D90 syncing sound with field recorder

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Recorder

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A short film testing out the D90's visuals when synced with a Zoom H4 audio recorder. I used the Zoom's on-board mic, but it got a bit windy, so I had to block the wind and mic with my body and record some voice over. The bg/natural sound is from the D90's built-in mic.

http://vimeo.com/2375506
 
Nice job, you would never think it was being shot on a DSLR. Gets more and more exciting as people experiment.

Couple of questions:

1. Did you mount the audio gear to your camera or use a rig to keep it all together?
2. Was there a sync reference or a method that worked for you during this shoot?

Any advice or insight would be great as this is the one weak point for the camera which I have not seen a solution for. Most of the videos have been music driven, so you've pushed the envelope further out. Kudos.
 
softcorerobot said:
Nice job, you would never think it was being shot on a DSLR. Gets more and more exciting as people experiment.

Couple of questions:

1. Did you mount the audio gear to your camera or use a rig to keep it all together?
2. Was there a sync reference or a method that worked for you during this shoot?

Any advice or insight would be great as this is the one weak point for the camera which I have not seen a solution for. Most of the videos have been music driven, so you've pushed the envelope further out. Kudos.
Click to expand...


Thanks, I kept it real simple. I Just mounted the camera on a tripod and focused up on my son and started recording w the D90. Then I walked around to the side and started recording the Zoom. I had my son hold the Zoom for a second. With both cameras rolling I clapped my hands in front of the camera and started asking questions while I held the Zoom off camera (it sneaked into the shot at one point, but with a real interview I would connect a lav to the Zoom). I edited on Vegas Pro and on that system it is super easy to sync up the sound visually on the timeline. It's as simple as finding the visual of hands coming together and dragging that point match the point on the Zoom's audio waveform showing the profile of the clap.

I think the D90 and the Zoom compliment eachother well: both are small, lightweight, high quality and affordable devices. They both record to SD cards so the transfer to the Vegas timeline is a snap! I think this combo has real potential for documentary filmmaking. I used to do this sort of stuff on 16mm in college and working this way now in the digital realm made me feel like a real filmmaker again.
 
I've used a Roland Edirol R-09HR and it works very well too. I like the remote for starting the Edirol from behind the D90. I did a two finger "clap" in front of the camera and either shout sharply or slap the table. It works gr8. I really like the sound of the built in stereo mics on the Edirol and I like being able to place it very close to talent.
 
Nice job. My next B&H purchase for sound.

Workflow:
EMW Lav (XLR) > DXA6 (Mini Line out) > Zoom H4 (24-bit PCM) > 8g SD Memory
 
I already wrote this in another thread (excuse the cross-post):

"Ideally, you would need a second person, a sound recordist, to record audio using a double-system sound set-up. The D90's built-in mic is really only usable for "nat" sound (ambience). The optimum way to record sound for D90-acquired video would be to assemble a kit containing a decent, short-shotgun condensor mic ($300-$1,500), fishpole/shock-mount ($300-$700), "Softie" windscreen ($130), and a portable digital recorder ($300-$500) with balanced XLR inputs and phantom power (the Marantz PMD660 is only $419 and has both). You could buy all this for as little as about $1,500. Lower-end audio gear these days is actually quite good. The Audio Technica AT835B is a decent short-shotgun mic, and it's only about $300. Your sound recordist will also need to use a clapstick to visually synch your picture to your sound device. On very long takes, you will also have synch issues that will need correcting in post."

Here's my current audio set-up:

1. Audio Technica AT835b short-shotgun condensor mic.
2. Rycote "Softie" windscreen.
3. K-Tek short, carbon fiber fishpole and rubber shock mount.
4. "Slateless" clapstick from Filmtools in Burbank, CA.

Now that I have my D90, I'm going to order the Marantz PMD660 portable CF recorder for use as my double-system sound recording device. It's a great choice for three reasons:

1. Takes standard 'AA' batteries.
2. Has two XLR balanced inputs.
3. Outputs 48V phantom power.

Pretty good for $419, I'd say. I seem to remember there also being another portable recorder on the market that also has XLR inputs and phantom power, but I've forgotten which make/model that was.
 
Ralph Oshiro said:
I already wrote this in another thread (excuse the cross-post):

Pretty good for $419, I'd say. I seem to remember there also being another portable recorder on the market that also has XLR inputs and phantom power, but I've forgotten which make/model that was.
Click to expand...


Its the Zoom H4, its half the price and is a 24bit recorder. Has Phantom Power and uses SD cards.
 
mrmoe said:
Its the Zoom H4, its half the price and is a 24bit recorder. Has Phantom Power and uses SD cards.
Click to expand...

Ah, yes! Thanks! Yeah, I like that one too because it gives you the option of recording to two of its four tracks from its XLR input (e.g., a boom mic), and the other two from the on-board stereo mic, I believe (have to re-check on that to make sure, but it's something like that). Cool feature.
 
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Ralph Oshiro said:
Ah, yes! Thanks! Yeah, I like that one too because it gives you the option of recording one track from the XLR (e.g., a boom mic), and another track from its on-board mic, I believe. Cool feature.
Click to expand...

what? thats nuts, you can do some serious surround sound in post with that feature
 
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