Documenting Dance Workshops

[ian lucero]

If anyone's had experience shooting dance you probably know about the rooms that rehearsals happen in - Wooden floors, mirrors all around. I will be shooting in this environment very soon and was wondering if I could get some feedback about what would be the right microphone to use in this situation. I have gotten suggestions to use a PZM to using a Stereo mounted up above. I almost would like to go the PZM route because it won't get in the way and could possibly reinforce the foot/floor sounds. This won't be the only mic though. Shooting with a DVX, I will have the onboard stereo mic which I could quickly switch to my 4073a shotgun for interview mode.

Also, the mic separate from the camera (PZM, Stereo PZM, Stereo Mics, etc.) will have to be running to another recorder so that I am free to roam around the studio without having to trip any of the dancers up. So I may hook up the mic(s) to the laptop or other portable recording device.

Another question about PZM. In researching I came across the AT849 Stereo Boundary. What kind of sound (clarity, detail, spread, ambient, room, etc.) will I gain using this as oppose to a regular PZM that is mono? I can only imagine it being a wider image. You can picture the shoot will be something like this: 20 - 30 kids/adults, dancing sometimes in clogs, tap shoes, sneakers, bare feet, ballet shoes, the teacher talking/shouting instructions, and interaction between teacher and students AND the possibility of live music and recorded music either coming out of a tiny boom box or large speaker sound system. What will capture that?

Thank you for any advice!

 

[wabbit]

PZM is the way to go for getting that ambience. I can't comment on the stereo PZm but I would avoid it for what your talking about (simple because unless their is a reason to record, you are just complicating the process).

Good luck

 

[matthewd5]

i have the sanken cub-01 and it is a great boundary mic with excellent rendering of voices.

you could use that and put a plug on transmitter on it, making it wireless, and then have the wireless receiver on your camera so you can move around.

you might want to try a lav for the interviews instead of a shotgun.

i use the sanken cos-11's for lav

matthew

 

[ian lucero]

PZM is the way to go for getting that ambience. I can't comment on the stereo PZm but I would avoid it for what your talking about (simple because unless their is a reason to record, you are just complicating the process).

Good luck

My thoughts exactly on the making it wireless. That would be ideal as I won't have an assistant. I just plop the mic down and start shooting. Maybe 2 if possible, if there were live musicians, i could put the 2nd mic over there. I can't afford or don't have access to the Sanken, but have access to an AT PZM. Can I make the AT PZM's wireless? I know they have a the smaller XLRM connectors. Is it just a matter of an adapter?

Thanks for your input Wabbit, I don't want to make the shoot complicated. Just super simple but affective but better quality than what the last videographer did and for what their budget is like. It is a so so budget but I think I can crank out grerat audio and video for what they are asking.

I will be looking into the PZM. Also the combo of that and shot-gun (which I know will sound horrible in that room) and onboard stereo mic. I can get a wireless lav but things will be moving quick so that's why the shotgun will have to do for interview stuff.