For over two decades, production sound mixer Greg Murphy has been the man in the background capturing pristine audio for high-profile network shows, documentaries, and news. Working with a client list that spans major networks like ESPN, HBO, Fox News, and the MLB Network, Murphy’s fast-paced Electronic News Gathering (ENG) workflow demands equipment that is unfailingly reliable. To navigate everything from presidential interviews to theme park roller coasters, Murphy relies on an core kit of Lectrosonics gear, anchored by DCR822 Compact Dual Channel Digital Receivers and SMDWB Dual Battery Miniature Wideband Transmitters.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Murphy’s journey into production sound began in 1996. After working as a DJ, he started in television as a production assistant and grip, eventually helping camera operators run small audio mixers during two-man field shoots. “Since I had a knowledge of audio, I grew into it quickly,” Murphy recalls. Over his career, he has wired up CEOs, national dignitaries, and every U.S. President since Bill Clinton.
One of his most memorable assignments involved miking President George W. Bush at Camp David. After wiring the President, Murphy realized he had forgotten to introduce himself. “I said, ‘Mr. President, I totally messed up and forgot to tell you my name. It’s Greg Murphy.’ He sized me up and said, ‘You look like a Murphy, I’m going to call you Murph!'” For the next several days, “Murph” captured pristine, hit-free audio using his Lectrosonics equipment, even while roaming the RF-heavy Oval Office.
Seeking a lifestyle change and less travel, Murphy relocated with his family from New York City to Florida in 2016. Today, his primary go-to audio bag features a Sound Devices 633 paired with two Lectrosonics DCR822 receivers, giving him four immediate channels of high-quality wireless. “I love the 822 receivers; the technology gives me the flexibility to scan and navigate the dense RF ‘schmutz’ when doing major sporting events like MLB Spring Training,” Murphy explains.
“I love the 822 receivers; the technology gives me the flexibility to scan and navigate the dense RF ‘schmutz’ when doing major sporting events like MLB All-Star Game or World Series,” Murphy explains.
For unpredictable Florida locations, such as theme parks, the internal recording capability of his Lectrosonics SMDWB dual-battery transmitters is a critical failsafe. “If I’m doing a feature at Disney and the talent is on a roller coaster, obviously I can’t ride along with my audio bag,” he notes. “Its internal recording capability is a lifesaver and gives me that extra assurance that I can get the job done.”
Other essentials in Murphy’s wireless arsenal include Lectrosonics UCR411a Digital Hybrid Wireless Compact Receivers, SMQV Dual Battery Digital Hybrid Wireless UHF Belt-Pack Transmitters, and HMa Digital Hybrid Wireless UHF Plug-On Transmitters
Murphy’s audio philosophy centers on uncompromising quality and extreme preparedness. “Chance favors the prepared mind, so I prepare endlessly,” he says, noting that he used to mic his own children when they were crawling babies just to practice getting clean audio in unpredictable situations.
This intense preparation requires durable gear. Murphy recalls a hog-hunting reality show where a Lectrosonics UM400 transmitter was submerged in floodwater. “The transmitter went through thick wastewater. I thought it was dead, but after it dried out, it went right back to work,” he shares.
“Reasons like that reinforce why Lectrosonics has always been my go-to for wireless, I just know that they are not going to let me down” Murphy concludes. “I’ve worked in over 100-degree heat and freezing weather. Lectrosonics always turns on, always works, and always gives me what I need.”
