DP wants to monitor everything that the field mixer is hearing, mackie and FR2-LE

[Clint Nitkiewiz Hernandez]

So I will be the DP and camera operator as well for a feature film, but I do not want to plug my headphones into the hvx200 camera, I would much rather prefer to hook it up to the same exact signal that my field mixer will be using to monitor, and tweak accordingly, that way I can hear what is really being recorded, or plugging the phones into the hvx would give me the final result of his mackie mixer or FR2?

He will be using a mackie mixer for indoor shoots, and the Fostex FR2-LE for outdoor shoots where no power supplies are available to us, such as on the beach, the the jungle, etc.

Does anyone know how we can send the same exact signal out of the headphone jack to me and to the field mixer so we both hear the same thing from his mixer? Is there a wireless solution for me perhaps? Otherwise while camera operating I'm afraid too many cables might cause a fall or problem if we are walking around a lot, thanks.

 

[Dirty Uncle Bob]

I would suggest having a quick listen from the mixer, and then using the HVX headphones out. It's the easy way in the field. You should be able to hear any glaring errors through the HVX, so long as the mixer is patched into the camera.

Alternately, you may be able to find a decent pair of wireless headphones and a headphone y-splitter like this one:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_... Wiring&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a

Is wireless really necessary if you will already have a set of rca to XLR cables running from mixer to camera? 3 cables aren't any more or less manageable than 2 cables.

On a last note, I fully understand your audio hang ups, but it will slow you way down to supervise sound and run camera/lights at the same time. I recommend giving your sound guy/gal the most thorough training you can and set him/her loose.

Worst case scenario is ADR. Not ideal, but can be easier than reshoots and scheduling extra shooting days.

 

[SMuir]

First off, are you recording single-system or double-system sound?

If you're recording single-system (ie. directly to the camera), then your best option is to simply plug your headphones into the camera's output. You may need a headphone splitter, since the mixer will also need to monitor the camera's headphone output (always monitor from the recorder rather than from the mixer). If the mixer is using a betacam snake (a single cable with both audio lines and a headphone return), you may already have a splitter built into the cable.

If you're recording double system (ie. to the FR-2 with no cables to the camera), then things become a bit more complicated. The simplest solution would be to rig up a headphone extension, but that would give you one more cable to trip over and tangle up in. A pair of consumer wireless headphones may get the job done, but you'll probably be stuck with `phones ill-suited to evaluative monitoring. If you're already using a comtek or other wireless communication system, consider patching a mono mixer feed into one of the transmitters.

If you have access to mains power, you could also use a low-power FM transmitter and plug your `phones into a portable radio. There are a number of models on the market, as they're very popular among churches. The range is limited, and they're not really built for evaluative monitoring, but they're pretty reasonably priced.

However, I agree with Dirty Uncle Bob. Supervising the sound department will likely make your life much more complicated.

 

[Zak Forsman]

call any rental house and tell them you want to rent a pair of comtechs.

 

[ullanta]

If you're recording single-system (ie. directly to the camera), then your best option is to simply plug your headphones into the camera's output. You may need a headphone splitter, since the mixer will also need to monitor the camera's headphone output (always monitor from the recorder rather than from the mixer).

Actually, it's just as good (probably better) to run the camera's RCA outs back to the mixer's alt inputs for the sound guy to monitor. Cam op/DP uses camera headphone out.