Recording Audio For Multi Speaker Podium Event

N

Naguya

Member
Hi,

I need some advice. I am filming an event where multiple speakers will speak at a podium. I have the DVX100A, a shotgun mic, and a wireless mic. I have never done a shoot like this before and I have never used a board/mixer (not even sure if one is being used yet).

My question is how would you handle the audio? I was going to get close to the podium and use my shotgun for one channel and place my wireless mic around/near the podium microphone for the other channel. Will doing the latter cause distortion?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
 
I do a lot of this type of event, and this is how I do it.

If the speakers are working at a podium, it is likely that they will be using a microphone which will then be connected to a public address speaker system. If this is so I would attempt to get an audio feed from the sound desk to your camera. You would need to get a balanced line feed from the desk via XLR (Canon) plugs, and you'd probably have to supply your own audio cables as well. This would go in to your channel 1 or 2 plugs on the camera. If you go in to channel 2 you have the option of sending the audio to both channels.This would give you the cleanest audio. You must check with the audio technician that you are getting a line level feed, and you must set your channel input to line level. An option is to send the feed only to channel 2 and use your own external mic on channel 1 to give you a backup signal. You could then choose which channel to use when you edit later. Monitor your sound through a good set of headphones, and watch your audio levels.

If you place your mics close to the podium you will pick up all sorts of sounds coming from the audience as well.
 
Thank you for the feedback.

I talked to the audio technician and I will not have access to the speaker system.

The various speakers will speak at a podium, but each speaker will be using a lav mic for his/her speech, so there is not a stand alone mic.

I was thinking of capturing one channel using my shotgun mic and leaving my wireless mic on the podium stand to capture the audio onto the second channel. What do you think?

Thank you.
 
Put the wireless on the podium, and the shotgun near a PA sound system speaker, watching the levels closely and using headphone to be sure the shotgun doesn't distort from the PA system.
 
You may have to rely heavily on your shotgun mic near a PA speaker, as when presenters use lav mics they often don't stand still at a podium and they wander around and may be out of range of your wireless mic. Perhaps you should warn your client in advance that the audio you capture may not be of optimum quality. Also be careful how you place your wireless mic on the podium, as presenters may have documents or a lap top computer that they want to put there.
 
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