Help an audio newbie!

J

JamieK

New member
Hi guys, quick intro I'm looking into getting my first camera setup, mostly for music videos and shorts but moving on in time to features. I've pretty much narrowed my camera down to either a 550D or 600D (depending on if I could get a good enough deal on a 600D), but I'm having a lot of trouble deciding what audio equipment I need. I don't have a great budget as I'm only a student but I'm very aware of the importance of audio in my work and so I'm keen to get the best solution I can. I've heard a lot of recommendations for just a separate audio recorder like a Zoom H4n, but then some people have suggested larger rigs like the ones made by JuicedLinks. I'm not sure what's really necessary, and to be perfectly honest I'm not even sure how a lot of these devices work.

I found Jeremy Orden's new to audio thread (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?51526-New-To-Audio-Read-This-First-Please) very useful in some ways, and likewise the Canon DSLR audio thread (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?240822-The-Canon-DSLR-Audio-thread) by M. Gilden, but both turned into discussions I really couldn't follow, and I suppose I'm looking for some more basic info, or even maybe a push in the right direction as so far my online searches have only raised more questions than answers. Similarly, some of the stuff in this recent thread http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?255878-HDSLR-package-under-2500-dollars was really useful but again because I found it hard to entirely grasp what everything does

I hope people don't think I'm just ignoring whats come before as I've searched this forum a lot, but I just have very little audio experience and so have been struggling. Also, I realise hiring a separate sound mixer is a great solution, and hopefully I can do that as my work progresses but for now it's very much a learning curve and I'm willing to put in the time and effort to figure it all out.

Any help is appreciated and thanks :)
 
To help us help you... what are the things in some of those threads that you could not grasp? Ask some specific questions, especially if there are pieces of gear that you don't entirely understand (purpose, function, etc.). That will get you some specific answers.
 
Cheapest solution. Music videos don't need sound. If you are going to be writing, creating, post, all the works on your shorts. Try writing in some narrative will little dialogue. Then do some ADR to fix up the lines you captured poorly into camera.

If you do this for a couple shorts, you should already start to realize what it is you are in need of. My advice is not to buy something you have been told to on the forum, decide what you need and come back here and ask specifics.

This is the cheapest solution because I don't want you to buy something you think you need and (A) never use it (B) end up upgrading in a few months.
 
Ok, well first off with the H4n I think I have a decent idea of whats going on- It's a separate audio device altogether from the camera, with which you just sync the audio in post. I wasn't entirely sure if you needed a mic, but having looked it seems like if it's not essential it's certainly advisable.

As far as more advanced mixers, like the JuicedLink models, I wasn't entirely sure what these accomplish in addition to a H4n, or similar device. I saw that some models actually work with a recorder like this and some work independently. My main guess is that it supports more mics, and maybe is a better quality product, but I'm still not entirely sure of all the advantages.

I was also a bit confused in this thread http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?255878-HDSLR-package-under-2500-dollars when JamBredz seemed to be suggesting you need several audio recorders, as I was under the impression one would be fine.

I think my main area of confusion is the fact there are so many differing opinions on the type of kit or setup needed. Some people seem to suggest a H4n with a Rode is fine, others seem to think you need really impressive mixing stations that do stuff I've never even heard of! Every thread or poster seems to have a different opinion, and obviously the fact I know next to nothing about audio is making it really hard to come to any sort of definitive answers and conclusions.

Again, sorry if I'm missing some basic stuff, but any advice really does help

EDIT: Just seen Sludge Roach's post. I realise that with the music vids thats a fairly simple solution, but I would rather get stuff I'll likely need at a later date now, as I'm going to be learning all about the camera and filming now and I feel like I'd rather have all my kit together now so I can really get to grips with it all. I appreciate that you're saying don't be swayed into buying stuff I don't need, and hopefully I won't, but I would like to get at least a basic audio setup sorted now so that by the time I'm progressing my work I don't suddenly get overwhelmed by audio problems I haven't encountered and know nothing about
 
Since you are going to be doing it all yourself it's most likely going to sound bad no matter what gear you use. People seem to think they can just point and shoot with audio, and that's why they end up with a crappy sound track. For your application I would go ahead and get the Tascam DR-100 (similar to h4n but much better) and as much as I hate the company, a Rode NTG mic. There are many tutorials on making your own boom poles, shock mounts, wind jammers, all the accessaries you need on the cheap. Go to eBay for the mic I see the NTG2 on there for under $300.00 brand new all the time.
 
Thanks for the advice, I hadn't heard much about the Tascam, but I had heard wildly varying reviews on the H4n so I'll look into that. This looks like a great deal on it and I'm annoyed they don't appear to ship outside of the US- http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Hardshell-Tascam-Headphones-Accessories/dp/B004GHY8XI/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1310751553&sr=1-2&tag=5336062087-20

One main concern I have, that I probably should have mentioned before, is that a lot of my work is very dialogue-heavy, and rather than action set-pieces or horror special effects, I prefer to create more involving dramatic scenes, focusing on people and their trials and tribulations. Therefore, I am looking to get some suitable equipment rather than have, like you say, a poor soundtrack, and likewise learn how to properly use this equipment to ensure I don't lose sound quality
 
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