Need an intro to sound lingo

[Nathan Quattrini]

I am just learning what I need to worry about for filming from the sound aspect. I`ve been looking for someone with experience, but since I can`t pay, no one has offered to help. So I`m starting to learn all about the sound aspect too. I am looking for first, a guide to mics : shotgun, boom, lav, cardoid, etc Also the differences of on board (?) versus others (like boom, lav). And what exactly a mixer is/does, as well as mixer decks I believe. Also how exactly one synchs the audio to video in post with the slate. Thanks for your help in advance.

[Greg Boston]

Give this very forum a thorough reading, and you'll be way ahead of the game. There are postings here from many who know their way around audio.

-gb-

[Guy Cochran]

Check out http://equipmentemporium.com/Article...od%20Sound.htm

and http://www.dvcreators.net/hopscotch?...58&forum_cat=4

As well as

http://home.comcast.net/~tyreeford/
http://www.dplay.com/

Also, clicking in this forum and switching to "Views" to sort by the most viewed threads will let you know what interests other folks the most.

[Chris Barcellos]

Sound:

On board mic- mic that is on camera, generally not great sound source

On board mic- can also be added mic, of better quaility, but mounted on camera. Better sound generally, but closer to subject= betters sound.

Mic boom is for mounting a mic, off camera, and getting it closer to subject.

Mics have directional capabilities

Shotgun mic is directional mic. You point it at your subject to reduce back ground sound.

Cardioid is less directional, if I understand right, and each model has a particular pattern that known.

Lav is mic mounted on the subject, usually lapel,.....each has particular pickup characteristics.

Mixer is used to mix sound from several sources, more than one mic, etc. The point is to balance them and mix together for usable audio track. You can run output from the mixer to your camera to lay the track in synch with the video, or you can record it separately to an audio recording system.

Synching is at issue when your recorded material is separately recorded. To synch in you NLE, you match the visual slate clap, with the representation of the slate clap on the sound track, thereby lining up all the sound in a scene. You can also be recording the sound silmultaneously with the on camera mic and the off camera system, and try to match up the two sound tracks.