Mike Bettes
Lead meteorologist for The Weather Channel takes Sound Devices 302 along for a wild ride into the heart of Tornado Alley.
NEW YORK — When The Weather Channel's Tornado Hunt 2012 kicked off its fourth year of providing a live multi-platform experience that submerges viewers into the region known as Tornado Alley, Sound Devices' 302 portable field mixer was on hand to capture all of the heart-pounding, intense storm audio.
Returning for another season, Lead Meteorologist Mike Bettes and an expert team of storm chasers once again embarked on a journey to capture tornadoes live on air as well as online. Sound Devices' 302 was used in Bettes' vehicle, aka "The Bettes Mobile," to handle on-air audio for the live broadcasts originating from inside it. In addition, The Bettes Mobile was equipped with four vehicle-mounted HD cameras, which provided views of the on-camera talent broadcasting from the front passenger seat, forward-facing "dash-cam" point of views of the producer/driver and a rear-facing "backseat" camera, which allowed an additional meteorologist to participate. Another enhancement to this year's vehicle platform, an HD switcher with local control, was added. It enabled the on-camera talent to switch between any of the four cameras during live shots.
"Building a broadcast vehicle like The Bettes Mobile required reliable, robust and trusted gear," says Kevin Parrish, senior RF engineer, NBC Network News, Field & Satellite Operations. "Due to the nature of this assignment, it's not possible to provide field maintenance; everything needs to work correctly from day one. Equipment selection is key and that's why we selected the gear we did."
Developed specifically for audio-for-picture applications, Sound Devices 302 mixer is the perfect tool for production companies and camera operators looking to take control of their audio. Renowned for its size, flexibility, control and performance, the 302 is the most widely used compact-battery-powered professional audio mixer in its class. With important features to accommodate nearly any over-the-shoulder production, the 302 interfaces with wireless transmitters and receivers, camera audio inputs of all kinds and external audio recorders. Its microphone inputs share the same superb circuitry as the Sound Devices 552 Portable Production Mixer and MixPre-D Compact Field Mixer. The 302 is a complete field mixer, designed in a super-compact package. Controls are accessible on its three main surfaces, and its high-efficiency power circuitry runs the mixer from either three internal AA batteries or an external 5-18 VDC.
"Since Sound Devices mixers are pretty much a mainstay for our field audio production needs, they provide a 'standard platform' that most of our staff are well accustomed and completely familiar with their operation," adds Parish.