READ THIS FIRST - Audio 101: Helpful links and information

[Alex H.]

Welcome to the Audio forum!

There’s a whole lot of good information around here, and a quick search may show that your question has already been asked, and answered. To help you get started, here are some threads that may be very helpful.

If you are new to the world of audio, please check these out:

NEW TO AUDIO? READ THIS FIRST, PLEASE

SOUND FOR FILM AND TELEVISION (DVD training resource, also now available as a download)

MICROPHONE FUNDAMENTALS video series, covers lots of basics on mic patterns, design, and construction.

DIFFERENT SIGNAL TYPES, if you're trying to make sense of different connector types and the mic- or line-level signals that flow through them.

AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE SOUND DEPARTMENT is a great overview of how good production sound on a film should be a cooperative effort among departments, and not just up to the sound crew. Read this to understand an increasingly-lost on-set protocol.

If you’re looking to purchase a microphone, there are several reviews and comparisons:

LAV ARTICLE DEBUTS

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A SHOTGUN/CARDIOID

SIDE-BY-SIDE SHOTGUN SHOOTOUT

LAV SHOOTOUT! RODE, TRAM, SANKEN, & SENNHEISER

THE RODE NTG-3... THE POOR MAN'S 416?

THE RODE BLIMP SYSTEM... A QUICK OVERVIEW

TY FORD'S MIC TUTORIAL

For audio production/post-production techniques and information:

HIDING A LAV MIC

HOW TO USE A LAV MIC

A COMPILATION OF LESSONS FROM THE FIELD

MAKING YOUR FILM SOUND LIKE IT HAD A BUDGET

COMPILATION OF POST AUDIO INFORMATION

SOUND TREATMENT FOR YOUR EDIT BAY: A Good Place to Start

THE MUSIC VIDEO "SLOW MOTION WITH LIP SYNC" FORMULA

And before you ask about a wireless mic system, please read:

THE $500 WIRELESS QUESTION, OR, “WHAT CHEAP SYSTEM SHOULD I GET?”

HOW TO SPOT A COUNTERFEIT SENNHEISER G2 WIRELESS SYSTEM

SENNHEISER FREQUENCY FINDER (find available wireless frequencies in your area, USA)

LECTROSONICS FREQUENCY CHARTS (for US and Europe)

FCC REALLOCATES 700MHz BAND (for users in North America)

If you're looking at a portable audio recorder, please start here:

THE $300 RECORDER QUESTION, OR, "WHICH CHEAP RECORDER SHOULD I GET?"

Last, before you decide to use copyrighted music without permission:

LEGALLY-LICENSED MUSIC, OR, "YES! YOU CAN LICENSE MUSIC FOR YOUR VIDEO!"

[Alex H.]

Sound for DSLR

With the cameras forming a large user base for film and video, sound for DSLR is a growing hot topic. Here are some links of interest for those seeking audio solutions for their DSLR productions.

SHOOTOUT OF THE MINI-SHOTS (comparison of camera-mount shotguns with 1/8" TRS connections)

SOUND DEVICES MIXPRE-D

JUICEDLINK PREAMP & BRACKET DEMO

FOSTEX DC-R302

TASCAM DR-60 (announced at NAB 2013)

[Alex H.]

Hypercardioids are a hot topic around here, because they're a great starting place for dialog with interiors. It's not that shotguns cannot function indoors, but generally speaking the hypercardioid is going to be a better choice. In fact, the hyper may be needed outdoors if in a setting with lots of reflective surfaces.

The models that come up the most around here:

Oktava MK012
AKG Blueline CK93
Audio Technica AT4053b

And one that makes a great, budget-minded option at about $200 is the Audio-Technica U873r. It's marketed as a handheld condenser mic, but it's right at home at the end of a boom pole.

There are, of course, high-end offerings from companies like Schoeps, but in the sub-$1000 range those above are the most discussed. Here are some threads to get you started:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...r-the-AT-4053b

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...-Audix-SCX1-HC

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...-on-self-noise

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...ght-interviews

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...K93-or-AT4053B

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...-AKG-Blue-CK93

[Alex H.]

Another question that pops up quite frequently is the subject of the hand-held ENG mic. Used either hard-wired to camera/recorder, or with a plug-on wireless transmitter, this mic is common in ENG (Electronic News Gathering) for interviews. Generally speaking, this mic will be a dynamic, omnidirectional mic. Omnis may seem counter-intuitive, since such a wide response wouldn't seem appropriate for in-the-field work where background sounds can be varied and unpredictable. As the mic is dynamic, and has an effective working distance of about a foot, its omnidirectional pattern isn't going to create problems.

In fact, that pattern is advantageous in interview situations. Should the interviewer/reporter be just a tad slow in moving the mic back and forth, the omni response will pick up the other person even before the mic is in place.

There are several threads around here that discuss hand-held ENG mics:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...-interview-mic

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...held-solutions.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...andheld-to-buy

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...85635-Hand-mic

[Jason Ramsey]

great work, Alex.