Audio Forum Frequently Asked Questions at DVinfo.net

Chris Hocking · December 26th, 2007, 07:28 AM

For your convenience, I have arranged a listing of some of the more commonly asked questions regarding the audio aspects of the video production world (consider it a Christmas present for you all!). Each link leads you to a post where we have previously discussed the topic in question.

These topics are still open for further discussion. If you have some input you'd like to give, or need more advice about a particular topic, please reply directly to each respective thread instead of starting a new one. That way, we can avoid splitting the discussions. Hope you find this handy!

But, please, if you can't find the answer below, before you post a question, give the Search function a try. Most of the time you'll find your question has already been answered. If you can't find anything using search, then great! Post away! But if you're too lazy to search, then don't be surprised if your post doesn't get too many replies...

Happy Listening!

Read These First!

> Things To Consider Before You Post
> The Ten Commandments of Sound for Picture

Techniques

> Proper way to mix for two actors and a boom
> Audio Meter says OK, but clipping is still happening?
> What do you set your limiter at?
> What sound should you capture on set?
> Lavalier Position... What's best?
> General advice on Monitoring Sound Level

Technical Information

> 16bit vs 24bit Dialogue Recording
> Plugging XLR into non XLR camera
> Microphones & Pads

The Lone Shooter

> Do you need a mixer if you're not mixing?
> Solo Shooter Audio Options
> Audio for Documentary

Getting Some Gear Together

> Advice For New Film Maker
> Sound for Independent Film
> Building basic audio package -- $1000 to $1500
> What kind on audio equipment will I need?
> Your opinions on Field Mixers under $700
> Best Shotgun Mic for $200 to 400?
> Boom & Microphone combo under $1200
> Which Boom Pool?
> Suggestions for Basic Field Recording Set Up
> What Wind Protection?

Mixers

> Recorder vs Using Mixer to Camera
> 302 versus MixPre
> Audio OR Field mixer
> ENG-44 Field Mixer
> Budget Portable Mixer
> Sign Video Audio Mixers

Keeping it in sync!

> Synching to Clapper & Camera Audio Better than Synching to Timecode with Double System?
> Going Timecode

Speakers

> Best Speakers to use with FCP?
> Monitor Speaker Suggestions?
> Budget Powered Monitors

Headphones

> Do I really need expensive headphones?
> Ohms & Headphone

Which Mic...

> Indoor Use of Shotgun Microphones
> When to use a Shotgun, Hypercardiod, Omni Directional, etc.
> Cheap Handheld Mic?
> Modest Price Hypercardoid Microphone
> Sanken CS-1 vs MKH416
> Rode SM-3 vs SM-5
> Multi-purpose Microphone
> Just one microphone?
> Documentary interviews - Cardioid boom vs Lavalier
> Rode NT3 suitable for a beginner?
> Comparative Demonstration of the Sennheiser ME66 and MKH416 Shotgun Microphones
> Best bang for the buck shotgun microphone
> MKH416 vs MKH60 and MKH70?
> Is stereo necessary? Rode NT4 for documentary, interviews...
> Untraditional Microphones/Mixers...

Look Mum! No Wires!

> Wireless Microphone Virgin
> Wireless Lavalier Microphones
> Azden Wireless Lavs
> Best Long Range Wireless Microphone for under $600
> Wireless Lav Advice...
> Wireless Boom Microphoes
> Sony UWP-C1 vs Sennheiser Evolution G2

Best Microphone for...

> Choir Concerts
> Stereo Music Recordings
> Two Subject Interview
> Recording Birds...
> Conference Table Recordings
> Classical Music
> Wind Band
> Voice Overs
> Corporate Shows

How do I make it sound like...

> Telephone Voice
> Optimus Price Voice
> "Ethereal" Voice Over
> Rich, Deep, Trailer-type Voice Effect

Stereo Recording

> Stereo recording in one man documentary

ADR

> My First ADR Experience
> ADR Plugins

Fix it in post!

> How can I clean up this background noise?
> Fixing Audio Distortion
> Filtering out motor noise

Royalty Free Audio

> The Music! Where is the GOOD music!
> Royalty-Free Music BEST Place?

Surround Sound

> How to record 5.1 atmos on the cheap?
> Dolby Pro Logic II
> What all speakers are needed for surround monitoring?

...and remember, please Search before posting!

Dan Keaton · December 26th, 2007, 09:50 AM

Dear Chris,

I find your post very useful. Thank you for all the time it must have taken to create your post.

Steve House · December 26th, 2007, 10:00 AM

Amen to Dan's comment. I think this merits a sticky!

Jonathan Plotkin · December 26th, 2007, 09:12 PM

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Ben Syverson · December 26th, 2007, 09:50 PM

Total instant sticky!

Anna Harmon · December 29th, 2007, 03:04 AM

Chris, this is great!

Can you put this on top so it doesn't get lost in the threads?

Chris Hocking · January 7th, 2008, 03:20 AM

Just discovered this article... Well worth a read:

As I Hear It - Choosing the Right Microphone
An Overview of Popular Short Shotgun, Supercardioid, Hypercardiod and Cardioid Microphones
By Dan Brockett

URL: http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage..._brockett.html

Bernie Beaudry · January 7th, 2008, 10:49 PM

Chris,
Thanks for all the hard work!
Bernie

Chris Hocking · January 30th, 2008, 06:14 AM

This is another older (but still very relevant) article by Dan. Definitely worth a read before you post any location sound questions!

Location Sound: The Basics and Beyond
An overview of everything related to location sound.
By Dan Brockett

URL: http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...ion_sound.html

December 26th, 2007, 07:28 AM	#1
Chris Hocking Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 595	Audio Forum Frequently Asked Questions For your convenience, I have arranged a listing of some of the more commonly asked questions regarding the audio aspects of the video production world (consider it a Christmas present for you all!). Each link leads you to a post where we have previously discussed the topic in question. These topics are still open for further discussion. If you have some input you'd like to give, or need more advice about a particular topic, please reply directly to each respective thread instead of starting a new one. That way, we can avoid splitting the discussions. Hope you find this handy! But, please, if you can't find the answer below, before you post a question, give the Search function a try. Most of the time you'll find your question has already been answered. If you can't find anything using search, then great! Post away! But if you're too lazy to search, then don't be surprised if your post doesn't get too many replies... Happy Listening! Read These First! > Things To Consider Before You Post > The Ten Commandments of Sound for Picture Techniques > Proper way to mix for two actors and a boom > Audio Meter says OK, but clipping is still happening? > What do you set your limiter at? > What sound should you capture on set? > Lavalier Position... What's best? > General advice on Monitoring Sound Level Technical Information > 16bit vs 24bit Dialogue Recording > Plugging XLR into non XLR camera > Microphones & Pads The Lone Shooter > Do you need a mixer if you're not mixing? > Solo Shooter Audio Options > Audio for Documentary Getting Some Gear Together > Advice For New Film Maker > Sound for Independent Film > Building basic audio package -- $1000 to $1500 > What kind on audio equipment will I need? > Your opinions on Field Mixers under $700 > Best Shotgun Mic for $200 to 400? > Boom & Microphone combo under $1200 > Which Boom Pool? > Suggestions for Basic Field Recording Set Up > What Wind Protection? Mixers > Recorder vs Using Mixer to Camera > 302 versus MixPre > Audio OR Field mixer > ENG-44 Field Mixer > Budget Portable Mixer > Sign Video Audio Mixers Keeping it in sync! > Synching to Clapper & Camera Audio Better than Synching to Timecode with Double System? > Going Timecode Speakers > Best Speakers to use with FCP? > Monitor Speaker Suggestions? > Budget Powered Monitors Headphones > Do I really need expensive headphones? > Ohms & Headphone Which Mic... > Indoor Use of Shotgun Microphones > When to use a Shotgun, Hypercardiod, Omni Directional, etc. > Cheap Handheld Mic? > Modest Price Hypercardoid Microphone > Sanken CS-1 vs MKH416 > Rode SM-3 vs SM-5 > Multi-purpose Microphone > Just one microphone? > Documentary interviews - Cardioid boom vs Lavalier > Rode NT3 suitable for a beginner? > Comparative Demonstration of the Sennheiser ME66 and MKH416 Shotgun Microphones > Best bang for the buck shotgun microphone > MKH416 vs MKH60 and MKH70? > Is stereo necessary? Rode NT4 for documentary, interviews... > Untraditional Microphones/Mixers... Look Mum! No Wires! > Wireless Microphone Virgin > Wireless Lavalier Microphones > Azden Wireless Lavs > Best Long Range Wireless Microphone for under $600 > Wireless Lav Advice... > Wireless Boom Microphoes > Sony UWP-C1 vs Sennheiser Evolution G2 Best Microphone for... > Choir Concerts > Stereo Music Recordings > Two Subject Interview > Recording Birds... > Conference Table Recordings > Classical Music > Wind Band > Voice Overs > Corporate Shows How do I make it sound like... > Telephone Voice > Optimus Price Voice > "Ethereal" Voice Over > Rich, Deep, Trailer-type Voice Effect Stereo Recording > Stereo recording in one man documentary ADR > My First ADR Experience > ADR Plugins Fix it in post! > How can I clean up this background noise? > Fixing Audio Distortion > Filtering out motor noise Royalty Free Audio > The Music! Where is the GOOD music! > Royalty-Free Music BEST Place? Surround Sound > How to record 5.1 atmos on the cheap? > Dolby Pro Logic II > What all speakers are needed for surround monitoring? ...and remember, please Search before posting! Last edited by Chris Hocking; December 26th, 2007 at 07:48 AM. Reason: Spelling Mistakes

December 26th, 2007, 09:50 AM	#2
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Chris, I find your post very useful. Thank you for all the time it must have taken to create your post. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

December 26th, 2007, 10:00 AM	#3
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Amen to Dan's comment. I think this merits a sticky! __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

December 26th, 2007, 09:12 PM	#4
Jonathan Plotkin Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 122	Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

December 26th, 2007, 09:50 PM	#5
Ben Syverson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 434	Total instant sticky!

December 29th, 2007, 03:04 AM	#6
Anna Harmon Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 127	Chris, this is great! Can you put this on top so it doesn't get lost in the threads?

January 7th, 2008, 03:20 AM	#7
Chris Hocking Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 595	Just discovered this article... Well worth a read: As I Hear It - Choosing the Right Microphone An Overview of Popular Short Shotgun, Supercardioid, Hypercardiod and Cardioid Microphones By Dan Brockett URL: http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage..._brockett.html

January 7th, 2008, 10:49 PM	#8
Bernie Beaudry Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: St. Paul, Minnesota Posts: 166	Chris, Thanks for all the hard work! Bernie

January 30th, 2008, 06:14 AM	#9
Chris Hocking Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 595	This is another older (but still very relevant) article by Dan. Definitely worth a read before you post any location sound questions! Location Sound: The Basics and Beyond An overview of everything related to location sound. By Dan Brockett URL: http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...ion_sound.html