Audio for loud music scene

Eddie B

Eddie B

Active member
I'm about to start making a film. In a few scenes, the characters will be making LOUD music. From what I understand about the volume controls on the DVX, this isn't merely a case where you can turn the volume near the bottom. It's my understanding that when you do that, you pick up unwanted noise from the noise floor. Perhaps I am explaining this incorrectly, but I believe that principal is true regardless.

Anyway, I always record audio directly into my DVX (XLR cable from mic to camera). I know that you can get mixers with a pad limiter, so would my best option be to run the XLR through a mixer, turn a pad on, and then go from the mixer to my camera?

I don't have a mixer and would prefer to stay with audio directly into my DVX but if a mixer is my best bet, I guess I'll be buying one. Please let me know your thoughts.
 
Generally with any scene that's going to have music, you don't have any playing on the set and you add it in post (assuming there is dialog in the scene).

I'm not very familiar with the DVX's audio though, so I'll leave that to someone else.
 
That was my plan, but I still have to record the loud music before I can add it in post. I'd fear that merely moving the microphone far away enough so that it's not so loud would make it an obvious dub if that makes sense.
 
There's a world of difference between mic'ing dialogue and mic'ing a musical instrument. That goes double for loud music; as the sound source gets louder, you'll start hearing more and more of the room's acoustics. Unless the music is only to be used as a guide track, you're going to need a mixer and additional special-purpose mics. In that case, consider the dialogue and music to be two sepperate recording setups.

I am, of course, assuming that you don't want the instrument mics in-frame. If you don't mind having the mics in-frame, then set up all the instrument mics the way you normally would to record musicians.

To keep the mics invisible while still getting great tracks, you'll need a bit of ingenuity. Amplified instruments like electric guitars are pretty straightforward: use prop amplifiers in-frame, and have the real amps all close-mic'd and rocking out of frame. Alternately, you could just record the instruments direct through a DI box.

Stringed accoustic instruments and pianos can be discreetly recorded using contact pickups like the C-Ducer. The sound isn't as flattering as a good mic, and its awfully dry, but the pickups are easy to hide and give a nicely isolated sound. Some percussion instruments can be effectively recorded using accoustic pickups, although there are also a variety of tiny clip-on mics designed for drums. With a long enough mic stand, you should be able to set up overhead mics on a drum kit without getting into frame.

Vocals and some wind instruments can be recorded effectively with well-placed lav's or other low-profile mics. Brass instruments are more of a challenge, so you may have to rely on flying in a boom mic as tight as you can.

If you have more than one instrument, you'll want to bring along a multitrack recorder and keep the various instruments on discreet tracks. That way, you'll have way more flexibility in post-production. For synch purposes, run a summed mono mix into one of the DVX channels.

Leave yourself plenty of time to set up and check the mics before shooting, and you should be fine.
 
SMuir - Every thing you wrote is completely valid; however, I don't see the OP having the budget or experience to accomplish this. He also mentioned in his second post that he would be recording the music separately.

Eddie - You use the pad on your mic if it has one (you didn't mention which mic you are using) or you can get an in-line pad for your mic; Whirlwind makes 10dB, 20dB, 30dB and 40dB mono inline mic pads that cost about $20. Another option would be to rent/buy a dynamic mic (or better yet, a stereo pair). If you are recording a band you could also take a feed directly from their mixing console, or they may have a recorder of some sort already. If it is prerecorded music (like a DJ) you can use the original track and then use effects in audio post to give it the proper perspective or even "worldize" it.

Since your talent will not be performing their dialog while the music is playing - if they are indeed speaking any lines - please remember to have them shout, or at least speak very loudly. As a "sound guy" one of the things that annoys me is a scene in a loud club or at a concert is the characters speaking as if they were in their bedroom.

Another option is to ADR the dialog afterwards; the above advice about the dialog holds true for that as well.
 
This in-line pads you speak of sound perfect. Can you link me some recommended ones?

For the record, it will be one-man noise music, so conventional quality isn't an issue.
 
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