Upcoming Gig at DVinfo.net

Mitchell Skurnik · September 5th, 2009, 09:33 PM

So my work finally took the dive into the world of HD and purchased an EX1. I also got a tripod, 2 hoodman reader cards (4 16gb cards), UWPV1/3032 LAV, extra High capacity battery, travel cases, etc.

The first thing they are going to have me shoot is a couse with the following senario:

2 people presenting (only 1 at a time)
I want to record the audience/ambience with the onboard camera
My client also wants to have a handheld ready for questions in the audience. (I will be renting this microphone)

What should I do since there are only 2 inputs/2 channels on the camera.

Should I plug the Lav into 1 channel, the handheld on the other, and then toggle back and forth on the camera between the handheld and onboard mic?
Or should I rent an ENG portable mixer and battery pack and do one of the following things:
- Lav on channel 1, mixer on channel 2 with the handheld and a rented shotgun mic mixed
- Or should I Have the onboard on channel 1, and the mixer on 2 with both wireless mics being mixed

Thank you for your help!

Edward Carlson · September 5th, 2009, 10:22 PM

If the lav is wireless, then I would put it on its own channel, not mix it in with the ambient/handheld. If you get interference on the wireless, you can cover it with the ambient mic, if it's mixed in, then you can't do anything about it.

Perrone Ford · September 5th, 2009, 10:32 PM

Instead of renting a mixer, rent a 4 track recorder and solve the fundamental issue. You don't have adequate inputs. Or rent a 2-track and record the lav in the camera and wild sound, and put the ambient and audience mic on the rented recorder.

Honestly, this is a 2 camera gig. I've done it with one and with two. You want a second camera.

Mitchell Skurnik · September 5th, 2009, 10:48 PM

The only other camera I have is a Sony Handycam which is tape based and something I want to avoid. I will however have my laptop and could use it to record.

This video will only be used for internal training purposes and as such I need to keep the cost down to a minimum.

Max Allen · September 6th, 2009, 05:20 PM

If you have cost issues then find a way to use a little mixer. All sources into mixer out to one camera channel and the other channel cam mic. Keep every mixer channel up very slightly for safety, riding up as they speak. It will sound more hollow but the effect of missing someone will be less drastic. Switching frequencies instead of using a mixer may not be fast enough to catch everything.

Mitchell Skurnik · September 6th, 2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Allen

If you have cost issues then find a way to use a little mixer. All sources into mixer out to one camera channel and the other channel cam mic. Keep every mixer channel up very slightly for safety, riding up as they speak. It will sound more hollow but the effect of missing someone will be less drastic. Switching frequencies instead of using a mixer may not be fast enough to catch everything.

I think this is what I mgiht need to do as I really wont have the time in post to sync up an external recording device. It is a good thing that the 2nd mic wont be used untill the end in the Q & A section so I can just leave the lav alone while recording.

Thank you everyone for your help!!!

September 5th, 2009, 09:33 PM	#1
Mitchell Skurnik Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, California Posts: 201	Upcoming Gig So my work finally took the dive into the world of HD and purchased an EX1. I also got a tripod, 2 hoodman reader cards (4 16gb cards), UWPV1/3032 LAV, extra High capacity battery, travel cases, etc. The first thing they are going to have me shoot is a couse with the following senario: 2 people presenting (only 1 at a time) I want to record the audience/ambience with the onboard camera My client also wants to have a handheld ready for questions in the audience. (I will be renting this microphone) What should I do since there are only 2 inputs/2 channels on the camera. Should I plug the Lav into 1 channel, the handheld on the other, and then toggle back and forth on the camera between the handheld and onboard mic? Or should I rent an ENG portable mixer and battery pack and do one of the following things: Lav on channel 1, mixer on channel 2 with the handheld and a rented shotgun mic mixed Or should I Have the onboard on channel 1, and the mixer on 2 with both wireless mics being mixed Thank you for your help! __________________ Mitchell J. Skurnik http://www.mjcsstudios.com/ - EX1, 4x hoodman 16GB, Libec Tripod, Sony LAV

September 5th, 2009, 10:32 PM	#3
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	Instead of renting a mixer, rent a 4 track recorder and solve the fundamental issue. You don't have adequate inputs. Or rent a 2-track and record the lav in the camera and wild sound, and put the ambient and audience mic on the rented recorder. Honestly, this is a 2 camera gig. I've done it with one and with two. You want a second camera. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

September 5th, 2009, 10:48 PM	#4
Mitchell Skurnik Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, California Posts: 201	The only other camera I have is a Sony Handycam which is tape based and something I want to avoid. I will however have my laptop and could use it to record. This video will only be used for internal training purposes and as such I need to keep the cost down to a minimum. __________________ Mitchell J. Skurnik http://www.mjcsstudios.com/ - EX1, 4x hoodman 16GB, Libec Tripod, Sony LAV

September 5th, 2009, 10:22 PM	#2
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	If the lav is wireless, then I would put it on its own channel, not mix it in with the ambient/handheld. If you get interference on the wireless, you can cover it with the ambient mic, if it's mixed in, then you can't do anything about it.

September 6th, 2009, 05:20 PM	#5
Max Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NY Posts: 186	If you have cost issues then find a way to use a little mixer. All sources into mixer out to one camera channel and the other channel cam mic. Keep every mixer channel up very slightly for safety, riding up as they speak. It will sound more hollow but the effect of missing someone will be less drastic. Switching frequencies instead of using a mixer may not be fast enough to catch everything.