Andrew Wilson Champions NUGEN Audio To Craft Authentic Film Sound

For more than 30 years, re-recording mixer Andrew Wilson, AMPS, CAS, has brought the natural world to audiences with meticulously crafted sound on landmark series including "Blue Planet" and "Planet Earth." In recent years, he has gravitated towards feature-length documentaries, drawn to the shared, big-screen experience and the opportunity to present powerful real-life stories. Whether mixing 5.1 for festivals or preparing versions for streaming platforms, Wilson's guiding principle is that audio should always serve the narrative.

To ensure mixes remain clear and consistent wherever they are heard, Wilson leans on NUGEN Audio plug-ins, which he calls "a completely safe pair of extra hands." Core tools in his setup include the VisLM Loudness Meter and the ISL Limiter.

With broadcast documentaries demanding subtler dynamics than tentpole films, Wilson relies on NUGEN to stay within spec without interrupting creativity. "VisLM is in almost every session I run, without fail, because I trust it," Wilson says. "I believe it to be entirely accurate; I get less grief from quality control when I use VisLM. Its interface supports the creative process, rather than interrupts. I can have it running on a screen off to one side and can quickly see if I'm drifting out of spec. Additionally, ISL is usually there as my safety net. I know that I'm not going to get a spreadsheet full of checks back from QC when I have these plug-ins in place."

Because many documentaries depend on library cues or stereo-only composer deliveries, Wilson frequently turns to NUGEN's Halo Upmix to build believable space rapidly and cleanly. "Halo Upmix is my go-to tool to get my music into the surrounds, because very often I don't get stems—just a single track," he explains. "The result is instant, faithful expansion. Halo Upmix is just a gift because it's completely transparent. I upmix into 5.1, sometimes even Atmos, and I can fully trust it."

That confidence lets him focus on the story instead of technical pitfalls. "NUGEN has made sure it's going to work," he says. "I'm left with a completely transparent tool where I can get on with producing a creative mix without having to worry about 'is this going to downmix?' "

Wilson recently beta-tested NUGEN's DialogCheck Speech Intelligibility Meter, which validated his approach across playback environments. "I tried the plug-in, and it basically told me everything was good. It reinforces that I'm right about the fact that a mix will translate accurately. Regardless of whether the content is streamed online or shown at a movie theater, you will be able to hear the words. I have a feeling this tool will shine best for ensuring clarity in unpredictable reality-capture environments."

An early adopter of the brand, Wilson has amassed nearly the company's full catalogue. "I think I own every plug-in they make," he says. "I know I can always trust the NUGEN tools, and that reliability is critical when budgets tighten and fast turnarounds pressure creative teams. NUGEN Audio has a small range of products, done brilliantly."

Even after decades in the business, Wilson remains energised by new ideas and tools. "Every now and then, someone comes out with a tool that I didn't know I needed. I'm always eager to see what NUGEN has coming down the line."

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