Capturing audio from 7 people

M

MikeC10305

Member
Hey guys,

I'll be shooting this project soon and most of the scenes will be mostly improved by my 7 actors. Not knowing what they will say next I need to capture every second of audio from each person clearly. Also most of this will be out side in the woods. lava's, double boom mics,...? Please keep in mind I'll be shooting on the HVX200

Thanks
 
7 wireless lavs, a talented sound mixer and assistant and a ProTools laptop portable system OR a Sound Devices 788T.

I've done these with both setups, the Sound Devices is easier for the sound mixer but ProTools is not a bad way to do it either if you have enough inputs and mic-preamps.

Dan
 
Another option would be a script!

A slightly cheaper way would be an alesis firewire console mixer with boom recorder on a laptop. Would need AC for that and in the woods it is not ideal. Really Really need a TALENTED mixer. not just anyone can do this.
 
Why the choice for improv performances? Is it an artistic decision or is it driven by a lack of time or patience to really prepare in detail and rehearse the scene? No offence meant, but it seems to me that it is often a lazy-man's directorial approach and unless the talent is very, very, VERY experienced it's a choice that often results in an amateurish production. Tight scripting with well rehearsed perfomances so the cast can repeatedly replay the same identical performance, allowing one to shoot ample coverage, can go a long way to reduce the technical headaches inherent in not knowing exactly what's happening next during the take.
 
There will be a set script but were working with actors with a big improve background and we want them to have the option to take the scene in a different direction if they choose. The footage is supposed to have a "Behind the Scene/reality" feel to it and not so much scripted.
 
MikeC10305 said:
There will be a set script but were working with actors with a big improve background and we want them to have the option to take the scene in a different direction if they choose. The footage is supposed to have a "Behind the Scene/reality" feel to it and not so much scripted.
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Then ditto to Puredrifting's solution - cart based dual system recording iso tracks for each actor: 7 wireless lav kits, Sound Devices 788T, Deva, or Cantar multi-track recorder OR laptop with multichannel sound interface running Boom Recorder or similar, mixing desk, stereo mix track to camera for dailys, iso tracks to recorder.

Something else to think about ... how many cameras will you need to provide proper coverage for that scenario?
 
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Steve House said:
Then ditto to Puredrifting's solution - cart based dual system recording iso tracks for each actor: 7 wireless lav kits, Sound Devices 788T, Deva, or Cantar multi-track recorder OR laptop with multichannel sound interface running Boom Recorder or similar, mixing desk, stereo mix track to camera for dailys, iso tracks to recorder.
Click to expand...

Agreed, the only way to go - record every person on a different track and mix later.

The only safe way really.
 
I recorded a series of scenes this past weekend with that exact set up (though scripted, not improv). Alesis FW 16 into Boom Recorder. 8 wireless mics, wireless boom. It worked out (and is continuing to work) great. I'm also running two mix tracks so a total of 10 tracks being recorded - be prepared with lots of hard disk space.

Phil
 
If you would like to hear how this approach works, I used this exact approach with the eight actors on the Hill Street Blues cast reunion that is featured on the HSB Season 1 DVD. I also used it for the Warner Bros. "The Cowboys" cast reunion with Mark Rydell, Bruce Dern, A. Martinez and the others. We used a ProTools laptop system for both and just fed a stereo guide track to the cams for editing, then the sound editor did an entire mix for all of the talent once picture locked. Except we used wired lavs in both cases, nobody was roaming so no reason to go witrh wireless when you don't have to.

Nobody has enough hands and fast enough reflexes to ride gain on that many channels when it is unrehearsed.

It works really well.

Dan
 
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