Award-winning Australian documentary series Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked has utilized Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve Studio for its editing, grading, visual effects (VFX), and audio post production. The three-part series, which won the 2022 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program, features British-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes exploring the concept of “a fair go” in contemporary Australia.
Series Overview
Margolyes engages with a diverse array of Australians, including students, the homeless, nudists, comedians, Indigenous people, and LGBTQI+ community members, to understand the relevance of “a fair go” in their lives. This series is a follow-up to Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian, another acclaimed documentary from 2020, both produced by Southern Pictures for ABC.
Sound Mixing Process
Mark Tanner handled the sound mixing for Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked using DaVinci Resolve Studio’s Fairlight page and a Fairlight Desktop Console. Tanner utilized the Fairlight console for recording, track laying, and mixing, while also accessing other features within DaVinci Resolve as needed.
“Fairlight is the main page I used,” Tanner said. “I dip into other pages like the edit page to organize media.” He emphasized the console’s 12-channel fader and LCD monitors, along with its extensive range of sound effects and plugins available within Fairlight.
Advancements in DaVinci Resolve
Tanner highlighted several improvements in DaVinci Resolve since Blackmagic Design acquired Fairlight. These enhancements include faster processing speeds, a streamlined bussing system, better sound effects management, and an efficient output system that allows for quick configuration of stem outputs.
“The timeline system is a delight,” Tanner noted. “It enables me to manage project changes with confidence.” He also praised the ease of automation management within DaVinci Resolve, which facilitates rapid recuts and revisions.
Technical Support
Tanner expressed initial concerns about losing high-level technical support after Fairlight was integrated into Blackmagic Design. However, his fears were alleviated by the prompt responses from Blackmagic Design’s technical team.
“I receive replies to email inquiries within minutes,” Tanner stated. “The technical support team is committed to resolving issues quickly and with great attention to detail.”