3 mics for 2 channels

[kalos]

hi

just a question with regards to recording audio with only a mixer and xdhdcam.

i regulary work on tv shows that have 1-2 presenters which is fine.... i would like to know my options with recording more than 2 presenters at once to get all the audio onto the camera tape/disc.

currently i use a split track so ch1 left and ch2 right on the camera inputs coming from my mixer. this works perfectly as the audio for each person is clean and on separate tracks. but if a 3rd or 4th person was to be used in the one shot, will the audio be phased or less quality if i have 2 presenters on ch1 and the other on ch2?


i use radio mics mostly as all shots are mostly wide and unable to boom.


is the only option to use a separate recorder for the extra tracks?

 

[Steve House]

hi

just a question with regards to recording audio with only a mixer and xdhdcam.

i regulary work on tv shows that have 1-2 presenters which is fine.... i would like to know my options with recording more than 2 presenters at once to get all the audio onto the camera tape/disc.

currently i use a split track so ch1 left and ch2 right on the camera inputs coming from my mixer. this works perfectly as the audio for each person is clean and on separate tracks. but if a 3rd or 4th person was to be used in the one shot, will the audio be phased or less quality if i have 2 presenters on ch1 and the other on ch2?

i use radio mics mostly as all shots are mostly wide and unable to boom.

is the only option to use a separate recorder for the extra tracks?

Put 2 on one channel and 1 one on the other. The two mics that are mixed onto the same channel should be the two that are the farthest apart in order to minimize phase issues. Gets a bit trickier with 4 mics and you may need to ride gain or go to double system with a multi-track recording option.

 

[Alex H.]

Using a mixer with direct outs to a 4-track recorder (such as the SD 442 mixer feeding the SD 744T recorder) is ideal, as it gives complete mix control in post from the individual mics. However, this isn't always practical, especially due to cost.

For news-magazine shows that I've done (think HGTV and related networks) that were host-driven, we'd often have the host interview a pair of homeowners or business owners. I always put the host on Ch. 1 so that his/her audio is clean. The other two I mix to Ch. 2, but this can lead to the phasing issue. To avoid that, ride the levels of the mics that are mixed together. Turning one slightly up and the other slightly down to favor one voice will generally avoid any phase cancellation artifacts. But it does take a hand on the mixer at all times as you'll have to flip back and forth to favor each person as s/he speaks.

 

[jmm]

C2V thats a really good set-up, but really expensive.

A cheaper way to do it ...
You can record whit the Tascam DR-680 8-Track Portable Field Audio Recorder instead of the SD744T, and use a PSC ALPHAMIX 4-Channel instead of the sound device 442 ( save money here again ).

But like steve said there is a way to mix everything in stereo if you can have somebody on the set to do it right.

 

[Alex H.]

C2V thats a really good set-up, but really expensive.

... which would be why I said it is ideal but that cost can be a factor.

A cheaper way to do it ...
You can record whit the Tascam DR-680 8-Track Portable Field Audio Recorder instead of the SD744T, and use a PSC ALPHAMIX 4-Channel instead of the sound device 442 ( save money here again ).

But like steve said there is a way to mix everything in stereo if you can have somebody on the set to do it right.

The Tascam unit isn't event on shelves yet, is it? There are also lower-cost 4-track recorders from Edirol.

I'm not a fan of PSC mixers. Never liked their build or their sound. The Sound Devices 442 is discontinued (replaced with the 552), but you can find deals on used. The 302 is also a great place to start, and is less expensive, if three channels in are all that you'll need.

The stereo mix setup I described (one host, two guests) went through a 3-channel field mixer and straight into a Sony DBeta camera.