Using 3-4 wireless lav mics into one cam
- Thread starter swanny
- Start date
Use a mixer. That's what it's for.
Split the mics out if you can (one or two into cam CH.1, and the rest into cam CH.2) just so you have a little control in post. I've done EFP (lifestyle/newsmagazine) shows where we had a host and two guests on wireless. I'd put the host on Ch.1 and then mix the other two on Ch.2 to avoid phase cancellation and level issues. That gave the post folks control over the host's audio apart from the guests. It's better than nothing.
Split the mics out if you can (one or two into cam CH.1, and the rest into cam CH.2) just so you have a little control in post. I've done EFP (lifestyle/newsmagazine) shows where we had a host and two guests on wireless. I'd put the host on Ch.1 and then mix the other two on Ch.2 to avoid phase cancellation and level issues. That gave the post folks control over the host's audio apart from the guests. It's better than nothing.
Steve House
Veteran
A mixer with 3, 4, or more mic inputs, mixing down to a stereo track. Gotta be careful, though, as phase issues can creep in. Iso tracks are better but then you need a separate recording track somewhere for each mic.
Most location dialogue recording on narrative type productions (like features) is mixed to a single track. A mixer might record ISOs as backup but they normally turn in one track unless production requests otherwise. Reality TV and other stuff is a different story.
Generally, stereo (and surround) mixing happens in post.