Minimum requirement(s) for documentary project?

[Oleg 2]

yes.it also can contain parallel out for additional headphones or with inter-connector taken from the camera line outs

 

[Michael T]

Hi, I just went through the choice process and finally came up with a decision that I believe is the best for me. Sound Devices is a great choice but was too expensive for me to get all the gear that I wanted. After reading tons of articles here and other places I went with the Tascam HD-P2 two track recorder that uses compact flash and records up to 24bit/192kHz. It has time code and did I say it has time code and I bought it from Doug Oade at Oade Brothers Audio. They change out the preamps with very high quality ones giving the unit an extra 6db in gain. This makes it a better unit than the Sound Devices for Stereo music or ambience recording, and as good as for boom mikes. This way I can create a sound library at a reasonable price and do documentary style or film work and record bands or any music at higher level with very low head noise. This gives four channels available if you use the two on the camera at the same time. I thought this to be the best choice for now and my plan is to make enough money with this unit so I can buy a Sound Devices 744 which is what all the really serious sound guys are using from what I have read and seen. Yes you can spend $12,000 on a unit or $4000 for SD or $1299 for the Tascam with time code and +6db of gain from Oade Brothers. I have a sennhieser long shotgun and am buying a AKG c480b +CK69 combo which is a long and short shotgun combo with the amp. Guy Graphics has the combo for $1399.00 which is a pretty good price but I talked to my guy at Guitar center and he said that he can give it to me for a price of $979.00 which nobody has beat. These are very good quality mics and have a very good reputation in the industry so I decided to go with these and buy the Schoeps CMIT 5u short shotgun later because its $1750.00 and even though is probably the best one out there is out of my range for one mic. I will buy a extra c480b and two CK62 omnidirectional capsules for ambient work. The two c480b's and four mics are just a little more than the Schoeps and will give me much more range in audio work and ability to make money with the audio unit. I do want a CMIT 5U because after reading tons of posts from sound guys they pretty much believe this is the best short shotgun mic out at the moment. I also went with the Petrol PEGZ-1 Small Eargonizer Bag from Trew Audio for $206.00 which is the best price that I found. If i could have walked in and seen the PEGZ1 and 2 bags side by side I would have gone with the 2 and at $17.00 more would have given me a little more room but I do like my pegz1 bag and it does give me enough room for now. So far I really like the HD-P2 and the quality I am getting from it and since its cheaper than the SD 302 pre amp I'd rather have a recorder. The +6db of gain does a good job and you don't need an extra pre amp for most mics and it is very quite. Also I'm going with the Lightwave G5 Cabled News Pole form Trew Audio for $385.00. Call Doug Oade and ask him some questions, he's very helpful (www.oade.com). After much research this is the path that I have chosen for now and believe is the best combination of gear for me. I hope this helps you a little .