Versatility and scalability drive success for leading UK production sound company
- Soundcatchers scales productions using Sound Devices 8-Series mixer/recorders as the core of their high-performance workflow.
- The 8-Series delivers the compact power, rugged build, and high channel density the team relies on for fast-paced shoots.
- Astral Wireless enables reliable performance on complex, multi-zone productions, including tightly confined shoots with numerous transmitters.
LONDON, UK, July 16, 2026 — Soundcatchers is one of the UK’s most in‑demand production sound teams, built around a versatile team of production sound professionals easily able to accommodate shoots of any size – from streaming and broadcast to high‑volume YouTube productions – while maintaining consistent, top‑tier audio quality. Key to the team’s success has been their adoption of a fully scalable, high‑performance workflow built around Sound Devices 8‑Series mixer/recorders and Astral Wireless to meet the rapidly evolving demands of modern media production.
Designing workflows for versatility and scale
Soundcatchers has become a first‑call audio partner for leading media organizations including the BBC, Netflix, Sidemen, Beta Squad, and Channel 4. Their reputation has been built on the ability to adapt instantly to any production environment and scale up or down as required by the shoot, which Founder and Technical Director Paul Cameron attributes this to the team’s diverse experience and a shared passion for problem‑solving.
“We all come from various disciplines of the pro audio industry which give us versatility as a team that you might not find in one purely sourced from location sound experience,” he states. “That collective ability has allowed us to easily adapt to any shoot and provide exactly what is required for each production.”
“As the demands of production have evolved and become more ambitious, we’ve definitely become known for being problem‑solvers,” he continues. “To that end, we’ve built a workflow around Sound Devices mixer/recorders and wireless devices because it provides us with the most power and flexibility within the smallest possible footprint.”
Setting the pace with Sound Devices 8-Series
From both a technical and operational standpoint, Soundcatchers’ versatile mobile recording rigs are built around Sound Devices 888 and Scorpio mixer-recorders, with Astral ARX32 Wireless Receivers and Astral Mini and Astral TX Transmitters for RF duty.. The high channel counts, ample audio routing options, and flexible control scheme fit the fast-paced environments the team often finds themselves in. “We’re often working extremely quick shoots that last a day or less, so one needs to be able to rig it all, do the shoot, and de‑rig it very quickly to be effective,” explains Soundcatchers Sound Supervisor George Precious, “Logistically you want as little kit as possible that can accomplish the job well, and be rugged enough to handle the pace of production.
“Ultimately Sound Devices offers the most complete solution for us that checks all of these boxes,” he continues. “The form factor of their mixer/recorders is perfect for our needs because they over-deliver in terms of channel count and adaptability for the size. We can easily spec a job with as many channels as we need for the 888 or Scorpio, and the ability to control all of this and the Sound Devices’ wireless via Dante has been a total gamechanger for us as a company.”
Behind the Scenes of Netflix’s ‘Inside’
Controlling RF complexity with seamless Astral system
The Soundcatchers team found itself pushing this gear to the limit on a recent Netflix Inside production that required them to bridge the gap between studio capability and the speed and flexibility required in a fast-paced reality TV-style production. The shoot took place in a tight, multi‑zone environment, with all contestants wearing Astral Mini or Astral TX transmitters alongside a mic for the host.
“This was a very complex shoot within a very cramped space,” says Cameron. “There were eight different ‘zones’ inside the house, all with contestants wearing Astral Mini or Astral TX transmitters as well as the host needing a push to talk mic. We utilized our Sound Devices Scorpio with an Astral ARX32 as the RF Command hub.”
“We were able to use Dante over wi‑fi to provide us with four different iPads being used as mixers,” adds Precious. “This gave us an incredible amount of control without having to run extensive cabling and disrupt the action in any way. It felt like something a mad scientist would put together, but having the ability to seamlessly control that much complexity and offer something that sounded great and was stable was perfect for what the production required.”
As production expectations escalate, Soundcatchers continues to evolve — powered by the team’s shared commitment to innovation and a readiness to push their Sound Devices gear to its limits. “Even theoretically ‘simple’ shoots are much more complex from a sound capture and RF perspective now than they were even a decade ago,” says Cameron. “Our strength as a team is that we love what we do and figuring out new and exciting ways to solve these problems as they arise.”
“Sound Devices gear plays a big role for us in doing that, and has been instrumental in our ability to deliver the best audio that we can, every time!”
For more information about Soundcatchers, please visit: soundcatchers.co.uk
About Sound Devices
For more than 25 years, Sound Devices has created premier audio equipment that helps sound professionals capture superior audio. The company’s products have been used for an array of applications, from award-winning feature films and television shows, to live events, houses of worship, and educational applications. Sound Devices designs, assembles, and supports its products at their Reedsburg, Wisconsin, headquarters and their Madison, Wisconsin, and Rickmansworth, UK, offices.
For more information, visit sounddevices.com.
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