mixer/recorder solution

On Jul 30, 6:28 am, " " wrote:
> The problem is that I don't want sound to be tethered to the camera. I
> think if the camera was allowed to roam and explore as it saw fit,
> with perhaps a shotgun on top, without having to look at the little
> levels graphic, then it would help matters. For the record, I'm
> shooting on the dvx100.

THen by all means, a SD mixpre with a Sennheiser MKH416 or 60 is the
way to go. I would make a small set-up that could be fixed to the
camera ( or in a hip bag for the SDmixpre ) and fix the mic on the
camera. Then when i would have the time and possibility, i would get
a boom and boom the shoot using the same gear but detached from the
camera. You see, if you do double system ( camera does image and
sound recorder does audio separatly ) you will have to feed timecode
into the camera from the recorder in order to sync both later. SO you
will need a timecode enable recorder ( sound devices 702T or Fostex
FR-2 with timecode option ) and either a cable or wireless link to
send Audio timecode to the camera. Also you will need a slate for a
clap at the begining of each take. Sounds to me like you would be
better served with the small set-up where you can be self sufficient
and once in a while use a boom-op for more complicated shoots. I
believe anyway that you simply will understand that for good audio,
you need a good operator. The best example is the fact that you
rarely ( if at all ) see a Audio guy running around with is
professional kit recording audio and wearing an helmet camera where
you see a lot of camera guys running around with audio equipment
dangling from them ( with poor to average audio result. Each job is
specific and requires as much skills ( just different ones ).

My two cents.

Pascal
 >> Stay informed about: mixer/recorder solution 

On Jul 29, 3:54 pm, " " wrote:

> Is combining the cheap Fostex
> FR 2LE recorder with the Sound Devices MixPre Mixer stupid?

No.

> If I was
> able to spring for the cheapest sound devices recorder, could I get by
> without a mixer?

Yes, if you don't need more than two microphones at a time (same as
with the MixPre, which also only has two inputs.).

> My primary microphones are the Beyerdynamic MCE 58 (condenser), the
> audio technica 835b on a boom

You can do better here on both counts and that will affect your sound
much more than which recorder you use. Check used listings for a
Sennheiser (avoid the K6), Schoeps, Sanken, or Neumann mic if you're
on a budget.

> are there
> resources to go to where I can hear recording samples so that I know
> what the different solid state recorders sound like.

A dealer. But again, the microphone(s) and their placement will
dictate your sound quality far more than which computer lays down the
zeroes and ones.

..02 nvt
 >> Stay informed about: mixer/recorder solution 

On Jul 29, 12:54 pm, " " wrote:
> Hey,
>
> I want to put together a promotional piece for a documentary that I
> want to make and I want to figure out the sound side. I want the sound
> to be good enough to be used for the final piece, but I want to get
> equipment that might not be as good as what I finally get to use/
> rent.
> Basically, I want to do dual sound, unattached to the camera, and I
> think I can afford just over a thousand. Is combining the cheap Fostex
> FR 2LE recorder with the Sound Devices MixPre Mixer stupid? If I was
> able to spring for the cheapest sound devices recorder, could I get by
> without a mixer?
>
> My primary microphones are the Beyerdynamic MCE 58 (condenser), the
> audio technica 835b on a boom, and a countryman lavalier.
> I want clean and clear audio and am deathly afraid of recording with
> some sort of quiet "shhhhhh" under everything. A lot of people I've
> talked to about this sort of stuff seem to be full of it; are there
> resources to go to where I can hear recording samples so that I know
> what the different solid state recorders sound like.
>
> Thanks.

I think that any professional recorder will not "shhhh" unless you
have recorded improperly and need to boost your levels later. I don't
understand why recording to camera is an issue for you in this
application. If the camera "roams and explores" then shouldn't your
sound person go with it?

My suggestion is this...If it's for a promotional piece, not a long
shoot, hire a competent sound guy who will bring much better gear than
you can afford to buy. You'll end up with a more professional
product, which will help you sell your idea and will be usable for the
final product. If you are too worried about your gear and how it's
set up, you won't be concentrating on the product. Good gear used
poorly will yield poor results, bad gear used poorly will be a
disaster.
 >> Stay informed about: mixer/recorder solution 

The problem is that I don't want sound to be tethered to the camera. I
think if the camera was allowed to roam and explore as it saw fit,
with perhaps a shotgun on top, without having to look at the little
levels graphic, then it would help matters. For the record, I'm
shooting on the dvx100.
 >> Stay informed about: mixer/recorder solution 

not to mention the acoustics you work in ;-)

the dvx is not so bad for the sound - let say the opposite, it is ve ry nice
one if you know how to work with .
good preamp ( mixer ) directly to the camera will give you about the same
as any other 16 bit dedicated recorder , if you still insist working
separate ,
tc recorders have grate benefit for documentary as you don't need to slate
every take if you are running free run tc .
with non tc recorder you will have to slate each take or sit hours later
and try to match recorder sound to camera mic - may work for long
interviews but not for gun and run doco
if you are good with 2 mics , the 702t is what you need to look for as this
is the only 2 track which have separate pots for the channels
there almost impossible to work with double weal on fostex or tascam .

--
Oleg Kaizerman (gebe) Hollyland

"> A dealer. But again, the microphone(s) and their placement will
> dictate your sound quality far more than which computer lays down the
> zeroes and ones.
>
> .02 nvt
>
 >> Stay informed about: mixer/recorder solution