Shooting an Instructional DVD this Sunday- need easy advice

A

AppaLuci

Active member
I'm shooting the prime action of it this Sunday; not a huge-paying deal so I gotta just use what I have sound-wise. His previous DVD which I'm aiming to replace wasn't any great shakes with regard to sound. No one was miked, I doubt more than a shotgun mic was used, if not just on-board mics. It's an instructional show and will include use of loud grinding machines (obviously he won't narrate what he's doing while running the machines, we can voice that over later). He'll also talk through what he's doing, will have a "student" along who might speak up with questions about the process, it's outdoors and standing with horses, and I'll also be doing a non-horse-action question/answer segment and interview.

I shoot with DVX100a, fairly new to it. I have an older VHF lavalier mic system (Azden WR22 Pro receiver w/2 transmitters) and a (new) Azden SGM-1x Shotgun mic mounted to camera. I will probably test-run this configuration tomorrow to see, but does it seem wise to simply have both systems running, with the Shotgun in Input1, grabbing the sound on Channel1, and the lavs for both teacher and student in Input 2/Channel2, and that way if the lav has spotty performance (it can) then the shotgun channel can be leaned on in post, and vice versa?

I ruled out putting the wired shotgun near the subject with a mike stand or something since his action can't be depended on to always be in the same place, horse may move, etc and I'll have to stay on him as he instructs. Also, how do you depend on a wireless mic (VHF) when you know it could throw in noise at any moment and there goes that part of the video that you can't do over?

Just a few (admittedly) elementary questions for you pro's out there, if you can help me to feel more prepared for this professional shoot. I appreciate all your insights, especially for nubes like me!
 
You know what, nix the question about relying on wireless mics. I've read more about it. Mainly want to know if configuration of the 2 sound inputs, will they interfere with each other? And if anyone has better suggestions to help me get best sound w/what I have?
 
Get someone to boom the mic for you. Next time think about audio when creating the budget for the project.

Good luck
 
Ow, that sounded like a reprimand. Not real helpful. This project is all learning for me, it's not about budgeting anything. I wasn't asking about budgeting. I was wondering if people use their lav and shotgun simultaneously and get good results. And no, I don't figure boom would work well held above a sensitive horse's head who we want to stay calm.

I learn a lot reading these forums. Feel like I'm wasting my time asking for help tho. Kinda frustrating.
 
I didn't view it as a reprimand Appa. The suggestion to get someone to hold a boom, was solid advice. The budgeting tip seemed sincere. I find people here to be genuinely helpful and willing to share their knowledge.
 
Didn't realize you were talking about people ON horses. Go with the wireless and retake as needed I guess. Beyond that I didn't understand what you were asking.

Forgive my "reprimand" but you did refer to it as a professional gig. Working in video production includes audio. If you don't plan ahead and expect it to "just happen" then you are likely to find yourself burnt.

Perhaps others will offer some better advice.

Cheers
 
It's cool. I didn't mean to sound to sound snappy. I just felt frustrated 'cause I'm in the learning stage on much of this stuff especially sound and that part has been proving to be challenging to get just right, and plus I wrote so much in my question here hoping for advice I could actually follow.

Anyway, it' fine, I did say it's a professional job but what I didn't mention was I'm fortunate that it's actually a friend's video, and he understands it's also good practice for me. Of course I want it to look & sound good. I think my lavs (& shotguns) worked well for the primary sound today.

I admit I am new to doing this stuff at this level but I'm looking everywhere for ways to pay for this camera (and then some...!) and so am learning fast. And yes I recognize that people here can be very helpful and I appreciate everyone's contribution, even Wabbit's' :)

I will consider booming in the future. Haven't done it yet... So, how often do people rely on lavs with a non-boomed shotgun, anyway?

Thanks, y'all.
 
Mixing the shotgun and the wireless should, generally speaking not be a problem. But here's the general rule of thumb: Always use the shotgun unless it is unusable, then go to the wireless. Wireless is almost always there for back up, unless you have a situation where you can't possibly put in a shotgun.

If you're mounting on the camera, this may qualify. Mounting on camera with a shotgun is rarely a good idea.

Also, when booming, a second best option if you think having the boom above the horses head will spook it is to boom up from below the "talent". Again, a second-best option, but one that will still get you better sound than mounting on the camera.

Phil
 
Phil, thank you for this advice. That was the very thing I was hoping someone with more experience than me would address. As I gain more experience, I'm sure I'd figure out the same thing on my own, but this helps speed up my understanding.

The star of this DVD is named Phil also.
How appropriate. :)

Now, off to figure out how to create a boom pole...
 
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