Need some help ASAP

jambredz

jambredz

Veteran
Ok guys so here's the situation. I've just started out doing freelance videography and prior to this i've studied (online) mainly on cinematography (cuz i like that alot). I dont know jack about sound and my dvx which i recently got. i Just got a last minute call for an an interview to shoot 2morrow cuz i got refered by another job i did...but sound is really lost on me. I need a crash course like now :D. i'll be using a wired lav. which i'll pick up 2morrow morning. Its a simple straight forward inteview i'm assuming the person is gonna be asked questions off screen and they talk (if not thats the way i'll want to set it up anyway)

So i have the onboard mic...and a lav at my disposal.
Speak to me like a dunce or (point me in the right direction re a specific thread) cuz i really am when it comes to sound and the dvx regarding input and how its supposed to be set. Just want crisp sound from person talking.

I'll do a search now but i wanted to get attention so i;d get faster responses cuz its a crunch. Shout out to C2V!! i know ur a sound guy:)

thanks
 
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Make sure that your wired lav has an XLR connector and is wired for phantom power. There's a chance that it comes with a battery-power barrel (AA battery), depending on what you get.

And get an extra length of XLR cable while you're at it... 25' should be more than enough. That gives you some distance flexibility with your camera setup.

Keep headphones with you, and use them while you shoot.

Other than that, it's pretty straightforward. Don't worry about the on-board mic at all as it won't help you in this situation. Set your camera's inputs as follows:

- connect the mic to input 2
- on the front of the camera, input 2 to MIC
- on the side of the camera, set both channels to record from Input 2
- also on the side, if the mic is phantom-powered, turn on the phantom power for input 2
- set your record levels so that channel 1 records right at the -12dB mark, and channel 2 records about 5dB lower

Your dialog should record (on CH 1) right at -12dB for normal speech level. Of course, interview subjects sometimes soften their voices for dramatic effect, and the level will obviously be lower. And they might get excited about one answer and speak a little louder... if sudden peaks hit -6dB or thereabouts, you'll be fine. And should a sudden peak blow out the audio on CH 1, you have a safety on CH 2 that has 6 more dB of headroom.

Go ahead and, in the menu, turn the ALC on. I try not to use it, but I have an external mixer with a better limiter. It will help to keep sudden peaks from blowing out.
 
Your situation sounds pretty straight forward. Beforehand make sure the Lav mic has XLR connectors to hook up to the DVX. Select which input the mic is connected to. Open the LCD panel and the input selectors are there. Put the mic on the person and do a sound check to insure the audio gain isn't too high or too low. Adjust the gain controls right below the LCD screen on the left bottom side. Just remember over modulated sound is generally useless after the fact. So get the gain set properly! You better do a walk thru with the mic setup before you go to the interview. Make sure everything works. You don't need any suprises on the job.
 
spend time TONIGHT getting it figured out.
Dont wait till tomorrow on location to plug things in for the first time.

Test it out tonight. Do a test record, be quieter, be louder..etc.
if the mic isnt dead center. Put it to the side where the direction of the chin is looking.

Try to pick a location where there is no ventilation noise..etc.
 
oh and if i use 2 lavs in case the interviewer and interviewee are to be shot (trying to cover my bases) "side by side". ideally i dont want to do that but i just called and asked how they would want the set up and apparently its part of something already shot and want to maintain the look. so the over the shoulder set up i was thinking of may not be used.
 
Well, then you connect a mic to input 1, a mic to input two, and on the side of the camera set CH 1 to record form in 1 and CH 2 form in 2, and phantom power on for both.

Won't give you a safety channel, but if you set your gain properly, it won't be a problem. Especially for an interview.
 
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