micing an interview - 2 tracks of lavalier?

Tom Knight

Tom Knight

Active member
I'm a newbie, obviously.

I'm doing interviews and have a pretty decent lavalier (the Rode) which is hardwired to my DVX100B. I also have an OK shotgun which is mounted to the camera.

Question - should I record both tracks of audio with the lavalier? Or should I use one track for the lav and one for the shotgun?

I believe the advantage of having both is that if the lavalier has some rustling clothing noise (which I have already experienced) then the shotgun can be used as a back up.

Then in post, would I mix the two tracks together, or just use one?

Thanks!

- Tom
 
Only record the two mics to split tracks if you can get the shotgun mic off the camera. For seated interviews, even a basic mic stand with boom arm can help. For moving interviews/walk-and-talks, you'll need a boom op. But mounted on the camera, the mic will do you little good. Any boomed mic needs to be as close as possible without getting into frame. Consider 8" - 12" your basic, effective working distance (can be anywhere from 8" to 20", but 20" is pushing it).

If you record with just one or just the other, record the one mic to both tracks, but set the second track to record about -6dB lower than the first. That's your safety track just in case a sudden, loud sound overmodulates the first.

As for post, if you record with both mics, you'll pick the better of the two. Don't mix them. Boom can be mixed with lav to "open" the sound a little, but this is more common in narrative work and not generally used for ENG/EFP.

If you record with one mic, go with the primary track in post and only fall back to the -6dB safety if you have to.
 
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The shotgun attached to the camera will be useless for an interview so don't worry about that.
Now if you can get that shotgun much much closer (overhead) it would be worth using as a backup.

In post if you have a lav and a boom covering the same interview you would only use ONE.
Because it takes time for sound to travel the sound will arrive at the different mic's at different times even if they only have a difference of a few inches.

Because the mic's have the sound arriving at different times (milliseconds) if you combine them it will have a very unpleasant sound commonly known as phasing.
It will kind of sound like they are underwater.
 
Thanks Guys! The idea of having two tracks of the lavalier, but having one track -6db is great. That's what I will do next time!
 
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