special location sound question

[Format_Foreigner]

Any location sound guys care to offer a tip?


for a special purpose video shoot, of a guy mixing music, in addition to normal film mic techniques, I want to attempt to capture "as the subject hears it".

my thought is to place a stereo pair at or near the mix position relationally equidistant as subject.

But do i use an omni pattern or not?

 

[SMuir]

If the mixer is mixing live music at a concert or club venue, then a stereo pair somewhere near their monitoring location would be a good idea. I would strongly recommend also recording a "dry" feed from their sound board, and mixing the two feeds in post-production.

If the mixer is working in a studio, then their monitoring setup will most likely be reproducing the tracks as accurately as possible, with minimal colouration from the room. In that case, you should probably just record a sepperate "dry" feed from their board. After all, they'll be mixing the tracks to sound good when played over a stereo or surround system, not mixing it to sound good when stereo-mic'd and then played back over a stereo system.

In either scenario, you should start by discussing the shoot with the mixer and getting their feedback. After all, you'll need their cooperation to get that "dry" feed.

 

[Gohanto]

But do i use an omni pattern or not?

Omni isn't too great for stereo as both mics will tend to pick up the same thing. A more narrow pattern can be "aimed" to pickup more sounds coming from the left, than the right, and vice-versa.
Plus with omni, you'll get phase cancellations.

I'm not sure the specific use of the "as the mixer hears it" but keep in mind that subjective shots open the door for sound design and you can motivate them hearing the show however you want.

 

[MattinSTL]

SMuir answered that well...

One of the biggest mistakes I see... over and over again... is people want to produce film that will be perceived as it would be if you were there. True cinema verite is a farce... cameras don't see things like people do and microphones don't hear things like people do... UNLESS you address the inherent weaknesses and/or characteristics of the equipment and act accordingly.

You'll be surprised how much you need that dry mix in post. The mic levels and especially BASS levels will be blown and/or unrealistic.