Starting a New Feature
- Thread starter ptalsky
- Start date
Okay, so in my test set up for today, I fired up the Venue, with my new sharkfins and linked in the Zaxcom (freshly back from tuning and repair) and everything sounds great. I also hooked up the Lectnet software to my mini-notebook and can monitor all four channels on screen - it is very cool. 
Tomorrow I build out the cart and see where I end up. Looks like the Venue isn't going to go into a rack case right now - the one I bought is a full case and it is too big and heavy for what I need. So, I think the Venue will sit on the cart on its own. I don't think I can get a new rack case in time.
Does anyone know if it matters whether I mount the shark fins up or down on the antenna stand (i.e. sitting on top of the cross-bar vs. hanging below)?
More to come...
Phil
Tomorrow I build out the cart and see where I end up. Looks like the Venue isn't going to go into a rack case right now - the one I bought is a full case and it is too big and heavy for what I need. So, I think the Venue will sit on the cart on its own. I don't think I can get a new rack case in time. Does anyone know if it matters whether I mount the shark fins up or down on the antenna stand (i.e. sitting on top of the cross-bar vs. hanging below)?
More to come...
Phil
The Feature Has Started
The Feature Has Started
Hi All,
Updating this thread now that the feature started. We completed our first four days, and now I'm going to turn this into an overview and lessons learned thread.
So, here's the setup:
(Starting at the top of my cart - pictures tomorrow)
* Alesis mixer feeding MacBook running Boom Recorder
* 8 Channels of audio used today - Boom (wireless), 6 lavs (see below) and slate mic.
* HD-P2 running as backup - fed from the main outs on the Alesis
* IFB feeding from the headphone out on the HD-P2
* Wireless camera feed (running with G2's) for scratch audio from split headphone jack on the HD-P2
* Lectro Venue running 4 VRS in block 21 and 25
* Mini Windows notebook running LectNet for monitoring the Venue system (signals and battery levels)
* Sharkfins mounted on a stand away from cart
* Denecke slate running as timecode master - used to jam Boom Recorder and HD-P2
* 2 additional G2's used for actors as needed
* Zaxcom wireless used for wireless boom or for talent as needed
* Wireless boom setup - Zaxcom Goldline series Rx antennas jumped into Venue, Tx mounted on an SD MM-1 (MM-1 for Phantom power and Boom Op monitoring)
I have also had to go to my bag a couple of times already (we moved upstairs in the house - my cart is too big to go upstairs - I could have moved the antennas over, but just easier to grab my bag and head upstairs. Here's the bag setup:
* SD 302
* Lectro 201 Rx
* Lectro R400A (yes, used in my bag with the BDS)
* Wired boom
* Audio out to camera via breakaway cable
* Lav's are all B6's
* Boom Mic is a Schoeps 641 (actually a 441)
So far, everything is going really well. Wireless coverage with the sharkfins has been great throughout the house (if you remember, we're shooting in a single location for the whole project). So here's some lessons learned:
* When running Boom Recorder, always make sure that all of the tracks you want to record are armed. Oops. I tried for the first time to save some disk space by disarming all of the tracks that weren't being used in a particular scene. New actor came in later in the day and I forgot to arm the track for that actor. Fortunately that track was armed into the mix and was in the back up mix (on the HD-P2) so the only thing we lost was the iso recording for that actor for that scene. Mistake will not be repeated.
* If you're using wireless, get the stretchy bands to hang them from (Remote Audio makes the ones I'm using). They have been great for hanging Tx's on actors.
* Wardrobe has been really cooperative throughout the shoot - all actors are wearing t-shirts under their clothes so I can easily mount the lavs and keep them on during wardrobe changes.
* I'm using rechargeable 9V's for the first time - they're not holding charges very well (maybe 2 hours of run time on them). We're turning actors on and off between scenes to cut down on swaps. I picked up 10 of the iPower NiMH types to try out, and I'm not overwhelmed with them at this point. One thing that is very important, as I've learned: They need a good full day's charge first time you use them, even if the charger is green. The first night of shooting they were lasting less than an hour - the time has improved now that we give them a good full charge.
* I still need a good way to manage storage of my wireless Tx's - I'm using the kitchen counter (I'm set up in the kitchen) to lay everything out, but this won't work in most normal situations. I got a half-rack for the Venue, so I can't use the drawer I bought for the full rack (which is huge and unmanageable.)
* The ListenTech's are still doing really well for my monitoring/IFB's. I bought new closed back headphones for them (Koss folding headphones - $12 each at Amazon) and everyone loves them. Really clear audio through them.
* I'm using a G2 as a wireless camera hop and it's working pretty well to provide a scratch audio track on the tape.
* It's really amazing how fast the size of the audio files grows - we've just completed day 4 and I've already recorded almost 30 GB of audio (including the back up). I bought a new portable drive for this shoot (320 GB Lacie) and I'm just turning that in at the end of the shoot (I back it up each night on to another portable drive just for safety).
* Had a scary experience today - slate wouldn't turn on. Somehow the on-off switch in the TC unit had been bumped. Easy fix, but made for a scary few minutes (we were just about ready to shoot).
* We're running free-run TC and that has been working well for everyone. Editorial is very happy so far.
* Actors (and don't forget, I am one too) can be very annoying. We have one actor that keeps coming up to me when he's not shooting to ask me if I'm hearing the buzzing fly, or the car outside or the buzzing in his ears or whatever. I'm not telling him how to act, I would be much happier if he would just let me do my job. Damn actors.
* I've pre-conditioned all of the actors to see me to turn off their mics before they go to the bathroom - so no unpleasant splashing or plopping noises yet.
* Used equipment certainly can be a mixed blessing. I have two problems already with one of my Tx's (going back to the seller again tomorrow for repair - the seller is one of our good and well known friendly retailers in Los Angeles...). Even my beloved Countryman seems to have incorrectly re-plugged one of my B6's. It arrived on set after I picked it up from them DOA. :-(
* One thing I now need to add to my arsenal is something to cover the antenna cables. I don't want to gaff tape them down to the hard wood floor and so far I've been lucky and no one has tripped...but I want to get a carpet or something with some substance to cover them with (rather than just using a sound blanket).
Well, that's all I can think of for now...I'll add more as we continue. We've got 2 more weeks of shooting to go. But, so far, I think my new setup and new equipment is working out really well. Let me know if you have any questions.
Phil
The Feature Has Started
Hi All,
Updating this thread now that the feature started. We completed our first four days, and now I'm going to turn this into an overview and lessons learned thread.
So, here's the setup:
(Starting at the top of my cart - pictures tomorrow)
* Alesis mixer feeding MacBook running Boom Recorder
* 8 Channels of audio used today - Boom (wireless), 6 lavs (see below) and slate mic.
* HD-P2 running as backup - fed from the main outs on the Alesis
* IFB feeding from the headphone out on the HD-P2
* Wireless camera feed (running with G2's) for scratch audio from split headphone jack on the HD-P2
* Lectro Venue running 4 VRS in block 21 and 25
* Mini Windows notebook running LectNet for monitoring the Venue system (signals and battery levels)
* Sharkfins mounted on a stand away from cart
* Denecke slate running as timecode master - used to jam Boom Recorder and HD-P2
* 2 additional G2's used for actors as needed
* Zaxcom wireless used for wireless boom or for talent as needed
* Wireless boom setup - Zaxcom Goldline series Rx antennas jumped into Venue, Tx mounted on an SD MM-1 (MM-1 for Phantom power and Boom Op monitoring)
I have also had to go to my bag a couple of times already (we moved upstairs in the house - my cart is too big to go upstairs - I could have moved the antennas over, but just easier to grab my bag and head upstairs. Here's the bag setup:
* SD 302
* Lectro 201 Rx
* Lectro R400A (yes, used in my bag with the BDS)
* Wired boom
* Audio out to camera via breakaway cable
* Lav's are all B6's
* Boom Mic is a Schoeps 641 (actually a 441)
So far, everything is going really well. Wireless coverage with the sharkfins has been great throughout the house (if you remember, we're shooting in a single location for the whole project). So here's some lessons learned:
* When running Boom Recorder, always make sure that all of the tracks you want to record are armed. Oops. I tried for the first time to save some disk space by disarming all of the tracks that weren't being used in a particular scene. New actor came in later in the day and I forgot to arm the track for that actor. Fortunately that track was armed into the mix and was in the back up mix (on the HD-P2) so the only thing we lost was the iso recording for that actor for that scene. Mistake will not be repeated.
* If you're using wireless, get the stretchy bands to hang them from (Remote Audio makes the ones I'm using). They have been great for hanging Tx's on actors.
* Wardrobe has been really cooperative throughout the shoot - all actors are wearing t-shirts under their clothes so I can easily mount the lavs and keep them on during wardrobe changes.
* I'm using rechargeable 9V's for the first time - they're not holding charges very well (maybe 2 hours of run time on them). We're turning actors on and off between scenes to cut down on swaps. I picked up 10 of the iPower NiMH types to try out, and I'm not overwhelmed with them at this point. One thing that is very important, as I've learned: They need a good full day's charge first time you use them, even if the charger is green. The first night of shooting they were lasting less than an hour - the time has improved now that we give them a good full charge.
* I still need a good way to manage storage of my wireless Tx's - I'm using the kitchen counter (I'm set up in the kitchen) to lay everything out, but this won't work in most normal situations. I got a half-rack for the Venue, so I can't use the drawer I bought for the full rack (which is huge and unmanageable.)
* The ListenTech's are still doing really well for my monitoring/IFB's. I bought new closed back headphones for them (Koss folding headphones - $12 each at Amazon) and everyone loves them. Really clear audio through them.
* I'm using a G2 as a wireless camera hop and it's working pretty well to provide a scratch audio track on the tape.
* It's really amazing how fast the size of the audio files grows - we've just completed day 4 and I've already recorded almost 30 GB of audio (including the back up). I bought a new portable drive for this shoot (320 GB Lacie) and I'm just turning that in at the end of the shoot (I back it up each night on to another portable drive just for safety).
* Had a scary experience today - slate wouldn't turn on. Somehow the on-off switch in the TC unit had been bumped. Easy fix, but made for a scary few minutes (we were just about ready to shoot).
* We're running free-run TC and that has been working well for everyone. Editorial is very happy so far.
* Actors (and don't forget, I am one too) can be very annoying. We have one actor that keeps coming up to me when he's not shooting to ask me if I'm hearing the buzzing fly, or the car outside or the buzzing in his ears or whatever. I'm not telling him how to act, I would be much happier if he would just let me do my job. Damn actors.
* I've pre-conditioned all of the actors to see me to turn off their mics before they go to the bathroom - so no unpleasant splashing or plopping noises yet.
* Used equipment certainly can be a mixed blessing. I have two problems already with one of my Tx's (going back to the seller again tomorrow for repair - the seller is one of our good and well known friendly retailers in Los Angeles...). Even my beloved Countryman seems to have incorrectly re-plugged one of my B6's. It arrived on set after I picked it up from them DOA. :-(
* One thing I now need to add to my arsenal is something to cover the antenna cables. I don't want to gaff tape them down to the hard wood floor and so far I've been lucky and no one has tripped...but I want to get a carpet or something with some substance to cover them with (rather than just using a sound blanket).
Well, that's all I can think of for now...I'll add more as we continue. We've got 2 more weeks of shooting to go. But, so far, I think my new setup and new equipment is working out really well. Let me know if you have any questions.
Phil
John Willett
Veteran
Not with those connectors he won't :crybaby:
But it may be feasible if he swaps all the mixer plugs for right-angled ones.....