What's Your Audio Setup?

Travis Cossel · March 10th, 2011, 01:50 PM

We've been using Olympus DVRs for the longest time now. I still remember when we switched away from wireless how many people tried to tell us it was a mistake, but it's not. You get great audio without all the hassle that wireless brings.

Years later and a lot of those people have come around and are using DVR's now. We use the Zoom H4n as well, but never to mic someone personally. The unit is large and heavy and I would never ask someone to try and shove it in their pocket. DVR's are tiny and light and perfect for this job .. even better than wireless packs in my opinion because of the dimensions.

Take a look at the Olympus DM520. We just bought one to test as a replacement for our DS30's and we loved it. Now switching all of our DVR's over to the DM520.

Last note .. we do always have shotgun mics on our DSLR's as a backup.

Sophie Bucks · March 10th, 2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zhong Cheung

You mean the Sennheiser ME series mics can get the DJ, quartets, etc. well compared to the Giant Squid wired lavs? I totally would agree, but I'm just trying to capture the dialogue, vows, etc. of the officiant, bride, and groom with the Giant Squids.

And to better capture the bride, I'm actually planning on having my Sennheiser K6/ME64 or Rode NTG-1 attached nearby the bride/groom/officiant group...feeding directly into my Zoom H4n. So in terms of sound quality there, wouldn't the sound quality be much more dependent on the mic? Not the Zoom H4n recorder vs. Sennheiser SKP transmitter?

The ambiance sound and music will be captured by our other shotguns and cardioids mounted on our cameras as well.

I'd leave the Rode at home. The ME is nothing great but the reach is better and that is what wins with us.
I see what you mean if it's going into your H4

Zhong Cheung · March 11th, 2011, 12:30 AM

Sophie, why leave the Rode at home? It's a good, reliable shotgun mic. The ME64 has served me well as a solid mic as well. They are both better than the included shotgun that came with the Sony HVR-A1U. And since we are doing 3 cam shoots, we need three mics, one for each cam.

Travis, oh, definitely not trying to throw a H4N in someone's pocket. It would be placed nearby somewhere. It's the H1 that would go the groom and officiant's pocket.

Robert James · March 11th, 2011, 10:01 AM

Not to hijack the thread but from what I have heard online the Zoom H1 sounds better then the Rode VideoMic...of course, you don't get the benefit of feeding right onto the memory card but the sound quality sounded better and there was versatility.

I don't have a sound set up yet but I am thinking, for my first real shoot this summer, to just pick up two Zoom H1s and attach one to the camera and have one to float about.

Of course, being new to all this, I could be way off base. :p

Zhong Cheung · March 11th, 2011, 04:46 PM

That may be true...but we are using a Rode NTG-1 XLR shotgun mic, not a Rode Videomic which uses an unbalanced mini jack as far as I know.

What do you mean you don't get the benefit of feeding right onto the memory card? Whatever is being recorded will be saved onto the Micro SDHC (for Zoom H1) or the SDHC card (for Zoom H4n).

Robert James · March 12th, 2011, 06:42 PM

Sorry Zhong, just to clarify I meant on the card with the video so it is in sync and you do not have to do it in post.

Zhong Cheung · March 12th, 2011, 07:10 PM

Ah, I see! Well, I'm hoping Plural Eyes software will help me fix any syncing problems.

Michael Simons · March 12th, 2011, 09:08 PM

does anyone use a beachtek or xlr adapter and go directly into their dslr for vows/rings audio?

March 10th, 2011, 01:50 PM	#16
Travis Cossel Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,933	Re: What's Your Audio Setup? We've been using Olympus DVRs for the longest time now. I still remember when we switched away from wireless how many people tried to tell us it was a mistake, but it's not. You get great audio without all the hassle that wireless brings. Years later and a lot of those people have come around and are using DVR's now. We use the Zoom H4n as well, but never to mic someone personally. The unit is large and heavy and I would never ask someone to try and shove it in their pocket. DVR's are tiny and light and perfect for this job .. even better than wireless packs in my opinion because of the dimensions. Take a look at the Olympus DM520. We just bought one to test as a replacement for our DS30's and we loved it. Now switching all of our DVR's over to the DM520. Last note .. we do always have shotgun mics on our DSLR's as a backup. __________________ Black Label Films www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com

March 11th, 2011, 12:30 AM	#18
Zhong Cheung Major Player Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 202	Re: What's Your Audio Setup? Sophie, why leave the Rode at home? It's a good, reliable shotgun mic. The ME64 has served me well as a solid mic as well. They are both better than the included shotgun that came with the Sony HVR-A1U. And since we are doing 3 cam shoots, we need three mics, one for each cam. Travis, oh, definitely not trying to throw a H4N in someone's pocket. It would be placed nearby somewhere. It's the H1 that would go the groom and officiant's pocket.

March 11th, 2011, 10:01 AM	#19
Robert James Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 137	Re: What's Your Audio Setup? Not to hijack the thread but from what I have heard online the Zoom H1 sounds better then the Rode VideoMic...of course, you don't get the benefit of feeding right onto the memory card but the sound quality sounded better and there was versatility. I don't have a sound set up yet but I am thinking, for my first real shoot this summer, to just pick up two Zoom H1s and attach one to the camera and have one to float about. Of course, being new to all this, I could be way off base. :p

March 11th, 2011, 04:46 PM	#20
Zhong Cheung Major Player Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 202	Re: What's Your Audio Setup? That may be true...but we are using a Rode NTG-1 XLR shotgun mic, not a Rode Videomic which uses an unbalanced mini jack as far as I know. What do you mean you don't get the benefit of feeding right onto the memory card? Whatever is being recorded will be saved onto the Micro SDHC (for Zoom H1) or the SDHC card (for Zoom H4n).

March 12th, 2011, 06:42 PM	#21
Robert James Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 137	Re: What's Your Audio Setup? Sorry Zhong, just to clarify I meant on the card with the video so it is in sync and you do not have to do it in post.

March 12th, 2011, 07:10 PM	#22
Zhong Cheung Major Player Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 202	Re: What's Your Audio Setup? Ah, I see! Well, I'm hoping Plural Eyes software will help me fix any syncing problems.

March 12th, 2011, 09:08 PM	#23
Michael Simons Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Red Bank, NJ Posts: 553	Re: What's Your Audio Setup? does anyone use a beachtek or xlr adapter and go directly into their dslr for vows/rings audio?