backup audio- what's your solution?

doubledark said:
what back-up audio solution do forum members use?
Click to expand...
I usually use a SD744 with a mirror CF drive, though I've never had an issue with the internal HD. I also keep a secondary recorder close-by as well, so I could switch recorders within a few minutes if the primary craps out. I use the manufacturer's recommended media cards and check them prior to a shoot if they have not been used before. ALWAYS format the cards in the machine that's being used
 
Hi Rick
thanks for the reply. A second recorder on hand is in my mind, a must have.

Is running a cable from the primary recorder into the "backup" a wise way to go or are there problems with this approach?
 
Well, I suppose it depends on what you mean by "backup".

Whenever possible I always run the external recorder into the camera and record on both.
When the audio recorder is with the boom operator I'll at the very least put a good stereo mic or small shotgun on top of the camera so that the scratch audio "might" be usable in a pinch....but that's really not a valid approach - it's just better than absolute nothing.

Now, whereas I've never seen an audio guy have TWO redundant recorders hanging on him... I am considering mounting both of my Tascam DR-70D's on a plate side-by-side since they are so tiny. Then putting a huge capacity card in one of them and NEVER stopping it... I mean just put it in record with the first take and never stop it. The audio person does NOT need to be hassled with controlling TWO recorders. Obviously the first one would just pass through to the second using the line connectors.
Sounds like overkill and probably is...but on those shoots where you ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY HAVE TO NAIL IT... well.. there you go.
 
It isn't that unusual for a sound guy to be running two recorders at well. But then they'll be using a cart, or have a very heavy bag!
 
DPStewart said:
Whenever possible I always run the external recorder into the camera and record on both.
Click to expand...
That is one option. The signal should be very good so the camera pre-amps hopefully dont come in to play.

DPStewart said:
I'll at the very least put a good stereo mic or small shotgun on top of the camera so that the scratch audio "might" be usable in a pinch....but that's really not a valid approach - it's just better than absolute nothing.
Click to expand...
This is what saved my butt on the last shoot.

DPStewart said:
I am considering mounting both of my Tascam DR-70D's on a plate side-by-side. Then putting a huge capacity card in one of them and NEVER stopping it
Click to expand...
This is my thinking as well.

DPStewart said:
Sounds like overkill and probably is...but on those shoots where you ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY HAVE TO NAIL IT... well.. there you go.
Click to expand...
which is basically every commercial shoot :) So, to me, it's cheap insurance.

goodgoings said:
How about running a line out from your Tascam into a Zoom H1 for backup? Small and cheap.
Click to expand...
I would rather two Tascam DR-60 recorders; (a) because I'm familiar with the menu system and (b) the lack of XLR inputs on the cheaper devices.
 
I ran a "backup" through a primary recorder once but realized that when the primary wasn't recording it also wasn't passing through so it's OK for somethings but not great. What you really want is to split after the mixer and go to two recorders.
I don't. Though I do the bounce to camera so there is that level of backup. I haven't had a media crash since the days of MD. Well actually an F-14 shut down a Nagra hard drive but that was because of the incredible low end vibrating the recorder. Flash recorders wouldn't have that issue and the drive was fine, it just shut down.

What I do though is I have a card backup device and I pop out the cards and back them up on breaks etc. I'm more worried about something happening to a card after it's out of the recorder than it craping out while recording. I do also bring a backup recorder just in case...
 
I have a Zoom F8 which does dual card recording, but I suppose that's only a safety if the issue is with a card...
 
scorsesefan said:
I have a Zoom F8 which does dual card recording, but I suppose that's only a safety if the issue is with a card...
Click to expand...
I guess two different brand cards could get around a card issue but I'm pretty cerain the issue was caused by the fool operating the recorder (me). So both cards would still be affected.

It seems the simplest way of backing up would be to run a line into the camera.

However, a spare recorder would be a wise investment. Far cheaper than having to re-shoot (if that is even possible) and less embarassing.

Thank you all for taking the time to respond.
 
The ideal 'backup' recorder should be a totally different unit with very few things in common.
Even units with dual card record should NOT be regarded as a backup because they will share the same input controls, batteries etc, etc.
 
subscribed!
o.png
 
My approach is now to use lav with Juicedlink Little Darling. The way I use it is essentially as a set it and forget it device. I then use a mic and dedicated mixer/recorder. I prefer this approach, because as someone else already stated, it's best to have two two totally separate recording units with little commonality if you're looking for true redundancy. I will say, I've been extremely pleased with the Little Darling.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._dar122_little_darling_distributed_audio.html
 
weis5on said:
My approach is now to use lav with Juicedlink Little Darling. The way I use it is essentially as a set it and forget it device. I then use a mic and dedicated mixer/recorder. I prefer this approach, because as someone else already stated, it's best to have two two totally separate recording units with little commonality if you're looking for true redundancy. I will say, I've been extremely pleased with the Little Darling.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._dar122_little_darling_distributed_audio.html
Click to expand...

I actually picked up two Tascam DR-10CS units, which you have to buy in Europe if you are in the US. If I'm really run and gun I will use one of those on talent, plug in my Sennheiser G3 and then feed the G3 into the camera wirelessly so I can monitor. It's giving me a master recording and a -12 db backup on the Tascam. If I'm really anal I'll put my Juiced link on the camera and feed another -12db recording into the camera as well. I alway default to using the Tacam DR recording first. Little Darling is probably easier to get in the US so I'm sure that works great.

If I'm doing a bigger set or a sit down interview I may discretely lav someone wit the DR-10CS and then use a Tascam DR701D with a Shotgun or super cardiod depending on the circumstances. I try to have someone else typically monitor audio in that environment if we're moving. Otherwise I feed the audio out of the Tascam into the camera as well and use HDMI to control the mixer. I'm sort of at the point that I feel it's always easier if I have a person that can do audio with me so I can focus on shooting. But we all know that's not always possible and I'm just usually filming simple interviews for work, so nothing super critical. But today I probably put as much or more thought into sound than I used to. A crappy image is much more recoverable than crappy sound in an interview.
 
I grabbed a Tascam DR-60 when they were blowing them out at $150 to replace them with the improved model.
I use it as my backup recorder (with line-level inputs).
For example, last weekend, I recorded a 100-voice mens chorus and 33 piece orchestra.
I tracked each mic into my main recorder and created a real-time mix for live streaming.
And I used my live-mix into the backup recorder as a "safety copy" in case something happened to the main multi-track.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top