Dozens of boats rowed towards the finish line in Rotterdam's Maas river on September 7th, 2024, celebrating 2024's World Ports Day. To capture the event from multiple angles for a promotional "after movie", a 3-person filmmaking crew was spread out to different boats along the river, communicating with each other using WiTalk9 WT3S. Water resistance, long-range, and reliability are what Sebastiaan liked about this system, who was leading the small team during the race.
(The racing boats of the Maasrace, 2024.)
"(We were) very close to the water"
Shooting a rowing event has a unique challenge that can hardly be found in other scenarios — equipment is easy to fall prey to splashes and even underwater moments, leading to damage and disrupted team communication. Traveling on fast and small boats, Sebastiaan listed equipment safety from water as one of the top challenges.
IPX5-rated, WiTalk9 can withstand splashes, rain, and other wet conditions, bringing peace of mind to the team when it comes to equipment safety.
"The headset did get wet, but it didn't affect the performance," said Sebastiaan, who used the system for about 7 hours that day.
(Sebastiaan Hofman using WiTalk9 to communicate with his small team.)
"(We were) regularly 200+ meters apart"
To capture the event from different angles, the small team was spread out on different boats. "(We were) regularly 200+ meters apart," said Sebastiaan, who had to direct the crew where to be.
"(The) range is excellent. We haven't experienced any dropouts." Enhanced with 2 antennas, WiTalk9 boasts a 500-meter line-of-sight range, giving teams ample space to move around without wrecking connection.
"We were on fast boats"
The reliability of communication tools matters in all sports events. And it was no exception this time. "...because it was a fast-paced shoot — we were on fast boats, so it was key that the system was reliable so that I would be able to communicate with the crew instantly and at all times," said Sebastiaan.
(Sebastiaan Hofman on a fast boat for capturing event moments.)
WiTalk9 was designed with reliability in mind — DECT-based so that its signals are less likely to be interfered with; the more efficient chip empowers the master headset to go 9 hours long and remote 15, so users are less likely to stop and switch battery mid-shoot; ClearTalk™ by Saramonic that cancels noise at 360°, so the team can get their messages across clearly.
The Availability of WiTalk9 and WiTalk9 SE
As of December 2024, the WiTalk9 and WiTalk9 SE are available in 36 countries and regions worldwide, with their availability continuing to expand.
Any content creation teams, filmmakers, and rental companies are encouraged to head to www.saramonic.com/buy/find-the-city to find their local distributor for a free demo and hands-on experience.
