"Location sound 101 - This is how it is"

about level - usially the dialog for movies recorded with picks which fly -8-10 dbfs what give you another 8 -10 for unexpected signal ( 0dbfs - is the highest point on mt scale)
with normal setting the O dbu on your mixer will give you -20 dbfs on mt scale , since you dont know where is it try to give your mixer signal which will light the last red , this is 16 dbu and calibrate the tone to the maximum , brick wall , now decrease the level by 4 dbu and check where is the meter now
increase the level again - and calibrate the +16 dbu as -4 mark you found on mt scale
now you give 0 dbu tone and it show you the -20dbfs mark , make a sighn there with the marker
now you can work normally as normal people work and go to the red :-)
place your limiters at +16 dbu
for tv stuff usially the +10 dbu is the maximum this came from fast editing and satellites tracks) so you keep your recording lower before you make all this check if the maximum signal from your mixer( +16 dbu and Little bit more :-) doesn't light the red led on mt input , if it does decrice the level on the recorder until it will despaired ,
easy , very easy . the 8 was sounding quit good , the levels where ok but you might go hotter
.
 
[easy , very easy . the 8 was sounding quit good , the levels where ok but you might go hotter
.[/QUOTE]
this line is wrong
the stuff i checked the peaks where at 0 dbfs , i understand you did normalize the recording before the mp3 ,
Jon if you can send me the real file i might see the levels , and another one with 0dbu tone from your mt to see the dbfs scale ( please stay in the same gain structure as you recorded with mt levels)
 
ExileOnTheMainStreet,

All tests have bin done with the level control of the M-Audio at its lowest setting, none of the files have bin treated in any way. The following test are of the reference tone recorded with the different cables.

TEST#0010 is the unbalanced cable

TEST#0011 is the -14db attenuated cable
 
I'm not sure if this is what I'm hearing, but it sounds like you needed the extra headroom of the -14db cable... as if the other cable has the signal right on the edge of clipping the MicroTrack and we're hearing it bounce off the clip point a couple times.
 
The attenuated clip is coming in right at -4 dbfs, the unattenuated is blowing out (as expected). It would be simple to plot out the db readings on the Microtrack by making some test tones like this and then reading them in your audio program.

If you think your own voice sounds too bassy/hyper present/whatever, try and record someone else and see how their voice compares to reality. What we hear in our own head is never what we really sound like and most people have never heard a decent recording of their own voice.

Best
 
-14 dbu. Finally able to listen to all the clips now. Clip 8 is the only one that is acceptable. There is a lot of distortion in almost every other clip. Additionally there is more noise then I would expect from the set up you describe. You using well shielded cables?

As Excile said, having uncompressed wav files would make evaluation of clips more accurate.

You need to go back to the start and re-record test with the attenuation. Feeding +4dbu to a recorder expecting-10dbv is the source of much of the distortion. Doesn't matter very much what level you set the Microtrack to, it is distorting on input.

Actually I forgot...what were we originally trying to do here? :)

Best
 
wabbit

I am trying to find a way to improve the quality of the previous tests, so if you say that test #008 is the best so far, than we are definitely getting somewhere.

The following is a WAV file 6.9 MB recorded at 16/48, with the output levels of the mixer set as high as they can go before the red clipping lights go "ON" on the M-Audio.

TEST#0012
 
ok , this is very good recording , actually is extra hot recording , for normal dialog keep-it 6,8 dbfs down , your voice was going until 0 in small conversation
the tone you recorded is -5dbfs
you need to set the tone lower -for -20 ( this is only indication)
try
go down with the recorder input for 15 db ( with mt potenciameters) , and increase the mixer out with mixer ones , give the picks a little bit more room
 
"for normal dialog keep-it 6,8 dbfs down , your voice was going until 0 in small conversation "



Does this mean i should set the mixer so that it peaks at -6 db for normal dialog?
 
Jon Oskar said:
ExileOnTheMainStreet

The level controls on the M-Audio are already as low as they can go.
Click to expand...

that bring me to think you dont have 14 db attunuation ,much less
please do me a favor and record the same mike on 2 channels with regullar cable and attunuation cable
check the difference on the picks when the mt volium is full way down
 
I've been lurking on these boards for several weeks now and after reviewing I don't know how many threads, I think I may have an under $1000 sound package that will work for me. If anyone is interested in taking a look at it and letting me know if I'm missing something crucial, I would very much appreciate it. One note, I will be plugging my mic directly into my DVX100A for the time being, so I won't be buying a mixer. Anyway, here's my list. Flame away if you must, but any constructive criticism would be great. One more note, I'll be filming mostly indoors, short narrative films.

(1) Oktava MK012 Hypercardiod Mic
(1) Gitzo 557C Boom Pole
(1) Rycote Baby Ball Gag 20mm
(1) Rycote Windjammer for Baby Ball Gag
(1) K-Tek K-SSM with soft bands
(1) Sony MDR-7506 Headphones
(1) Audio Technica Shoe Mount
(1) Canara 25' XLR Cable
(1) Shure A15HP High Pass Filter
 
ihearamericasinging,

Looks like a realistic kit, just don't think you are posting this question in the right thread, as there are many threads out there dealing with exactly the equipment you are asking about.

While this thread is specific to a topic, (please read the first post in this thread) and im trying to keep it about that, rather than sound in general as there are loads of threads like that

This is not in any way meant to exclude you, as i was in your very shoes only two months ago and understand you would like to be sure before shelling out those $$$. Just trying to keep this thread concise and focused.

Maybe this helps-

http://www.dvxuser.com/V3/showthread.php?t=34334

best

Jon
 
Jon Oskar said:
"for normal dialog keep-it 6,8 dbfs down , your voice was going until 0 in small conversation "



Does this mean i should set the mixer so that it peaks at -6 db for normal dialog?
Click to expand...


150-ohm shunt and two 680-ohms in series (one in each leg).
check what you get in this configuration
 
Hi guy's, yea i haven't had much time to work on this thread, but i will go in to the next face of testing soon. In the mean time i was wondering if someone could answer this one.

Up to what distance will you go wired? Or how long is your longest sound cable?

I ask, as i imagine that the quality starts to decreases as the signal gets weaker due to the distance it has to travel. Does this make sense or am i looking at it the wrong way.
 
For line level it almost doesn't matter. At mic level I try to keep it under 25' but have heard tell of as long as 100' at mic level without significant degradation.

Cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top