Sound devices mp-1 vs juiced link for dslr's?

Hunter Hampton

Hunter Hampton

Carbonite Member
Ive been shooting a lot of doc stuff on dslr's using a mix of sync sound and in camera sound from letrosonics wireless to a juiced link preamp.

On the last job I did we just used a SD744t with lectro's and I was listening to the signal and it sounded insanely clean- warm and pretty (at least to my non-audiofile ears)- when I compare it to stuff recorded through a juiced link with the same mics- there isnt a comparison.

My question is, will using something like the SD MP-1 paired with the lectro's get me cleaner sound like the 744t does or is it just that recording to a camera is the main limiting factor? (btw-I set the gain on the cameras all the way down low and use the pre-amp to handle gain- as that felt like the cleanest sound)

Knowing this would help a lot but I dont know of anyone in my area with an MP-1 to try it out. Thanks!
 
Thanks David- thats a bummer. What needs to happen for the dslr's to get great audio? Higher sample rate and more bits?
 
You get get close to the 744t by using a combo of sound devices MP1 (or MM1) fed into a zoom H4 or H4n. Thats my setup.
The zoom actually works pretty well as a line level recorder bypassing the bullsh*t zoom preamps.
An added advantage is the older and cheaper zoom H4 model allows line level xlr recording which the H4n doesn't
(great for sound devices xlr out) and you can get these older H4's for dirt cheap on craigslist.
 
Audio will always be a tertiary (at best) priority in a DSLR. These are still cameras, many of which happen to shot decent video, and the manufacturers put in some rudimentary sound recording capability to go with the video. The manufacturers know that anyone who's using their products for anything serious are probably going to have a sound department of some form and be shooting double system, so why add cost to the camera?
 
hunter richards said:
What needs to happen for the dslr's to get great audio? Higher sample rate and more bits?
Click to expand...

And quality pre-amps, and a decent monitoring system and... Well, just imagine adding the components of a Sound Devices mixer (the bulk and the cost) to a DSLR camera.

When using a DSLR you treat it as if it were real film - use a separate audio recording system.
 
I haven't tested a Sound Devices mixer into a separate recorder to know if it's such a huge improvement over recording into the DSLR as others have suggested, but I have tested a Sound Devices MM-1 recording directly into the camera and I absolutely find it to be an acceptable solution. It looks the same as the MP-1 you're considering, with the addition of headphone monitoring.

I don't know how it compares to your current setup, but you can listen for yourself to a test I did. The first half of the video is the built-in mic of the Canon 60D. The second half is a Sound Devices MM-1 powering an AT-875R and recording into the camera. As you suggested, the camera audio level is at the lowest setting, plus an attenuator cable is used to take the line level ouput down to mic level.

Here it is:
http://vimeo.com/18491643
 
There's no reason not to have 24 bit CC audio, but there isn't. Fortunately, there are a variety of inexpensive devices in all shapes and sizes to get you there.
 
Thanks Mr.Davis and Nandreetta- I guess I have some more personal audio testing to do- all in all Im just trying to find the cleanest recording incamera without sync as it can really distract from documentary work. Thanks for the tips everyone.

TC Jamming in dslr's would solve all my problems!
 
We use an SD302 field mixer which brings a high quality level to the table.
From the 302 we use one set of outputs to feed an H4n through a set of pads, and the second set of outputs to feed the AF100 or Red One either hardwired or wirelessly.

All the Best!

Dave
 
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