#tools

When boarding the Overzetboot along the Visseskaai to cross toward Oosteroever, most people don’t really look at the boats and vessels around them. I see them concentrating on their smartphones for whatever interests them, but I always find myself wondering about the function of these boats and vessels stationed at the edge of the port.

Through some research, I’ve found that numerous activities require the presence of these boats and vessels for the well being of everyone at sea… Police, customs, and, of course, rescue services.

Just imagine being at sea on your pleasure boat, close to the coast if all goes well, but way too far if something goes wrong. You may find yourself in the water without any help, and your chances of survival could be drastically reduced.

That’s where rescue teams become crucial, for both pleasure boats and commercial or industrial vessels. The R6 Orca may be supported by a helicopter for certain missions, teamwork for everyone’s safety.

The R6 Orca caught my eye first because of its orange colour, of course, but even more so for its sporty aesthetic and it all makes sense. It’s a tool built to act fast in open water, in any kind of weather.

I’m definitely going to try to meet and speak with the rescue team. I’d like to find out whether they sometimes run prevention operations that I could join, so I could put together a short report on their daily activities including video and field recording.

To follow…

https://youtu.be/61FgzH94l9o?si=qzROpQ7jwFk-hN_U

The R6 – Orka is operated by the Kustwacht (Belgian Coast Guard) and stationed in Ostend.

Key SpecificationsLength: 19.60 meters

Width: 6.14 meters

Draught: 0.95 meters

Built: 2014 by Chantiers Navals Bernard SA (France)

Speed: 25 knots

Capacity: Space for up to 27 people in distress

Operations and EquipmentPropulsion: Powered by jet propulsion with 360° turning nozzles for high maneuverability in shallow waters and safety near people in the water.

Design: Features a low-freeboard aft deck for safe, fast recovery of survivors and a self-righting hull for heavy weather.

Crew: Typically manned by a captain, a sailor/lifeguard, and a rescue diver.

Dimitri Pike / Wildtek (http://wildtek.net / wildtek.concept@gmail.com)

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As I met more business owners and other people working in or around the fishing industry while field recording in Ostend, I noticed that even though my equipment was already top-level for capturing sounds all over the city, some elements were missing for interviews, and above all, for recording vessels passing by but out of reach.

So it was time to grab a few pieces that, while they don’t fully revolutionize my kit list, add exactly what I need to enhance what’s coming next for Wildtek @ Sea…

Rode AI-Micro

Might be the smallest sound card in the world! But it’s a genuinely great little unit for anyone shooting on one or two iPhones like me. It lets you connect two microphones straight to the iPhone, so you can record video with top-quality sound on the go. Simple, lightweight, straightforward. On another level, you can connect the output of, say, your DJ mixer, use your iPhone camera, and stream a DJ set without any hassle.

XLR to mini-jack cables

To connect XLR microphones like my two Clippy EM172s, or the output of my XONE:4D DJ mixer, these cables are a necessity. They carry pro audio-level output straight to the Rode AI-Micro sound card, basic, but essential.

Handle with hanging rope

Like a gun ;-) I do love guns… Another subject entirely. This element is essential too, since it lets me move around with an iPhone and a recorder connected together for filming and recording, lightweight, solid, easy to set up, and if needed, I can mount the whole rig on a tripod for extra stability or longer takes. Extremely efficient.

Tascam DR-05XP

The hype these last two years has been all about 32-bit. Everyone talks about the benefits. I love my 24-bit Zoom H5, and keeping my levels tight and working them is my job! But I wanted to try 32-bit and see for myself if the hype was real. So I bought the smallest model from Tascam to test it out. Since I got it, it never leaves my pocket, it’s with me at all times, ready to catch anything my ears pick up on my travels. I’m in love with it. Naturally, I now plan to get the Tascam Portacapture X8, which would become the master brain of my whole setup.

Zoom SSH-6

Even if I invest in a Tascam Portacapture X8, I’ll keep my partner of years, the Zoom H5. To record top-level interviews or distant vessels, I needed a shotgun microphone. Those tend to be pretty expensive, so the Zoom SSH-6 came as a nice alternative. Despite some harsh reviews floating around online, I’m genuinely impressed by this microphone and its plugin for managing Mid/Side recordings. Never forget: it’s not the gear that’s creative or great, it’s how you use it. You can own a €1,500 microphone and still record garbage or make magic with one that costs €130–150. Be creative ;) The only real letdown is the included dead cat, which just isn’t up to par, I need to find an alternative.

The magic: mounts and adapters

With iPhone holders, recorders, sometimes my camera, tripods, etc.. Everything needs to be tightly secured. I found a box full of all-in-one thread adapters, and it genuinely saved my life. It’s an essential part of my setup, since depending on the kind of recording I’m making, my gear needs to be attached one way or another. They come in handy :-)

The little things…

No need for a picture, but I bought a total of 16 rechargeable IKEA LADDA 2450 batteries, since they’re rock solid for my recorders. Why so many? Because my professional approach can’t allow running out of batteries mid-recording or mid-interview. Simple as that. I also picked up a second power bank so my iPhones are always ready to film too.

Next step?

The Tascam Portacapture X8 for sure, plus a refresh of my Sennheiser HD 25 Aluminium headphones. My DJ/studio/recording headphone for years, and for many more to come.

Dimitri Pike / Wildtek (http://wildtek.net / wildtek.concept@gmail.com)

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A couple of days before my birthday, I randomly found in the street this model fishing vessel, looking remarkably close to the many real-size fishing vessels of Ostend!

The detailing is quite faithful compared to the various vessels I capture in Ostend or Zeebrugge but, let’s be honest, the paintwork was likely done by a 5- or 6-year-old, and it’s not amazing at all…

Anyway, that’s where things get interesting… We all know those long winter evenings when it’s cold outside, rainy or snowy, right?

My idea is to completely rework the paint job in the Wildtek style… trying to imagine this fishing vessel as a personal boat of sorts.

So stay tuned, as I’ll be documenting the process on the blog.

The model is a classic 1:142 scale Revell North Sea Fishing Trawler plastic model kit (Kit No. 05204), originally introduced by Revell in 1970.

Dimitri Pike / Wildtek (http://wildtek.net / wildtek.concept@gmail.com)

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