A new initiative for HDFC Bank, Tony Badu uses Deity THEOS for their advertising campaign
Introduction
Tony Babu, a sound mixer in India whose previous work includes the movie Kannur Squad and the award-winning TV show The Great Indian Kitchen, chose the Deity THEOS digital wireless microphone ecosystem to record the web series and TVC productions for HDFC Bank. The new productions for HDFC Bank were part of their Vigil Aunty series, a new initiative by the bank to combat and spread awareness of scams and fraud across India.
Photo Credit: Tony Babu – Working at distance from the talent on-set of HDFC Bank’s commercials
Challenges
The team faced multiple challenges during filming the HDFC Bank commercials, namely due to challenging environments. The unpredictable conditions caused extra environmental noise and they were often filming in crowded/RF-congested filming locations. Filming inside cramped apartments also meant a lack of space for crew members to be near the talent.
Solution: Deity THEOS
The Deity THEOS minimised environmental noise and enhanced clarity, which allowed them to capture authentic performances during every take. The robust RF performance ensured uninterrupted signal quality even in RF congested locations. THEOS’ lightweight design and comfort was appreciated by the artists, making it easier for extended shoots. The Sidus Audio App also meant they didn’t have to interact with the artists during cuts to operate parameters such as gain, sleep mode or power functions.
Tony remarked:
“The Deity THEOS wireless microphone system was chosen for our Film, Web Series, and TVC productions due to its unmatched combination of reliability, versatility, and performance”
Results and Feedback
The professional-grade solution that THEOS offers gave the team an impressive range of features for them to use during the HDFC Bank commercials such as inbuilt recording, integrated timecode, robust wireless signal stability and seamless app-based control. All of this, combined with the inexpensive nature of the THEOS system fills a gap within the production sound market, offering higher end, premium quality at a significantly lower price than the competitors. THEOS drastically improved workflow efficiency due to the seamless Sidus Audio app, which gives users complete control from remote distances, adding flexibility and convenience on-set.
The use of Deity THEOS within the Indian production sound market offers professional-grade solutions, impressive features and seamless workflow at an affordable price. One of the unique features is the fact that the Deity THEOS ecosystem is one of the only Digital UHF wireless systems on the market that can also recorder 32-bit float onboard, internally at the transmitter. The flexibility of THEOS allowed the team to use the system within multiple challenging environments and work efficiently on-set. Never having to worry about lost audio due to the backup file protecting them.
Along with THEOS, Tony and the team used additional Deity products such as the Deity S-Mic 3S microphone, Deity SL-1 Timecode Slate and TC-1 Timecode Generators. The S-Mic 3S’ ultra-lightweight build made it incredibly effective during tight interior scenes. The SL-1 Timecode Slate allowed for seamless timecode synchronisation through the Sidus Audio app and Deity ecosystem. Additionally, the battery life of the SL-1 allowed for continuous use for 2-3 days on a single charge, ensuring there were no interruptions throughout long shooting days.