Can I ask a newb question, please?

ryan brown

ryan brown

lOwEr CaSe Member
Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know. I know.

I've been searching, and came across many possibilities, but some of you that are more familiar with pricing/quality could really save me a lot of research here (if you're willing, that is).

I shoot weddings, I'm good at it, and I'm breaking away from the guy I work for and starting my own company.

As far as audio, here's what I want, and here's what I have to spend.

3 wireless lav mic kits.
1-2 camera mounted shotgun mic(s) with all attachments needed and windscreen(s).

Money to spend = $1500. Could probably come up with another $500, but I'd really rather wait till the company is making some money.

Now I understand you guys hate these type's of questions, and know my budget is not "adequate" for what I'm asking. BUT... the guy I work for now got his lav's for 200-250 a piece, and they sound fine for a wedding. I'm not looking for high quality audio, I'm just trying to get a decent, clear sound of voices during the ceremony. I know my audio program quite well (bias peak), and am able to clean up in post surprisingly well... well, let me rephrase that - - It sounds great to the clients.

As for the shotgun... I just want better audio than the factory mic off the 100a. I'd like something a bit unidirectional so that it'll pick up specifically what my shooter is pointing at. i.e.: the bride's maid and best man giving thier toast. Again, the guy I work for now use's the onboard mic, and I'm always spending WAY too much time in post attempting to clean up my other shooters' work. But despite popular believe's, it is do-able. Never underestimate the clients lack of knowledge/quality ;)

Two would be great as I always have two shooters, but if that's just not feasible, I'll make do with one untill I can afford another.

I'll be catering to high end clients, and my video and editing work is top notch... I just want audio to be up to par. In six months, I plan on selling what I have and upgrading to suit my needs, but I have two weeks to get my "company" in order and be able to pull it of. Reason? I shot for a VERY exclusive country club two weeks ago and got in good with the manager. Well, I kinda, sorta stretched the truth a little about where I stand, and now he wants me to shoot ALL of thier video needs. (the last thing I shot for him was a PGA congratulatory dinner, and it was 80% pro golfers and football players)

Help out a fellow dvxuser, please.

-brown

p.s. Along with the audio equip, I'm dishing out for a canon XL2 to go along with the DVX, so it'd be nice if the shotgun/mount was compatible with either. Reason for this? 20x zoom lens, and the mere size of the thing to impress the clients.


Right now I'm not interested in the details, and I'm sorry for that, but I'm RUSHING to get the business registered, bank accounts, business cards, dvd demo, EID number, web site, etc. Just recommend something that would work for the time being, and I promise I'll come back and do the necessary research when my head stops spinning.:dankk2:
 
rcbrown23 said:
Now I understand you guys hate these type's of questions,
Click to expand...

Have we become that predictable? :embarasse

But seriously, it looks like you want 3 Sennheiser G2 and an AT 4073a for a shotgun. $2000 before cables, shock mounts, and wind protection. If audio quality isn't that critical then the crappy stock lav mics will suit you fine.

Badda Bing Badda Boom, you are good to go!

(I will let you figure out how to run 4 mics into the camera)

Good luck with your new business
 
Yup, do NOT go lower than G2 or its not worth it. I would maybe argue that if all you're doing is on board camera, an NTG-2 might be ok for you, but the AT is without a doubt a much better mic.

A suggestion I could maybe make would be to get the plug on Tx for the G2's as well, and buy an RE50 to use for personal messages to the bride and groom - great way to get good audio out of bad situations for low budget.

Tim
 
Hi wabbit, tim.. long time no post.

I've never tried this, strangely, but what are the implications of using 3 transmitters on the same frequency and only 1 reciever. because it seems that if all the mics are being mixed to 1 channel anyway (with the AT4073a on the other channel) then this would be a huge cost saving option. and you could always get the other two recievers at a later time.

just throwing some dicussion up.


I know that recieving one clean and one dirty channel on the same reciever is horrible, so if the groom goes off somewhere for a piss then you'd have to cut the whole channel.

....hey where are the post counts? now how are we supposed to know how much experience someone has in audio?? :D
 
brown -- I'm trying to break into weddings as well. I just got the G2 system and used it for the first time last weekend. Because of the shoot, I had to film from a balcony and the mic was on the groom -- it worked great. I was able to catch the conversations whispered between the bride and groom. I also got the G2 butt plug for a handheld mic and used that for the reception - just a suggestion if you are looking at that system.

I've also heard of a number of wedding videographers using one of the IRiver mp3 player configurations to put on the groom to record audio to sync later. This might be a cheap alternative.
 
Awesome. Thanks guys.

Wabbit, I'll take your advice... and "yes" you've all become that predictable ;) I'm the same way, though, except I'm usually in the FCP, Clip samples, and Technical sections of this forum.

Now, any suggestions on where to buy?

I'm going through B&H for the XL2... but I'm sure there's a cost saving alternative for the audio equipment, right?
 
In Texas Trew is your friend, http://www.trewaudio.com You can use B&H as a baseline for price. Trew will at least meet them, maybe go a couple bucks under. But mostly the lowest price on that type of gear is pretty stable; very little wiggle room.

I like Tim's suggestion of a dynamic handheld. I have little knowledge of wedding videos but I have seen a video or two and it seems passing around a wireless handheld at the reception seems an acceptable way to get sound. To do that make sure one of your G2 kits come with a secondary buttplug Tx.


ScoobySounds said:
I've never tried this, strangely, but what are the implications of using 3 transmitters on the same frequency and only 1 reciever. because it seems that if all the mics are being mixed to 1 channel anyway (with the AT4073a on the other channel) then this would be a huge cost saving option. and you could always get the other two recievers at a later time.
Click to expand...

If I am understanding the idea, this will get you a bunch of noise; same deal as if you tried to transmit on any other busy channel.

Cheers
 
Hey Scooby.. man what a week, Im gonna update my Drama thread soon, but im exhausted! huge day tomorrow!

Im pretty sure it would be a mess.. i wonder if you might get loads of rf hits as mics broadcast over each other, not sure. Ive got a bunch of coms on the show, maybe ill try it out if I get bored!

PS - received my new B6's two days ago. Woohoo is all I can say. Will do a writeup in the Drama thread (Im one of the first in SA to get em! :))
 
I really like the service I get at bhphotovideo. Have yet to buy a thing at Trew.
You really like them?
 
Hey Tim,

Congrats on the B6's. You'll be really happy with them (and if you're not, I'd be happy to buy them off you at half price)

:-)

Phil
 
looks like i might have to buy them off you tim, 3/4 price?

i STILL haven't got my b6's. coffey screwed up so many times its not true.. they're usually really good, but this time they couldn't get a beige one, and then had trouble terminating it. anyway yawn yawn.. i'll join you on the drama thread.

hope ur day went smoothly today.
 
Charli said:
I really like the service I get at bhphotovideo. Have yet to buy a thing at Trew.
You really like them?
Click to expand...

At one point or another I have dealt with pretty much all the big US pro audio places; B&H, Gotham, Trew, FullCompass, Coffey, and Location Sound. I have never dealt with TAI Audio.

Trew and Gotham, IMHO, are the best and most knowledgable. Coffey is equally knowledgable but lately them seem to be having more and more issues, still great though (perhaps the problems started after they lost Mr. Fisk :) ).

My mom will be mad at me but B&H is just FRICKING horrible in customer service and product knowledge. Those guys are salesmen and nothing else. Additionally, I have had enough bad experiences with Location Sound that I won't ever be going back to them. They are still better then B&H though.

Of course, that is just my experience and second-hand hearsay and plenty of people have opposing experiences, so take my opinion for what it's worth: $.02

But if you do live near one of these places, they are all mostly good (except B&H) and I would go with the closest one. So Texas, definately Trew.

Cheers
 
Please stay away from B&H. Just awful experiences with them and Adorama is usually cheaper.

TAI audio is great. The owner is Joe, incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. LSC is ok, Trew is great, Coffey is good, Gotham is good. Stay away from EVS, almost as bad as BH customer service wise and expensive.
 
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