Question about my video cam and audiorecorder.

[deleuze3]

Hi, i have a sony hdr-xr500v video camera and for the audio, i use a Rode lavalier plugged in a sony pcm-m10 audiorecorder.
I mostly record dialog with my audiorecorder and i then mix the audio with the video i shot.
I would like to have the best quality possible.
Here are the tips i found on the net. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ITS ACCURATE.

1) I should record audio at 24bits/48kz. Is it the best for my hd video if i want to export on bluray?

2) Some say the level peak of my audiorecorder should not exceed -12db if i dont want to have distortion.

3) I thought a reasonnable audio level for dialog would be between -12db and -6 db if my goal is to export my project in bluray. (so when i record the audio with audiorecorder, i normalize at -12 to -6db)

Thanks in advance if you have comments about what is the best for me
it would be really appreciated
thanks a lot
deleuze3

 

[Rick R]

1) I should record audio at 24bits/48kz. Is it the best for my hd video if i want to export on bluray?
-- Always record 48Khz, 24bits would be best.. but the recorder's converter's may not actually be 24, so if your record levels are decent, the difference between 16 and 24 would be negligible .

2) Some say the level peak of my audiorecorder should not exceed -12db if i dont want to have distortion.
-- Hypothetically, anything below 0.0dBFS would not be clipped, but headroom must be considerd for unexpected occurances. so -12dBFS would be fine with occational peaks reaching -6dB or little higher would be OK as well... as long as -0.00dBFS is never exceeded, your basically OK.

3) I thought a reasonnable audio level for dialog would be between -12db and -6 db if my goal is to export my project in bluray. (so when i record the audio with audiorecorder, i normalize at -12 to -6db)
-- Manual volume envelopes and a little dynamic compresstion and peak limiting is often better than simple peak noramizing, which only brings the loudest peak to a pre-set level.

 

[Jema]

3) I thought a reasonnable audio level for dialog would be between -12db and -6 db if my goal is to export my project in bluray. (so when i record the audio with audiorecorder, i normalize at -12 to -6db)

The levels of your finished product has nothing to do with the format (blue ray), but with where and on what it will be seen. Commercials for instance, are usually made really loud to catch attention, and tv is also fairly loud and compressed so that it can be easily heard on a lower level on tv speakers. Film is usually made for theaters, and have levels that are a bit lower (since it's often played quite loud) and more dynamic range.

Some networks etc have standards you can look up.