DSLR filmmaking, purpose of a digital recorder?
- Thread starter HeyAndy
- Start date
Gregg Juke
Well-known member
The boom microphone can be plugged into the recorder. Generally better quality audio than going straight to camera (mike preamp, bitrate, etc.), which can be synced with the video later in post-production.
Better audio is easier to work with, and means less "fixes" later in the process.
You could also record to camera and recorder, giving you reference audio, and a back-up if something goes wrong.
GJ
Better audio is easier to work with, and means less "fixes" later in the process.
You could also record to camera and recorder, giving you reference audio, and a back-up if something goes wrong.
GJ
A digital recorder and a boom microphone are two totally different pieces of equipment. A microphone is what's known as a transducer. A transducer is a device that converts one form of energy into another. A microphone converts acoustical energy into electrical energy. Your eardrums do the same thing.
A digital recorder then takes the analog signal from the microphone, converts it to a digital signal (1's and 0's), and records that information onto whatever the recording medium the recorder is using (hard drive, compact flash, SD card).
It is preferable to use an XLR cable to go from your microphone to your recorder. This is what is known as hardlined, or cabled. Due to varying circumstances on a shoot, some people use a wireless audio transmitter on their boom (this is rare, but it happens), and then have a wireless receiver on their recorder.
However, the microphone and recorder are only two pieces of the puzzle. There are many other pieces of audio equipment that are needed in order to successfully record good audio.
There is really a LOT that goes into this, and it's not something I can type up quickly and make you an expert on. Many of us have been working in audio for years, and are still perfecting what we do, and there is always something new to learn. It's good that you are curious, and willing to ask for help. We are here to help you in the best ways we can.
I would suggest that you take some time to read the audio 101 sticky, as there is some helpful information in there. If you see some terms and phrases thrown around you don't understand, look them up on wikipedia, or google them. There is a wealth of information out there to help you. If you can't find answers you are looking for by doing a little research, you can always ask here. Keep in mind, we see the same questions asked over and over, like "best wireless for under $500", or "difference between microphone A and microphone B". I would bet most of the questions you will come up with have already been addressed on here before, so you can do a forum search on the information you need. But again, if that doesn't help you, ask away here.
A digital recorder then takes the analog signal from the microphone, converts it to a digital signal (1's and 0's), and records that information onto whatever the recording medium the recorder is using (hard drive, compact flash, SD card).
It is preferable to use an XLR cable to go from your microphone to your recorder. This is what is known as hardlined, or cabled. Due to varying circumstances on a shoot, some people use a wireless audio transmitter on their boom (this is rare, but it happens), and then have a wireless receiver on their recorder.
However, the microphone and recorder are only two pieces of the puzzle. There are many other pieces of audio equipment that are needed in order to successfully record good audio.
There is really a LOT that goes into this, and it's not something I can type up quickly and make you an expert on. Many of us have been working in audio for years, and are still perfecting what we do, and there is always something new to learn. It's good that you are curious, and willing to ask for help. We are here to help you in the best ways we can.
I would suggest that you take some time to read the audio 101 sticky, as there is some helpful information in there. If you see some terms and phrases thrown around you don't understand, look them up on wikipedia, or google them. There is a wealth of information out there to help you. If you can't find answers you are looking for by doing a little research, you can always ask here. Keep in mind, we see the same questions asked over and over, like "best wireless for under $500", or "difference between microphone A and microphone B". I would bet most of the questions you will come up with have already been addressed on here before, so you can do a forum search on the information you need. But again, if that doesn't help you, ask away here.
You're talking about two different things here. A mic is not a recorder, and a recorder is not a mic. There are recorders that have built-in microphones, but those are not good for on-cam dialog.
The purpose of using an external recorder over recording audio straight into the camera is about quality, control, and options. In-camera DSLR is getting better, but is still pretty poor quality in the grand scheme of things. An external recorder of decent quality, combined with a good mic and the proper use/placement of the mic, will yield much better results.
EDIT: Dave beat me to it... posted while I was typing.