How to use a 16 channel mixer for location:

RomanJaquez

RomanJaquez

Well-known member
I wanted to write to you because I have a question regarding using a 16 channel Mixer for recording on location. I will be shooting a video for www.watervliethousing.org. I will be using a boon mike and a lavaliere microphone; unfortunately I do not know the exact models for any of these items except for the camera that I will be shooting with... the DVX100A. The question is: Should I use both the lav and the boom microphones send signals to the Mackie and from the Mackie to the DVX100A?
I guess my major concern is understanding how important the mixer is for enhancing the audio quality. Do you think I should feed the audio signal straight from the mics into the camera rather than routing it through the mixer?

your responce will be highly appreciated.

Roman
 
Re: How to use a 16 channel mixer for location:

Roman,

For our productions, we do not mix down multiple open mics onto the master tape. For flexibility in post, we prefer instead to keep each individual audio source in its own discrete channel. If you have more than two sources, this requires separate-system multitrack recording equipment and operators.

TWO MICS TO MASTER: Mixing a shotgun and lav mic -

We will usually take the lav into one of the camera's channels and use the on-board for ambient in the second channel or put our 416 there instead. For boom work, we'll go into the left channel and let the on-board mic do ambient / "room tone" into the right channel.

MULTI-TRACKING:

Another option is doing a separate double-sytem recording on location using a multitrack recorder. This allows you to set individual levels for each input without losing the ability to strip out certain source material during the edit. This requires synchronization on location - a task made difficult if you cannot jam one recording device to another. Slates at the head and tail of each take will help considerably.

e
 
Re: How to use a 16 channel mixer for location:

e,

Thank you so much for your responce. I am appreciate your help... since I have been focused on cinematic Image Quality since I got my DVX and has been ignoring the audio aspect of it. :)

so, do you suggest to not use a mixer? and instead to feed the lav signal to eather: left or right channel while feeding the boom in the other available channel directly to the camera? Sorry if the question is not clear... I am very naive when it comes to this.

Roman
 
Re: How to use a 16 channel mixer for location:

Can you tell us exactly what you envision mixing? Here are some configurations we use for documentary work FWIW! I'm sure other, more experienced mixers will chime-in shortly!

Ch. 1 - Shotgun mic (manual level control)
Ch. 2 - On-board mic (set to AGC)

*or*

Ch. 1 - Lav mic (manual level control)
Ch. 2 - Shotgun mic (manual level control)

*or*

Ch. 1 - 3 Channel Mixer (2 Lectrosonic Lavs Mixed-Down)
Ch. 2 - On-board mic (set to AGC) or Shotgun (manual level control)

- - -

Getting into double-system recording - where I actually have more experience - I can tell you more.

A few years back, I worked on a single-camera film show where we were mixing multiple Trams and Sankens with the 416s into discrete tracks on the Nagra-D. This required a crew of three though, including: production mixer (head audio), 2nd (boom operator) and 3rd (cable utility). For most of the stuff we do, you can get good results with much less!

Cheers,

e
 
Re: How to use a 16 channel mixer for location:

e,

based on your replies and on what I learned through other researches, I opted to not use a mixer. I highly appreciate your responces since you literaly saved the day for me. I will experiment with the configuration you just drew. I owe you a drink. ;)

the truth is that, I though, by using a mackie I would have more control over the audio signal (which I will) not necesarily the best choise... But, I've been trying to run away from the "dv audio" since this show will be bradcast. I will do my best in post. Thanks again.

Hey! if you still have more tips your sleeves they are welcome :D

God bless,

Roman
 
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