Hack Audio Solution

[richke]

Hack being me and an Audio solution that may allow me to hold off on getting a shotgun mic for a couple of months. I bought a Samson C01 Mic about 2 years ago to some Voice Overs for a project I was working on and I found the audio quality was great for $70 and a pop filter. So I thought if i need to record something with a good mic(since my camera is cheap and has just the ondboard mic, which is horrible) I could pull my PC into the room i'm shooting in and hang that mic over the actors heads for my next small project.

Does anyone see any issues with this? Obviously this would be a great thing for outdopor shooting as there are no power outlets to power the PC...but inside...this would work.

 

[vicrattlehead]

It should work fine. But you're right, it is a hack, and you'll be giving your client a bad impression of what a professional production should be. I certainly wouldn't charge anyone for this sort of a hobbyist set-up.

 

[craaig]

mini-disc recorder in the pocket.. nobody would ever know..

 

[richke]

i'm the client... - its for a contest - when i start getting paid for this sutff then i will buy the stuff.

 

[SMuir]

CPU fan noise can be a big issue so you may want to keep the computer in another room, running extension cables to your keyboard, monitor, mouse, and mixer. Also, use fast hard disks (7200 RPM minimum) that are either recently formatted or at least defragmented, thereby reducing the likelihood of a drive boggin down during a long take. Avoid using consumer sound cards, since they tend to be poorly shielded and prone to deal-breaking noise levels.

Even though you are the client in this case, Vicrattlehead's point about client confidence is still relevant. The appearance of professionalism will go a long way towards improving the subtler aspects of film/video production, especially when it comes to performance. Confidence is contagious, and the appearance of disorganization can have a detrimental effect on the esprit du corps, especially on a low-budget shoot.

Take a look at some of the newer solid-state recorders on the market. A small flash recorder like a Zoom H4 will likely sound better, definitely look better, and be a breeze to set up.