audio for wedding video

[chris f]

I've done a few wedding videos in the past, all in which I was friends or knew the bride/groom, so I did it for them for pretty cheap and they were easy going so the production quality didn't have to be 100%. Anyways I have my first gig in which the people that hired me are complete strangers (neighbor of someone that I have done work for) and being someone that double, triple, and quadrouple checks everything, I'm a little nervous about guaranteeing good audio. In the past depending on the church I have just hooked into their soundboard and if not, just went with the on camera mics. I have worked at the church that this upcoming wedding will be at and they do have a soundboard, but do you have any suggestions on what I should use as a backup or if the soundboard doesn't work out? here: http://newmedia.iupui.edu/j/17 is a list of audio equipment I have available to me for free. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[chris f]

anybody? sorry if this is a newbie question, but i need help

[Luis Caffesse]

I would use one of your wireless mics on the groom.
Together with the sound coming off the board, you should be fine.
Another option would be to take the shotgun you have and put that on the camera, if you're just looking for a 'backup' option.

But personally, I would put a wireless on the groom.
When I shot weddings we would always put a wireless on either the groom or the priest (though I prefer groom), and a shotgun on the main cam to pick up ambient sounds.

But with sound coming off the board, you should be covered - but your'e right to worry, and you're right to make sure you have a backup.

Without audio, a wedding video is meaningless.
Best of luck on your shoot - don't worry about being nervous - it's when we're NOT nervous that we make mistakes.

[Matt Sconce]

I triple backup. Sound goes wrong and when it does, you are done. I use a wireless mic to one camera and put it on the groom. I then use another wireless mic and put it on the pastor. I then have an alesis Master disk recorder plugged into the sound system to get a master copy. I have had a mic go out on the groom before.

[chris2]

Back up whatever wireless you use with a non-wireless. The on cam shotgun will probably not be close enough to your source to pick up the bride & groom clearly and with enough volume - although with the proper techniques you can boost the level in your editing system by doubling the audio track instead of just increasing the level - that is, if you end up having to use the on cam shotgun as a last resort. If you can
run both the wireless and the shotgun on your camera simultaneously, that's an option.

I agree about wireless on the groom. A second wireless can also - depending on the physical setup at the altar - be taped out of site on the kneeler or other area near the bride & groom - omnidirection lav best. I've had good results with this.

Some kind of disk recorder could instead be used at that location, or go direct into the sound board. Disk recorders of course require later syncing up in post, but not hard to do especially with just one long take.

Going into someone else's sound board is a crap shoot. If you do it, at least have two other sound sources going.

You probably already know this, but use only new totally fresh batteries.