90 Day Fianc and DPA Microphones live happily ever after
Season 3 of the TLC Reality Series Recorded Using d:screet 4063 and 4098 Miniature Microphones and d:dicate 4017C Compact Shotgun Microphone.
TLC's 90 Day Fianc is a one-of-a-kind reality show, tackling the difficulties of international dating and matrimony. Now in its third season, the series follows as many as six couples, each comprising an American citizen and his or her love interest from abroad. Sound Engineer Jos Fr as uses DPA Microphones' d:screet 4063 Miniature Microphone and the d:dicate 4017C Compact Shotgun Microphone, as well as the SC4098 Podium Microphone to capture dialogue and ambient sound for a few of the show's newest pairs, based in locations such as Orwigsburg, PA and Rexburg, ID.
As 90 Day Fianc has multiple casts in various cities across the country, sometimes filming simultaneously, the show may employ a separate production team in each city. Though the main focus is on the couples, each cast typically includes as many as five or six participants at a time. This requires the sound engineer assigned to each production to wire and mic every key player, cover additional people using the boom microphone, in addition to using plant microphones for unique situations. DPA's line of world-renowned mics provide Frias and the Orwigsburg, PA/Rexburg, ID production team with the necessary adaptable tools to bring the audience through every real-moment of the couples' 90-day journey.
The d:screet 4063 Miniature Microphone is my go-to microphone for this show, says Fr as. As a sound mixer for a non-scripted show I'm required to mic all the main cast, which includes the couples and/or their family and friends. Additionally, the use of Zaxcom wireless allows me the adaptability and flexibility for this show, thanks to their wideband RF and backup recording features. The d:screet 4063 mics provide me a perfect match, with one of the most natural and transparent sounding frequency responses I've come across on any lavaliere mic, while being a fully functional pair to my Zaxcom wireless.
However, for obvious reasons, Fr as is unable to individually mic every single person that comes in front of the cameras. This is where the d:dicate 4017C fills the gap as my boom microphone. The 4017C is the lightest, smallest and best sounding short shotgun mic I've used. Its size and weight is ideal for non-scripted work where you may swing a boom pole for hours on end. Its polar pattern is forgiving enough to sound very good, even while slightly off axis, but provides enough reach to really dial in on the subject. Its frequency response is incredibly natural and transparent as well, making it a perfect match to use with my d:screet 4063 mics.
From a production standpoint, the scenes that take place during car trips are some of the biggest challenges for us, explains Fr as. This is where the DPA SC4098 Podium Microphones really come in handy. Since it's a fast-paced show, there is limited time to plan ahead. I have to be ready to set up and get going, and only have a couple of minutes to figure out what I want to do. The ease of operability of the SC4098s make that possible.
In order to capture the audio for these scenes, Fr as rigs the SC4098s to the car's visors with a mic clip. He plugs the gooseneck into a wireless transmitter, which is hidden inside the visor. He also created a custom-built dual-rig, which allows him to mount the microphones to the center stereo compartment of the car, with the mics pointed straight out, toward the driver and passenger.
For Fr as, the ultimate goal is always to provide the best sound possible, both technically and aesthetically. The frequency response of the SC4098 Podium Microphone is a little flatter and more transparent than competitor gooseneck mics, so the sound is more natural and flattering for dialogue, he says. Whether I'm using the SC4098, the d:dicate 4017C Compact Shotgun mic or the d:screet 4063 Miniature microphone, they all sound incredible. From a sound perspective, they're definitely my go-to solution.
Having become familiar with the company's products for classical and concert recording applications, Fr as was initially unaware of the microphones' production capabilities. I started using these mics for my shows merely from word-of-mouth recommendations, especially after having heard about the use of the d:screet 4061 and 4071 Miniature Microphones by production sound mixer Simon Hayes, who worked on the Academy Award-winning production Les Miserables, he explains. I decided to give the d:screet Miniature Microphones a try and have started to add to my collection with the d:dicate 4017C Shotgun Microphone, which is finding a place in all my current productions and will be used for all future productions as well. I'm also looking into the d:dicate 4018 capsule, with the supercardioid polar pattern, and the E pre-amplifier for stashing solutions. I'm a big fan of what DPA is doing.
A New York City-based sound engineer, Fr as has extensive experience working in the TV and film industries as a sound mixer and sound supervisor. With clients ranging from networks such as TLC, NBC, CBS, A+E, fyi, Discovery and Telemundo, to corporations such as Reebok, JP Morgan Chase and Mountain Dew, Fr as has worked on reality television shows, documentaries, narratives, commercials and live sound productions, among others.
For more information on TLC's 90 Day Fianc , visit: www.tlc.com/tv-shows/90-day-fiance.
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
90 Day Fianc and DPA Microphones live happily ever after
