Suggestions for basic field recording setup

Berns Ortiz · June 15th, 2006, 02:56 PM

Yes I know the 702T can also generate timecode. I know there are more higher cost options. But putting things in perspective, in my situation, I´ll be mostly doing comercials, video, and some occasional short indie films, nothing hollywood like. The other sound guys in my area are still using timecode dats, some are starting to use laptops even, but I don´t want to go that way on location. Many projects I´ve seen are cut the old way, not many are done with timecode on the set. Comercials, a lot are done digital, and people want the audio straight to their cameras. So I want to be somewhere in between. I want the possibility to chase timecode, but I don´t want something that rellies on mechanics (dats). I would like to have the ability to track at 24 bits. Good sound quality is of course a priority, but I´ll be using the 302 mixer as the front end. At the end of the day, I want to plug my laptop, grab everything and be done with it. I would also like the recorder to have its own preamps so that when I just need to record sound effects or just do some tapin´of a music concert for my own amuse, I just get the unit, a couple of mics and go scouting. The HD-P2 is so right in price....easy to recup...damn I´m a cheap bastard lol!

Marco Leavitt · June 15th, 2006, 03:13 PM

Well, as I've heard other say: "If you can make money with it, it's good gear."

Berns Ortiz · June 15th, 2006, 03:33 PM

argh stop it already! lol....wifey is going to kill me for sure...:S

Berns Ortiz · June 16th, 2006, 08:50 AM

Yesterday I was checking again comparisons of the 416 vs me66 vs 4073, NTG2 just to be sure of my decision. This time I heard these in the studio monitors. The 416 is a very fine mic. But what struck me is how well it rejects sounds at the off axis. Very surprising in comparison of all the others. At 180 degrees, the rejection is very very good and coloration is kept in control, with things at the off axis sounding very smooth. I've made up my mind finally, I'm gonna try n stretch my budget, go for the HD-P2 instead of the SD 702T, and use the rest for a 416 package. The mic, after all, is the first link in the chain.
Another thing that I notice is how decent does the oktava 012 with hypercardiod cap sound for booming interiors. I already have 2 oktavas from the soundroom with cardioid and omni caps, just missing the hypers. I'm going to look upon that.

Thanks everyone for their comments. I'll let you know how it goes.

Steve House · June 16th, 2006, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berns Ortiz

...
Another thing that I notice is how decent does the oktava 012 with hypercardiod cap sound for booming interiors. I already have 2 oktavas from the soundroom with cardioid and omni caps, just missing the hypers. I'm going to look upon that.

...

Good idea - adding the hyper caps to your kit is a small enough expenditure that it would be worthwhile even if your mainstay is a more expensive mic. You'll never know when you'll find yourself in a situation where you don't want to put your Sennheiser's etc, in harm's way.

David Ennis · June 16th, 2006, 04:14 PM

And for the price of a pair of cardioid caps for the Oktavas you'd have an excellent pair of mics for stereo configurations. I almost went with those instead of the AT3031s I have.

Berns Ortiz · June 16th, 2006, 08:13 PM

Yes, I use them a lot for stereo recording, A-B stereo with the omni caps, and X-Y, NOS, ORTF with the cardioids with great results. This was for music recording though. I have an old drawbar where I mount both mics. Pretty easy to do X-Y or ORTF with it. For field recording of ambience, with a small stand to avoid handling noise I should be setup. Definetly that's what I'm going for at least till I can upgrade.
Another thing that's troubling my mind is wind protection for the shotgun. The 416 kit that I'm going for has a rycote softie. Is this enough for general, non extreme outdoor use? What's up with rain...I don't think I'll ever be in that situation, but that got me curious... what do hollywood guys do...ADR?
I guess on occasions where I need something better I could borrow the zep and rug from my friend who lend me the me66 to try.
Another question...and this might be pretty dumb...I see the ENG word everywhere I just assume its related with location sound/field recording, but what exactly does it mean?
Thanks in advance!

Chris Hocking · June 16th, 2006, 09:17 PM

E.N.G is an abbreviation for Electronic News Gathering or Electronic Field Production. It refers to broadcast video for location shoots using specialised equipment that conform to broadcast standards. It's basically the process of gathering footage for immediate broadcast, using portable recording devices, usually for daily new purposes.

Berns Ortiz · June 17th, 2006, 10:31 AM

Gotcha, thanks for clearing that up for me. :)

June 16th, 2006, 04:14 PM	#51
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	And for the price of a pair of cardioid caps for the Oktavas you'd have an excellent pair of mics for stereo configurations. I almost went with those instead of the AT3031s I have. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

June 15th, 2006, 02:56 PM	#46
Berns Ortiz Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mexico Posts: 32	Yes I know the 702T can also generate timecode. I know there are more higher cost options. But putting things in perspective, in my situation, I´ll be mostly doing comercials, video, and some occasional short indie films, nothing hollywood like. The other sound guys in my area are still using timecode dats, some are starting to use laptops even, but I don´t want to go that way on location. Many projects I´ve seen are cut the old way, not many are done with timecode on the set. Comercials, a lot are done digital, and people want the audio straight to their cameras. So I want to be somewhere in between. I want the possibility to chase timecode, but I don´t want something that rellies on mechanics (dats). I would like to have the ability to track at 24 bits. Good sound quality is of course a priority, but I´ll be using the 302 mixer as the front end. At the end of the day, I want to plug my laptop, grab everything and be done with it. I would also like the recorder to have its own preamps so that when I just need to record sound effects or just do some tapin´of a music concert for my own amuse, I just get the unit, a couple of mics and go scouting. The HD-P2 is so right in price....easy to recup...damn I´m a cheap bastard lol!

June 15th, 2006, 03:13 PM	#47
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Well, as I've heard other say: "If you can make money with it, it's good gear."

June 15th, 2006, 03:33 PM	#48
Berns Ortiz Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mexico Posts: 32	argh stop it already! lol....wifey is going to kill me for sure...:S

June 16th, 2006, 08:50 AM	#49
Berns Ortiz Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mexico Posts: 32	Yesterday I was checking again comparisons of the 416 vs me66 vs 4073, NTG2 just to be sure of my decision. This time I heard these in the studio monitors. The 416 is a very fine mic. But what struck me is how well it rejects sounds at the off axis. Very surprising in comparison of all the others. At 180 degrees, the rejection is very very good and coloration is kept in control, with things at the off axis sounding very smooth. I've made up my mind finally, I'm gonna try n stretch my budget, go for the HD-P2 instead of the SD 702T, and use the rest for a 416 package. The mic, after all, is the first link in the chain. Another thing that I notice is how decent does the oktava 012 with hypercardiod cap sound for booming interiors. I already have 2 oktavas from the soundroom with cardioid and omni caps, just missing the hypers. I'm going to look upon that. Thanks everyone for their comments. I'll let you know how it goes.

June 16th, 2006, 08:13 PM	#52
Berns Ortiz Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mexico Posts: 32	Yes, I use them a lot for stereo recording, A-B stereo with the omni caps, and X-Y, NOS, ORTF with the cardioids with great results. This was for music recording though. I have an old drawbar where I mount both mics. Pretty easy to do X-Y or ORTF with it. For field recording of ambience, with a small stand to avoid handling noise I should be setup. Definetly that's what I'm going for at least till I can upgrade. Another thing that's troubling my mind is wind protection for the shotgun. The 416 kit that I'm going for has a rycote softie. Is this enough for general, non extreme outdoor use? What's up with rain...I don't think I'll ever be in that situation, but that got me curious... what do hollywood guys do...ADR? I guess on occasions where I need something better I could borrow the zep and rug from my friend who lend me the me66 to try. Another question...and this might be pretty dumb...I see the ENG word everywhere I just assume its related with location sound/field recording, but what exactly does it mean? Thanks in advance!

June 16th, 2006, 09:17 PM	#53
Chris Hocking Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 595	E.N.G is an abbreviation for Electronic News Gathering or Electronic Field Production. It refers to broadcast video for location shoots using specialised equipment that conform to broadcast standards. It's basically the process of gathering footage for immediate broadcast, using portable recording devices, usually for daily new purposes.

June 17th, 2006, 10:31 AM	#54
Berns Ortiz Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mexico Posts: 32	Gotcha, thanks for clearing that up for me. :)