recording directly 2 macbook pro?

[robfilms]

recording directly 2 macbook pro?

i have 4 seperate talking head interviews coming up this weekend. it should take approx 60min to conduct each of the 4 interviews.

i'm shooting the interviewee on dvcam with a dsr570 and using a sony ecm88 lav and a senn 416 in a blimp on a boom hung overhead.

i'm now thinking of wanting to record the interviewer's questions. i want the best posssible sound because i am not sure whether i will use the questions in the final edit. i was going to record the interviewer using a 2nd sony ecm88 lav and a 2nd senn 416 hung overhead on a boom.

can anyone walk me thru the procedure of using a macbook pro as the recording device?

if so, my questions are:

how can i get two tracks of audio (the lav and the boom) into the mbp?

both mics take aa batteries for power, right?

the mics have xlr outputs but the mbp only has 1/8" input. will that xlr->1/8" adaptor produce a fair amount of noise?

again, how can i get two xlr mics into one 1/8" input on the macbook pro?

record directly into final cut pro or into garage band?

will final cut pro assign timecode allowing me to easily sync with the dvcam footage?

having not done the above, i'm leary of trying new workflows during a production. how clean/noisy are the macbook pro pre amps? broadcast quality?

of course, i could always use a 2nd camera to record the above but that will also double my time digitizing footage. any other "easy-tried-and true" suggestions?

thanks in advance for any and all thoughts u care to share.

be well

rob

 

[tigeba]

You need to get a firewire or USB interface, pretty much end of story IMHO. The built-in audio is far too noisy for anything other than casual listening.

 

[Noiz2]

can anyone walk me thru the procedure of using a macbook pro as the recording device?

Connect an interface, boot up some recording software, press record.
if so, my questions are:

how can i get two tracks of audio (the lav and the boom) into the mbp?

The above mentioned audio interface.

the mics have xlr outputs but the mbp only has 1/8" input. will that xlr->1/8" adaptor produce a fair amount of noise?

again, how can i get two xlr mics into one 1/8" input on the macbook pro?

You need to use an interface. Built in audio on any computer just suck. They were not designd for recording they are there so you can use voice commands and Skype etc.

record directly into final cut pro or into garage band?

Sort of your choice. I would use BoomRecorder, the two track version is $20.

will final cut pro assign timecode allowing me to easily sync with the dvcam footage?

No, well sort of. I think it will time stamp your recordings but there is no way to jam time code with out some external TC generator/ sync box so the time stamp will not be the same as the one on the camcorder. Boom Recorder will let you jam TC and can also use time of day which will at least get you close.

having not done the above, i'm leary of trying new workflows during a production. how clean/noisy are the macbook pro pre amps? broadcast quality?

NO, use an interface.

 

[dugstar]

"both mics take aa batteries for power, right?"

no. senn 416 does not take batteries, it only runs from phantom power or T power (phantom is more common and the mic will say on the body which type it takes