Upgrading audio kit?

swaneon

swaneon

Well-known member
Currently my kit consists of an ntg2 as my mic, zoom h4n + marantz 661 as my recorders

i'm going to get some lavs but for the units i have I'm thinking about getting the sound devices mix pre d and get an ntg3 for $500 (only a $350 or so upgrade)

are there any other suggestions?
 
What are your application? Film? Documentaries? Interviews? Nature recordings? Sound fx?

The 661 is decent, and unless your jobs could really use the preamps, limiters and metering of the mixpre, I would upgrade the mics before getting a mixer. The NTG3 is a good shotgun that is something of mark before entering the much more expensive realm, but you might want to consider a hypercardioid like the AT4053b or maybe Audix SCX-1HC.
 
The first bit of advice above is the key. How can you consider buying microphones - which must be one of the most subjective and application centred decision you ever make? I've got dozens of mics and I open the box and grab the most appropriate one. Trouble is, it's often the same one, by habit. Sometimes, you have used (or even forgotten) the mic you want, so try another - and it works better! If you have an NTG2, it's a decent tool, so replacing it brings subtle not major differences.

I'd be looking at your future work and getting something to compliment what you have rather than replace. What kind of work do you do?
 
I do currently do corporate + wedding videos
the wedding videos are based around a story/ interview therefore it extends to days just filming the couple talking and such
i bought the ntg3 because i found one for $491

I might hold off on the mix pre then since usually all the environments (partially the live wedding) will be controlled

I'll probably get something for interiors then
 
also bought a hypercardioid

now i was thinking if i should get a mix pre d for $800 or a a 302 for $1150?
 
Depends if you need the options of the 302 mixer. the preamps would not sound any better. (all things being equal)
You will not likely find a new 302 for $1150 USD. SD just recently raised the price, the current retail price is $1595.
 
Skip the mixer.

Dump your current recorders and get a Tascam DR 680.
Add a couple G3 wireless sets.
The NTG-3 will be a nice improvement.
 
was looking to get g3 next month
and i don't
i just want a cleaner signal

essentially i'd like to connect the g3 and the ntg3 on the same recorder with different tracks

why the dr 680?
 
Won't be long before you are running more than one wireless.
Seems like a minimum I do these days is 2 wireless plus a boom.
Weddings are usually 3 sets of wireless.
The DR 680 will let you do 6 iso tracks plus a mixdown and has good preamps.
It is a little bit of a pain to mix on but having the iso tracks can save your butt in post production.
 
nwstudios said:
Won't be long before you are running more than one wireless.
Seems like a minimum I do these days is 2 wireless plus a boom.
Weddings are usually 3 sets of wireless.
The DR 680 will let you do 6 iso tracks plus a mixdown and has good preamps.
It is a little bit of a pain to mix on but having the iso tracks can save your butt in post production.
Click to expand...
when you say sets that means each person needs a receiver? so 3x g3?
 
Each person will need a transmitter and a receiver.

I am down playing the need for a good mixer but if your serious about doing sound
you will eventually want a mixer that has direct outs.
 
nwstudios said:
Each person will need a transmitter and a receiver.

I am down playing the need for a good mixer but if your serious about doing sound
you will eventually want a mixer that has direct outs.
Click to expand...
I'm definitely serious but right now I have dedicated a lot to getting my blackmagic and other items--I'm open to spending up to 1.5k on a good mixer--which would you recomennd?
 
nwstudios said:
A low mileage used Sound Devices 442 would be my choice with that budget.
Click to expand...
i think that a lot of wedding videographers do not emphasis audio as they should

so this seems to be it?

Sound Devices 442
3x g3

is convenience the reason for getting the mixer instead of 3 recorders?

thinking about it would getting a mix pre d + the tascam dr 680
be a viable option?
because I;m wanting to replace the ntg3 and ck1 with schoeps
 
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swaneon said:
3x G3
Click to expand...

To keep costs down you can also go with "wild" sound, where you use a recorder like the Olympus LS7 with a good lav mic, and have the LS recorder tucked into a pocket or clipped to a belt. The recorder can run for 30 hours on just two AAA batteries, and you can lock the controls so that nothing will change while the recording is taking place. In post you will need to sync these "wild" audio tracks to the main camera audio.
 
TheDingo said:
To keep costs down you can also go with "wild" sound, where you use a recorder like the Olympus LS7 with a good lav mic, and have the LS recorder tucked into a pocket or clipped to a belt. The recorder can run for 30 hours on just two AAA batteries, and you can lock the controls so that nothing will change while the recording is taking place. In post you will need to sync these "wild" audio tracks to the main camera audio.
Click to expand...
like an OST or Sanken to the LS7 for each of the speakers?

I'm really wanting a schoeps for the story interviews
 
swaneon said:
like an OST or Sanken to the LS7 for each of the speakers?
Click to expand...

Yes, just make sure you place the lav properly so you don't hear much ( or any ) clothing noise as people move around.

swaneon said:
I'm really wanting a schoeps for the story interviews
Click to expand...

Which means a good mixer + recorder and a boom-op if there is more than one person ( or if your single person moves around during the shoot )
 
TheDingo said:
Yes, just make sure you place the lav properly so you don't hear much ( or any ) clothing noise as people move around.



Which means a good mixer + recorder and a boom-op if there is more than one person ( or if your single person moves around during the shoot )
Click to expand...
Ah I see---I guess that's where our next improvement will be

mic first or mixer?
 
TheDingo said:
...Myself, I would go for a good mixer first, as I can always rent mics, or buy used mics on eBay. ( used Sound Devices Mixers are hard to find, where used mics are pretty common )
Click to expand...
would a mixer improve my signal to noise ratio?
i tried the marantz with the ntg3 and the levels were fine for me but the avantone needed to be closer (not always possible) or increase the gain which introduced the noise
 
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