Shawn Philip Nelson
Veteran
This weekend was my first time out as a sound mixer on a set with my new setup. The gig was Envision's DVXUser Dramafest entry. There were quite a few pros on set (a real steadicam op with a huge IMDB page, pro makeup artist, first AD, set decorator, gaffer, etc) so I felt the pressure to not screw things up.
I had a good boom op which was great. My setup was a SD302 mixer going out to a marantz pmd660 and then a wireless mic going out from the mixer into the camera (HVX200). I could not run wires to the camera because of the steadicam. For indoors I used the CK93 blueline and for outdoors I used the mkh60 with KTek KZepp. I was wearing headphones off the 660 and my boom op had headphones off the SD302. It was really nice because he could get the immediate feedback on what changes he needed to make for the next take.
Overall, I felt pretty dang good about the day. You all can see my work when the movie is released in a few weeks. There were some interesting things I learned.
1. I wasn't able to get the mic as close as I wanted whenever the steadicam was involved or the camera would follow someone up stairs, etc. But the CK93 has a great bubble of reach and nice falloff, so hopefully it won't be too noticeable.
2. I wish I had put sound blankets on the floor whenever we were on the kitchen floor. Every time they walked you could hear footsteps. Damn. Next time I film a scene in a kitchen, bathroom or any place with hardwood, tile or stone floors they talent will only be standing on blankets.
3. I ended up having to use my BBG on my blueline for the first time ever indoors because there was a scene in the kitchen where the boom op had to quickly swing the mic about 7 feet and we were getting a noticeable whoosh rumble. Popped the BBG on and it fixed it nicely.
4. Carbon fiber boompoles are awesome. I didn't have one but Envision had the cheap Gitzo one that goes to 12 feet. I'm now sold on buying it.
4. KTek KZep is awesome and worked like a champ outdoors.
5. I hate recording in nearly empty houses. The climax of the movie took place in the nextdoor house and it had huge lofted ceilings and barely anything inside it. The result? An echo'y tinny sound that I couldn't do anything about.
6. I hate neighborhood dogs. I wanted to strangle all of them.
7. The CK93 sounds awesome, deep and rich. Dang I love that mic.
8. The SD302 is worth every penny. An accessory I bought on a lark that I am so glad I did is the miniXLR to 1/8" adapter that can feed the TAPE OUT plug to a stereo minijack is a good thing to have in the bag.
Well that pretty much sums up my first weekend as a sound mixer, here are some pics!
-Shawn
I had a good boom op which was great. My setup was a SD302 mixer going out to a marantz pmd660 and then a wireless mic going out from the mixer into the camera (HVX200). I could not run wires to the camera because of the steadicam. For indoors I used the CK93 blueline and for outdoors I used the mkh60 with KTek KZepp. I was wearing headphones off the 660 and my boom op had headphones off the SD302. It was really nice because he could get the immediate feedback on what changes he needed to make for the next take.
Overall, I felt pretty dang good about the day. You all can see my work when the movie is released in a few weeks. There were some interesting things I learned.
1. I wasn't able to get the mic as close as I wanted whenever the steadicam was involved or the camera would follow someone up stairs, etc. But the CK93 has a great bubble of reach and nice falloff, so hopefully it won't be too noticeable.
2. I wish I had put sound blankets on the floor whenever we were on the kitchen floor. Every time they walked you could hear footsteps. Damn. Next time I film a scene in a kitchen, bathroom or any place with hardwood, tile or stone floors they talent will only be standing on blankets.
3. I ended up having to use my BBG on my blueline for the first time ever indoors because there was a scene in the kitchen where the boom op had to quickly swing the mic about 7 feet and we were getting a noticeable whoosh rumble. Popped the BBG on and it fixed it nicely.
4. Carbon fiber boompoles are awesome. I didn't have one but Envision had the cheap Gitzo one that goes to 12 feet. I'm now sold on buying it.
4. KTek KZep is awesome and worked like a champ outdoors.
5. I hate recording in nearly empty houses. The climax of the movie took place in the nextdoor house and it had huge lofted ceilings and barely anything inside it. The result? An echo'y tinny sound that I couldn't do anything about.
6. I hate neighborhood dogs. I wanted to strangle all of them.
7. The CK93 sounds awesome, deep and rich. Dang I love that mic.
8. The SD302 is worth every penny. An accessory I bought on a lark that I am so glad I did is the miniXLR to 1/8" adapter that can feed the TAPE OUT plug to a stereo minijack is a good thing to have in the bag.
Well that pretty much sums up my first weekend as a sound mixer, here are some pics!
-Shawn
