How much improvement with audio interface vs. onboard?

dustino

dustino

Well-known member
I feel certain the answer to this question will be - MUCH IMPROVEMENT! I'll ask anyway. I just got a $5K grant for a documentary I've been working on for some time. It couldn't have come at a better time given I've finished 90% of production and need to edit a rough cut. So now, I can invest in a new machine (MacBook Pro likely), the new Final Cut Studio (I'm currently using FCP 3!), and a pair of audio monitors. Also hoping to get a Sennheiser G5 wireless lav set up, but not certain yet.

As you can guess from my initial question, I'm pretty ignorant of all issues regarding sound editing. I'm wondering how crucial it is right now to invest in an interface for these monitors vs. simply using the 1/8 jack in a macbook pro? Would I be totally wasting my time with decent monitors (looking at Event or Alesis) if I continued to use my onboard soundcard?

I also have an m-audio ozone interface (a device with a keyboard & xlr inputs), but it runs on USB 1. Plus it's pretty bulky and far from a "professional" device: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/275198-REG/M_Audio_9900_40809_00_OZONE_25_Key_USB.html

So...

1. Is it stupid to use the onboard sound through headphone jack, even temporarily?
2. Can anyone suggest a decent interface? (i can use the search function for this)

I should note that I'll primarly be editing dialogue, but also some music. I doubt I'll be mixing too much (because I'm clueless in that area). And the plan is to hire a professional editor and sound designer/mixer when more funds are raised.

Thanks for any advice. And even though my little $5K grant isn't that big a deal, it's huge to me right now and I have this community to thank for 80-90% of what I know about filmmaking (and, therefore, for this grant).
 
Are you still shooting? or are you down to editing?

What is your equipment list as of today for production and post production?
 
Thanks for the compliment, Estebeverde. I'll be editing on the macbook pro. (i shot with DVX). Ideally, I hope to hire a professional editor, but if funds don't come, I'll probably edit the entire feature on the mbp and self distribute.

Here's my list of equipment
Production:
DVX100a
Slik 700 tripod with bogen 501
Rode NTG-2
Oktava MK012
2 Countryman EMW wired lavs
Sennheiser px100 and hd 202 headphones
Assorted Mole Richardson & Lowel lights (plus a couple Briteks)

Post:
Titanium G4 Powerbook 1ghz running fcp 3.0 (casing literally held together with gaffers tape!)
m-audio ozone interface
cheap headphones listed above...
sony consumer cam used for editing "deck"

I know it's a pretty low rent kit here, but I'm happy with what I've done with it as I'm learning how to make films!
 
Unless you invest in an interface that also outputs video at the same time as audio, I would stick to the 1/8 mini out for audio. If you start using an audio interface only, you might have a delay that will not sync to picture. IMO
 
BRH said:
Unless you invest in an interface that also outputs video at the same time as audio, I would stick to the 1/8 mini out for audio. If you start using an audio interface only, you might have a delay that will not sync to picture. IMO
Click to expand...

I disagree. I use a firebox

http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html

Much better than a stock soundcard, plus you have a lot more control over input.

You will notice a delay if you output your video to an external monitor via firewire and monitor audio through the firebox. But the audio is not out of sync. Just monitor your video from your mac and the audio from the firebox. If you go to an external monitor through a camera via firewire, monitor your audio through a stereo receiver if the delay bothers you.
 
dustino said:
Thanks for the compliment, Estebeverde. I'll be editing on the macbook pro. (i shot with DVX). Ideally, I hope to hire a professional editor, but if funds don't come, I'll probably edit the entire feature on the mbp and self distribute.

Here's my list of equipment
Production:
DVX100a
Slik 700 tripod with bogen 501
Rode NTG-2
Oktava MK012
2 Countryman EMW wired lavs
Sennheiser px100 and hd 202 headphones
Assorted Mole Richardson & Lowel lights (plus a couple Briteks)

Post:
Titanium G4 Powerbook 1ghz running fcp 3.0 (casing literally held together with gaffers tape!)
m-audio ozone interface
cheap headphones listed above...
sony consumer cam used for editing "deck"

I know it's a pretty low rent kit here, but I'm happy with what I've done with it as I'm learning how to make films!
Click to expand...


The results are the only thing that matters and you have a very nice kit actually.


Are you still shooting?



O.K. Here we go.

I am going to be your producer for a quick second.

You are definitely going to want to have something to edit on in post besides The Titanium G4. Is there any chance you have any AppleCare Protection Plan left? If not, no big deal. You might still be able to get some salvage value for it on eBay at some point.

The best set up would be a tower system with an external sound card, a much better video card, AND a larger format monitor so you can edit for real.


You need to see and hear your project to edit well! :)


Is it possible to sign up for a course, any course, that would give you access to a higher end editing suite? Maybe an independent study course of some sort? Perhaps at your local community college or University?

Do you have all the footage you will be using? There is also money available from selling your gear if you are done shooting and in the editing stage. I know you love your gear but if you need the money to finish...


Also, I can understand why you might want to hire a "professional editor" but before you do would it be worth while to give it a go? You will learn a great deal from the process alone and be all the closer to being a great filmmaker. With that said, you can always hire someone to edit afterwards should you feel you come up short.


If your work is anything like your trailer you are most definitely on the right track and have a project that is well worth the time and effort to do it right and do the topic justice.
 
Jim Brennan said:
I disagree. I use a firebox

http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html

Much better than a stock soundcard, plus you have a lot more control over input.

You will notice a delay if you output your video to an external monitor via firewire and monitor audio through the firebox. But the audio is not out of sync. Just monitor your video from your mac and the audio from the firebox. If you go to an external monitor through a camera via firewire, monitor your audio through a stereo receiver if the delay bothers you.
Click to expand...

Right.

For this particular application, depending on the type of sound to be mixed 2.1, 5.1, 7.1 ... an external sound card like a higher end creative labs would most likely be the most cost effective solution and there is ZERO lag at all with this route.
 
BRH said:
Unless you invest in an interface that also outputs video at the same time as audio, I would stick to the 1/8 mini out for audio. If you start using an audio interface only, you might have a delay that will not sync to picture. IMO
Click to expand...



I humbly disagree but perhaps I am misunderstanding. Can you elaborate a bit more please.

Thanks.
 
Thanks again, Estebeverde. As I said in my original post, I plan to purchase a new MacBook Pro to begin editing. A tower would be better, but mobility is a huge concern to me given a recent job offer in which I'll be traveling to do freelance video work. Hopefully I can get a decent-sized video monitor in the near future. And I plan to do the lion's share of editing but will need to hire someone to help with color correction and DEFINITELY sound design once I get the edit close to its finished form.

I'm still wondering, though, how much clarity i'm sacrificing if I use audio monitors from the macbook pro's sound card (1/8 jack). Is it a total waste of energy?

The macbook pro has an expresscard 34 slot, but I couldn't find any audio interfaces for it? Anyone know of anything off hand?
 
dustino said:
Thanks again, Estebeverde. As I said in my original post, I plan to purchase a new MacBook Pro to begin editing. A tower would be better, but mobility is a huge concern to me given a recent job offer in which I'll be traveling to do freelance video work. Hopefully I can get a decent-sized video monitor in the near future. And I plan to do the lion's share of editing but will need to hire someone to help with color correction and DEFINITELY sound design once I get the edit close to its finished form.

I'm still wondering, though, how much clarity i'm sacrificing if I use audio monitors from the macbook pro's sound card (1/8 jack). Is it a total waste of energy?

The macbook pro has an expresscard 34 slot, but I couldn't find any audio interfaces for it? Anyone know of anything off hand?
Click to expand...

For the MacBook Pro you can go with something like this:

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External Audio Device

A device like this is going you the best portable sound from a laptop. $50.00

But, since you are not going to be doing sound design you can always get a pair of studio headphones and use those. There are great pairs for around $100.00

You don't necessarily need the sound card and external monitors if you are not going to edit the sound yourself.

If you are just going to rough cut the video with it's accompanying audio do that and keep the masters for the sound editor/designer.
 
Thanks for the soundblaster link. I'll keep that in mind. I would like to have audio monitors to learn and grow with. I'm certainly not opposed to sound design and mixing in the future, but have no knowledge at the moment. My dream is to have a fully equipped (though modest) production studio in the future primarily for documentary production. Having some decent monitors and learning to work with room acoustics is important to me in reaching that goal. Thanks again for you help and encouragement, estebeverde.
 
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