley. "When DPA started to develop its film and broadcast offerings, I was instantly a fan. Having been a boom operator for 15 years, I know how important a microphone and boom op are to the quality of what we deliver on a production. DPA lavs are preferred by all location sound crews on Game of Thrones and post production demands them. To me, no other microphone captures an actor's performance with as much integrity and authenticity as DPA. I believe the mic quality has a direct impact on how much an audience engages with an actor's performance, which is why I exclusively use DPA for Thrones."

Crowley continued: "Ten years ago, mixing lavs and booms could be ugly and jarring. With my DPA's I can provide a mix that compliments a performance. On Thrones, eight to10 speaking cast members in a scene is a regular occurrence. Mixing DPA boom mics with DPA lavs allows me to get the best of each actor's unique voice."

In total, Crowley uses six different DPA mics on set. For lavaliers, he uses DPA d:screet™ 4063 Miniature Omnidirectional with Lo-Sens & DC and d:screet™ 4080 Miniature Lavalier Cardioid Microphones. On boom, Crowley uses d:dicate™ 4011A and 4011C Cardioid and d:dicate™ 4017B and 4017C Shotgun Microphones.

"My favourite mic is the 4011C on the boom for interiors," he added. "After years of use, it still amazes me how much detail is captured, even when pushed out by lighting or some other extraneous force. In the most recent episode, Jon Snow pledged his allegiance to Dany, a scene where every word is important. Jon had no shirt on, which meant no lavs could be used, and the 'morning sun' lighting on top of the small four poster bed gave me mere centimetres above Jon and Dany's heads. I could barely squeeze the 4011's on poles over the actors, but even with limited space the results were astounding. This scene was mostly whispered but with my DPA's the viewers didn't miss a word."

Game of Thrones Season 7 was shot across various regions and in a range of temperatures. "We shot on location in a few different countries and landscapes," Crowley said. "DPA's are used in temperatures from -4 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The fact that we can rely on the DPA's to perform just as well after traveling all over different countries and inany temperature, speaks to the mics' robustness and reliability. All scenes demand the same attentiveness to the dialogue and my DPA's deliver every time."

The crews are also thankful for the DPA's when it comes to the extravagant costumes used on the show, with Crowley explaining: "The costumes in the Game of Thrones world are so varied: handmade dresses for Cersei and Dany, heavy cloaks for Jon Snow, armor for the Knights, and the White Walkers and Children of the Forest are in a whole different league. With the DPA mics, we can sew, glue, stick and staple lavs in every conceivable fashion through the costumes. It is astounding how much battering the mics can take and they still sound just as good as when they were fresh out of the box."

Looking ahead to the eighth – and final – series of Game Of Thrones, he added: "Season 8 is going to be massive and I can't wait to get started again. My DPA's will be right beside me and I look forward to using them on many different projects moving forward."

Photo credit: MACALL B. POLAY / HBO.

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(JP)