sound gear for consumer HD camera

F

flean

Active member
hello,
what would be the optimal way to get a real professional sound for a documentary (one crew person so boom pole) using a Canon HV20 HDV or HV30 Vixia HDV?

The shooting about following a subject oudoor and interview indoor (hidden camera style).

any tips for sound that sounds pro?

thanks
 
Flean, you have been asking this question in several variations all over the place and the answer remains the same: If you can`t hire a sound crew your second best option is a good wireless set-up. If you work with the HV20 you also have to deal with the hissy pre-amps and need either a good mixer or something like a Juicedlink (www.juicedlink.com). Or you need to shoot double system to avoid the sub-par audio of the HV20 completely.
 
It looks like people tried to help you with this in other forums. You'll need tell us your budget and what you have other than the camera.

If you want "real professional sound" then hire a sound person since that meets your specification to a T. If you must do it yourself, as many people do, than expect to spend a good wad of cash. For very best results you'll probably want to do a double system and record to the camera and a stand-alone recorder and then sync it up in post.

To give you a hint of what you are asking:
Wireless mic, 1 set = $500 that's not including a better quality lav mic which will set you back another couple hundred bucks
Mixer, SD 302 3 channel = $1500
Assorted cables = $300
Headphones MDR 7506 = $100

That's just to do a wireless set up. You could get by without the mixer, yes, but it does improve things. I haven't included shotgun or hypercardioid mics (for outdoor and indoor respectively) or a recorder because you can spend thousands on those and you can search the forums for info on them.

I think you need to evaluate the scope of your project, get help or be prepared to spend money to get it right.
 
is this a good audio package for HV20 canon?

is this a good audio package for HV20 canon?

I went to a store in NY specialized in video. I told them i needed a broadcast quality sound for the consumer HV20 Canon. it's for a doc , reality TV like.
The shooting style will be handheld mostly and only one person (the subject) can be wired up but I still need to pick up the sound of people the subject will be talking too. So i will also need a shotgun mic i presume.
There''ll be indoor and outdoor (public places) shoot.
Here's the package the seller at the store, came up with:

Sennheiser EW 100 wireless lavaller $500 +tax
Beachtek XLR $179
Rode NTG 2 shotgun $269
Headphones $160.

Total = over $1000

1) is this a good package for sound quality?

2) is there anyway to get the same type of quality sound (assuming it is a good one with this package) but a bit on a lower price?

any other suggestions?
 
depends on what you call sound quality. I'd do some reading up on what others here are using in similiar situations. Craploads of posts about what mic to use where. For Gen doc use, I'd go with the beachtek, the wireless g2 kit, a new lav since the g2 ones blow (also get that lav wired with a break in it so you can go wired as well), the ntg2 (I'd go ntg1 cause I'm not a fan of batteries), get some sony 7506 headphones (only $100 instead of 160), a gitzo 9 foot CF boom, shockmount, some sort of wind protection for the rode (a full zeppelin if you can afford it), rechargeable batteries (they add up so I'd budget em in). If you are always going to have a boom op though I'd ditch the wireless kit and lav. Thats a budget killer, but sometimes really handy in a doc scenario. With a dedicated boom op I'd get them a mixer too so you can supply phantom power easily, and they can adjust levels without touching the camera. And a bag for all this stuff. And some good XLR cable. Carry a spare in case. I'd think to about where you will be shooting. A hyper will sound better indoors than the NTG1/2. The oktava is a good cheap mic but there are other options as well. Happy searching.
 
I´d rather get a Juicedlink than a Beachtek, you get a pretty good pre-amp and phantom power for not that much more money. You will need a good pre-amp to turn the camera pre-amp down to about a 1/4 - otherwise it will give you too much hiss...
 
Although YMMV, I've found that going to a video store and telling them what you think you need results in them selling you what you walked in asking about! I'm guilty of that and I'm learning not to got to video shops to get solutions to audio problems.

Try Gotham Sound on 38th street and don't go in with expectations about what you need. Go in to discuss a problem and see what they suggest. I've found them extraordinarily helpful and not in a rush to sell me stuff I don't need. In fact, they tried to steer me away from a mixer to use with my HV 20, suggesting that I just get a better camera with XLR inputs etc (they weren't selling cameras at the time). In the end I decided to accesorize my HV 20 with gear I can use with a future camera. But that's another story.

Your list has reputable gear although people either love or hate the Beachtek boxes. Shotguns are not good indoors as they pick up relflected sound. If you feel you Must have a shotgun, the Canon DM 50, designed for the HV20, is very serviceable and much cheaper. I have it.....but just like other shotguns it has its limitations indoors.

I like wireless, but it may not be the best solution to have one person wired and the others in the room not wired. I think you're going to get a very full sound from the wired person--with little ambient sound---and and a very different quality of sound from those on the shotgun. It may sound funny.

I've had to film up to 4 people in a room at once with only one wireless lav and a shotgun. I did it twice. One time I used a shotgun and the sound was a little hollow with lots of reflections. On another occaision I used the wireless lav (omnidirectional lav mic) hanging from the ceiling in the center of the action.....essentially a poor man's boom. Sound was acceptable considering I didn't have a boom or the money to buy 4 wireless kits. Neither one sounds perfect but I think I prefer the hanging mic to the camera mounted shotgun which, by necessity, was 8-10 feet away from the actors. When in doubt get the mic as close as possible.

My best advice is to see if you can rent some of this gear and do a dry-run to see what sound you prefer. Maybe the wireless hung from the ceiling meets your needs and you can apply the left over money elsewhere.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top