Audio for Wedding Video at DVinfo.net

Sean Lee · May 12th, 2009, 04:26 PM

How do you wedding videographers capture audio at the weddings?
Sometimes on-camera mic doesn't pick up voices of the couple.
Should I get wireless mic system on my own? or should I ask the sound person for a copy of recording?

Don Bloom · May 12th, 2009, 04:54 PM

get and use your own wireless system. First, you get to control the audio coming into your cameraand second, many churches don't have a sound person and some don't have the capability to record. Never depend on someone else when you can do it yourself. You never know the abilities of the other person.

Sean Lee · May 12th, 2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Bloom

get and use your own wireless system. First, you get to control the audio coming into your cameraand second, many churches don't have a sound person and some don't have the capability to record. Never depend on someone else when you can do it yourself. You never know the abilities of the other person.

Thank you Don.

If I were to get one, what's the minimum mic system I would need?
I'm thinking about one set of wireless lavalier trans/receiver (around $150?) to attach on my Sony HVR-A1. Should I give that lavalier to the groom?

Or should I get the sound from the mixer? In that case, what kind of audio equipment do i need?

Can anyone help?

Paul Mailath · May 12th, 2009, 05:50 PM

Don, do you ever get interference using the wireless mike - I did a wedding on a golf course and the audio was full of loud clicks - I'm trying the Olympus digital voice recorder with a lapel mike - smaller than a transmitter, no interference and cheaper (I have to sync the audio though, I hope that's not too much of a pain)

Taky Cheung · May 12th, 2009, 05:53 PM

I stopped using wireless mic setup for wedding vows. There're problems with the range and interference. Sometimes church wont' allow you to use wireless lav mic because they worry it will tap into the same channel they use causing problem.

Now I'm using a voice recorder like this

Amazon.com: Olympus WS-300M 256 MB Digital Voice Recorder and Music Player: Electronics

with a small wired clap lav mic for the groom.

https://emporium.olympus.com/innards...sku=145045-410

pros: you get clear audio. also a second audio track to be used on top of the audio recorded with your cacmcorder for ambience sound.

cons: you have to synchronize the additonal audio track with the video recorded with the camcorder. From experience, I keep the camcorder recording so I only have to synchornize once per video clip.

ONe time I have a bossy church coordinator insist me removing the mic from the groom. She was worrying about the interference of their wireless setup. After I showed her mine is not a wireless mic, she's okay with that.

Sean Lee · May 12th, 2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taky Cheung

I stopped using wireless mic setup for wedding vows. There're problems with the range and interference. Sometimes church wont' allow you to use wireless lav mic because they worry it will tap into the same channel they use causing problem.

Now I'm using a voice recorder like this

Amazon.com: Olympus WS-300M 256 MB Digital Voice Recorder and Music Player: Electronics

with a small wired clap lav mic for the groom.

https://emporium.olympus.com/innards...sku=145045-410

pros: you get clear audio. also a second audio track to be used on top of the audio recorded with your cacmcorder for ambience sound.

cons: you have to synchronize the additonal audio track with the video recorded with the camcorder. From experience, I keep the camcorder recording so I only have to synchornize once per video clip.

ONe time I have a bossy church coordinator insist me removing the mic from the groom. She was worrying about the interference of their wireless setup. After I showed her mine is not a wireless mic, she's okay with that.

I think I should try this way.
Do you have a sample video clip on the web by any chance, using this setup?

Oren Arieli · May 12th, 2009, 06:19 PM

Sean, I would also suggest researching these forums, as the issue of audio for weddings (and wireless mics) have been discussed ad-nasuem and in much greater detail. My two cents, I like to have a wireless on the officiant (so I can hear when they are about to get going), and a mp3 recorder on the groom (seeing as how they say very little anyway). This is a live one-shot event and a paid professional has backups. Spend at least $600 on a wireless if you're thinking of making this a regular job. The mics will outlast your next 2 cameras, and you won't pull your hair out trying to 'fix' bad audio from cheap mics.

Don Bloom · May 12th, 2009, 07:01 PM

While I agree with Oren about the discussion I will address the questions directed to me.
I have not had any problems with interference in probably the last 6 or 7 years. Why? I check for open freqs where I shoot unless I've been there before and nothing has changed.

As for what unit to buy, well there are lots of choices in a price range of $500 or $600. Sennheiser, Audio Technica and I think Sony has a unit. Personally I would stay away from the bargain basement priced units, you usually get what you pay for.

As for mini recorders,personally (and it my opinion only) I would never use an audio source I can't monitor during it's use and while I know a lot of the folks swear by them I couldn't in good faith use it.
Remember that's just my feeling and like everything else everyone has a different opinion.
YOu pays your money and takes your choice.

Roger Shore · May 12th, 2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Mailath

I'm trying the Olympus digital voice recorder with a lapel mike - smaller than a transmitter, no interference and cheaper (I have to sync the audio though, I hope that's not too much of a pain)

Depends on your definition of 'pain' ! :-)

My Video Problems :: View topic - Synchronise external and camera audio tracks.

Taky Cheung · May 13th, 2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Lee

I think I should try this way.
Do you have a sample video clip on the web by any chance, using this setup?

Yes I have a clip from an actual wedding.

http://hottaky.com/hv20/kermit2.wma

You can hear the voice clearly from the officiant, bride and groom clearly. I always will touch up the clip by adjusting the treble in NLE.

Sean Lee · May 13th, 2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taky Cheung

Yes I have a clip from an actual wedding.

http://hottaky.com/hv20/kermit2.wma

You can hear the voice clearly from the officiant, bride and groom clearly. I always will touch up the clip by adjusting the treble in NLE.

Thanks. I spent hours last night shopping for digital voice recorder. it's on its way. i bought Sony ICD-SX700 with Olympus ME-15.

May 12th, 2009, 04:26 PM	#1
Sean Lee New Boot Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 17	Audio for Wedding Video How do you wedding videographers capture audio at the weddings? Sometimes on-camera mic doesn't pick up voices of the couple. Should I get wireless mic system on my own? or should I ask the sound person for a copy of recording?

May 12th, 2009, 04:54 PM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	get and use your own wireless system. First, you get to control the audio coming into your cameraand second, many churches don't have a sound person and some don't have the capability to record. Never depend on someone else when you can do it yourself. You never know the abilities of the other person. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

May 12th, 2009, 05:50 PM	#4
Paul Mailath Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast - NSW, Australia Posts: 1,606	Don, do you ever get interference using the wireless mike - I did a wedding on a golf course and the audio was full of loud clicks - I'm trying the Olympus digital voice recorder with a lapel mike - smaller than a transmitter, no interference and cheaper (I have to sync the audio though, I hope that's not too much of a pain) __________________ Cheers - Paul M. www.perbenyik.com

May 12th, 2009, 05:53 PM	#5
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	I stopped using wireless mic setup for wedding vows. There're problems with the range and interference. Sometimes church wont' allow you to use wireless lav mic because they worry it will tap into the same channel they use causing problem. Now I'm using a voice recorder like this Amazon.com: Olympus WS-300M 256 MB Digital Voice Recorder and Music Player: Electronics with a small wired clap lav mic for the groom. https://emporium.olympus.com/innards...sku=145045-410 pros: you get clear audio. also a second audio track to be used on top of the audio recorded with your cacmcorder for ambience sound. cons: you have to synchronize the additonal audio track with the video recorded with the camcorder. From experience, I keep the camcorder recording so I only have to synchornize once per video clip. ONe time I have a bossy church coordinator insist me removing the mic from the groom. She was worrying about the interference of their wireless setup. After I showed her mine is not a wireless mic, she's okay with that. __________________ LA Color Pros Blog RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator

May 12th, 2009, 07:01 PM	#8
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	While I agree with Oren about the discussion I will address the questions directed to me. I have not had any problems with interference in probably the last 6 or 7 years. Why? I check for open freqs where I shoot unless I've been there before and nothing has changed. As for what unit to buy, well there are lots of choices in a price range of $500 or $600. Sennheiser, Audio Technica and I think Sony has a unit. Personally I would stay away from the bargain basement priced units, you usually get what you pay for. As for mini recorders,personally (and it my opinion only) I would never use an audio source I can't monitor during it's use and while I know a lot of the folks swear by them I couldn't in good faith use it. Remember that's just my feeling and like everything else everyone has a different opinion. YOu pays your money and takes your choice. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

May 12th, 2009, 06:19 PM	#7
Oren Arieli Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 919	Sean, I would also suggest researching these forums, as the issue of audio for weddings (and wireless mics) have been discussed ad-nasuem and in much greater detail. My two cents, I like to have a wireless on the officiant (so I can hear when they are about to get going), and a mp3 recorder on the groom (seeing as how they say very little anyway). This is a live one-shot event and a paid professional has backups. Spend at least $600 on a wireless if you're thinking of making this a regular job. The mics will outlast your next 2 cameras, and you won't pull your hair out trying to 'fix' bad audio from cheap mics.