Will recording a gunshot harm the XL1s microphone? at DVinfo.net

Jonathan Stanley · April 1st, 2004, 09:45 PM

I am going to be shooting an outdoor television show this month, and one of the episodes is about hunting. I will be sitting in a little camo tent thingy with a host and a professional hunter. I will be maybe 3 yards from the rifle.
My question: will recording the portion where he fires the rifle hurt my microphone? I know there will obviously be a high SPL when that thing goes off. Also, would it be safe if i manually turned down the audio levels just before the shot? Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
Jonathan

Keith Loh · April 2nd, 2004, 10:55 AM

When we did our Lady X episode we recorded a blank being shot from about that distance. Our ears were a bit hurt (and we were startled) but otherwise our two microphones (stock and Me66) appeared to have weathered it. The recording also was good. I don't think we even thought of adjusting the levels down.

Michael Rosenberger · April 2nd, 2004, 08:48 PM

If you are just recording gun fire, switch to auto for levels. We have used it extensively for work with firearms and have not had a probelm yet. Every so often it might get a bit of distortion, but that has been few and far in between for us.

Rick Bravo · April 2nd, 2004, 10:11 PM

No, especially since you are outdoors and have a little distance between you and the rifle, but you will be disappointed with the results as real gunshots are nowhere near what they sound like in the movies.

Since you are basically shooting a documentary, it should not be a problem to have the real sound.

RB

Adam C Bowman · April 2nd, 2004, 10:39 PM

I am doing a documentary right now up in Wyoming. We were riding in a pickup along a dusty dirt road one day. Two cowboys in the front, and I with my xl1s in the back. All of a sudden one of the cowboys whipped out his rifle from off the gun rack in the cab of the pickup. I just got the camera rolling when he took aim and fired hitting a coyote at about two hundred yards and down hill in a thicket.
Later upon reviewing the footage, I noticed that the shot wasnt set up very well since I barely had time to turn the camera on, but the soud was great! No distortion at all, and I had set the levels manually for voices at about two feet. The gun had gone off about that if not closer. There is definatly no damage to the mic and it still gets great sound.
Hopefully this babbling story helps with your dillema.

Jonathan Stanley · April 3rd, 2004, 11:16 AM

Awesome. Thanks guys. Time to strap on my camo and film some deer huntin'!

April 1st, 2004, 09:45 PM	#1
Jonathan Stanley Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Boone, NC Posts: 115	Will recording a gunshot harm the XL1s microphone? I am going to be shooting an outdoor television show this month, and one of the episodes is about hunting. I will be sitting in a little camo tent thingy with a host and a professional hunter. I will be maybe 3 yards from the rifle. My question: will recording the portion where he fires the rifle hurt my microphone? I know there will obviously be a high SPL when that thing goes off. Also, would it be safe if i manually turned down the audio levels just before the shot? Anyone have experience with this? Thanks. Jonathan

April 2nd, 2004, 10:55 AM	#2
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	When we did our Lady X episode we recorded a blank being shot from about that distance. Our ears were a bit hurt (and we were startled) but otherwise our two microphones (stock and Me66) appeared to have weathered it. The recording also was good. I don't think we even thought of adjusting the levels down. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

April 2nd, 2004, 08:48 PM	#3
Michael Rosenberger Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Surprise, Arizona Posts: 143	If you are just recording gun fire, switch to auto for levels. We have used it extensively for work with firearms and have not had a probelm yet. Every so often it might get a bit of distortion, but that has been few and far in between for us. __________________ Michael Rosenberger Sure I'll shoot your wedding, for two million dollars.

April 2nd, 2004, 10:11 PM	#4
Rick Bravo Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 574	No, especially since you are outdoors and have a little distance between you and the rifle, but you will be disappointed with the results as real gunshots are nowhere near what they sound like in the movies. Since you are basically shooting a documentary, it should not be a problem to have the real sound. RB __________________ "The future ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra. www.rbravo.com

April 2nd, 2004, 10:39 PM	#5
Adam C Bowman New Boot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 16	Coyote Hunting I am doing a documentary right now up in Wyoming. We were riding in a pickup along a dusty dirt road one day. Two cowboys in the front, and I with my xl1s in the back. All of a sudden one of the cowboys whipped out his rifle from off the gun rack in the cab of the pickup. I just got the camera rolling when he took aim and fired hitting a coyote at about two hundred yards and down hill in a thicket. Later upon reviewing the footage, I noticed that the shot wasnt set up very well since I barely had time to turn the camera on, but the soud was great! No distortion at all, and I had set the levels manually for voices at about two feet. The gun had gone off about that if not closer. There is definatly no damage to the mic and it still gets great sound. Hopefully this babbling story helps with your dillema. __________________ monkey

April 3rd, 2004, 11:16 AM	#6
Jonathan Stanley Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Boone, NC Posts: 115	Awesome. Thanks guys. Time to strap on my camo and film some deer huntin'!