Audio help. I begin filming next week.

J

JCVR

Well-known member
So, i'm going to start filming a documentary next week. I'm going to be mixing footage from an XL2 and a DVX. Here's what i'm bringing along;

XL2
DVX
Extra batters
Boom mic, lav, shotgun (exact models TBD)
DV rig pro
Waivers

I'm picking up the jay rose book on digital audio and reading it on the plane. I really could use any and all tips for capturing audio though. Someone told me not to allow it to go above -12db. Anything like that.... everything. help?

All suggestions for filming are welcome. I'll be at a loud convention. lets hear what you have to say... this is a first for me - i promise to love all of you forever with help!
 
Wow, where to start...Are you soley responsible for sound (AKA the soundman), is someone else, or do you plan to do both video and audio? Are the cameras shooting together or are they going off with different crews? Give us an idea of the subject matter; is it just sit down interviews, cinema verte, day-in-the-life, etc? Indoors, outdoors? Multiple subjects at once (how many)? Will you be in a controled environment and what are all those environments? If all the shooting will be on a noisy convention floor, what exactly are you trying to capture (ie, pulling people over for quick interviews)? What sort of budget do you have? What is the final display medium?

Basically, anything you can tell us about what you are shooting would help in any advice that is offered.

Good luck.
 
ok, two camera men both with DVrigs. The shotgun I have is the KMR 82 (http://neumann.com/infopool/mics/produkte.php?ProdID=kmr8182i). one camera will have the majority of the sound hooked up. The second camera will be for coverage. I have a boom pole and would like to use it, but i'm not sure if i'm going to have an operator. I know for sure i'll have a constant two or three people around me to help out. I'd like for the mic to not be visable on screen.

Any thoughts help...
 
Well, you got a good mic there. A bit directional so it is going to take a practiced hand to get good sound out it. You mention a boompole but not a shock mount. You will need one of those. K-Tek makes a great one. Gonna need some xlr cables and probably a mixer to give your sound guy some control. Of course some good headphones.

If you keep the headroom tight, the boomman should be able to keep the mic out of shot (I am still not sure what you are exactly shooting).

Be aware that your mic has a very narrow angle and if you want two people having conversation it will be tricky.

Most of the info you are gonna get from Jay's book, but whoever is gonna manage sound needs to have that info more then you.

Again more details on who and what you are shooting could provide better feedback from forum. You don't have to tell exactly what you are shooting but describe the different scenerios(ie 2 camera setup, no lights, one is on DVRig in tight on single seated subject, other is wide on tripod, we will be in a large conference hall with loud action going on in background, simple Q&A, with no prep time for subject).

Best wishes
 
Sorry. I'm going to be at the electronics entertainment expo (e3). It's loud and nasty inside, i'm going to be grabbing interviews with several people on the show floor, and shooting interviews outside.

How vital is a mixer? If I plugged the boom directly into the camera would all hell break lose? I'm not sure if i'm going to have a specific camera man, so maybe i'll just use it as a shotgun...
 
Mixer is probably not vital, but extremely helpful in pulling off best sound in a difficult environment.

If you are taking them outside you are going to need some wind protection for the mic. Try to find a quite area and be aware of your surroundings. If the interviewee is sitting down you could put your mic on a stand (...maybe, this is usually done with a short shotgun not a long. keeping them on axis would be risky).

If this is a professional gig, you really should have someone for sound (IMHO). Even a student/intern would work.

Good luck.
 
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