News broke this week that, "Catgut Sound Owner and Production Sound Mixer Chris Welcker, CAS, has built a career at the intersection of music and film. A former musician and composer, Welcker worked his way up from utility sound technician to boom operator and ultimately department head. Known for projects that demand both cinematic storytelling and authentic musical performances, Welcker was brought onto the IMAX film “Sinners” as Production Sound Mixer, for which he relied on a comprehensive DPA Microphones’ package to meet the sonic demands of a 1930s-set horror drama steeped in live blues performances."
Welcker said in a statement that, “The theme itself is kind of hard to explain. It’s a multi-genre horror film and period drama that’s very heavy on the music. Because of the period nature of it, everything is unamplified: acoustic guitars with resonators, harmonicas and live vocals.”
He later told MC: “We were constantly balancing wide, cinematic shots with the need for intimate, authentic sound for the production of ‘Sinners’ — especially with so much live, acoustic music driving the story. DPA provided the consistency we needed across boom and lavalier microphones, which made it much easier to blend sources seamlessly in post while still preserving that natural, close-up feel. Whether we were hiding lavs in wardrobe to capture a guitar performance or using 4017 and 4018 capsules to navigate challenging environments, the clarity and reliability of the mics allowed us to stay creative with placement without compromising sound quality. They simply worked in noisy, uncontrolled locations and in demanding conditions like the humidity of Louisiana. That dependability made a huge difference for us every day on set.”
The company statement continues: "Capturing those performances authentically, and often with wide lenses that limited mic placement, required a flexible, consistent microphone ecosystem. Welcker utilized an extensive DPA package, including 4018 Supercardioid and 4017 Shotgun capsules with a rotation of A, B and C preamp bodies; 4097 Micro Shotguns for plant-miking; 4099 Instrument Mics; a 5100 Surround Microphone; and a full complement of lavaliers, including 4060, 4061, 6060 and 6061 Omnidirectional models. His boom operator, Ryan Farris, also brought additional DPA options from his music studio."
