Split system recording options w/ HVX

[Justyn]

Greetings all,

Just wondering how many people are looking to do a split system audio and video recording.

I bought the Fostex FR2 compact flash recorder about 8 months ago and have had absolutely fabulous results from this relatively inexpensive pro recorder. Granted, recording seperately requires more elements but I strongly believe that the quality results and the divided workflow is great enough to consider this , especially given the potential need for offloading video throughout the day.

For those looking to pick up a high end recorder, i'm happy to say that timecode Dat is no longer the defacto standard. My 1200 recorder with 500 dollar optional Timecode card yield higher quality with greater flexibility. My unit, which is about the most inexpensive pro unit, records 24 bit 192kz, with phantom power and 10 second pre-record buffer. I have usally recorded at the standard 24 bit, 48 and get about an hour of stereo recording per gig. Mono is just under 2 hours per gig. It can utilize either compact flash or the mini IBM drives (PCMIA, I believe). I hook it up to an NP1 adapter and run it all day long without having to change batteries.

Offloading files are done through either the recorder or the compact flash reader. it's fast and so easy to pull off. Also, a really cool feature is the ability to hook up a USB keyboard and rename the files as you shoot. I have digital IN and out and it's just a mean system for the price. Just so it's not all about Fostex, I'd say that if money isn't a concern to check out the Sound device's 2 or 4 track recorder and there's some pro level recorders out there doing 6 or 8 tracks simultaneously.


Pardon the long-winded rant, but basically I'm thinking that both the Compact Flash audio and the Video can be offloaded to the laptop at the same time and synched up together. I also think that seperating the duties yields to a greater aduio quality.. and certainly with the higher sampling rates I'm able to push the mikes well.. well beyond the 16 bit 48 khz rates. When recording at the 96 or 128 or the data hungry 192, I really really have to overload the mikes to get any distortion. The other cool feature for documentary or reality recording is that pre-record buffer option.

Anyway, just wanted to get an idea of what others might be doing regarding the audio in this workflow.


Thanks


Justyn

 

[esperman]

Well, in projects thet I plan to use the hvx, I'll just record audio to P2..since it is uncompressed 48K.

I'm all for redundant audio..but any project I would do this for would not involve the hvx.

 

[Justyn]

I can understand the need to have a higher quality camera for other gigs, but I do see the merit in a split system with the HVX for a number of reasons. The HVX is still a consumer quality system when dealing with audio. The pre-ams and circuitry involved is not as robust as stand alone audio equipment. I know it to be especially so on the 100a and my XL1. Coupled with a lower sampling rate and 16 bit recording, there is a huge sound differece between something I get and the result through the camera.

Also, I'f found that having audio with the camera tends to give it a bottleneck feel and audio plays second fiddle to the video. Perpetuating that war.

Finally, I just think that the offloading lends itself so well to have an editor on set syching up the audio and maximizing the quality.

either way it's great to get all geeky about this stuff.




Justyn