Wat recording gears do you guys suggest for recording audio thru an Audio Technica telemike or other condenser. For video recording of Live shows/gigs. Something compact, portable and affordable. My new Camera doesnt have the input for mics. Audio quality not bad, but i need something external and better sound quality. If possible, something that a soundman can use during video shoot.
Audio Recording gears for videos
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MadWerewolfBoy
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i've always been wanting to ask such a question. There're devices to capture pictures and videos with $1k lenses while compact devices that use expensive mic to record audio remains obscure.
For places that have a mixing board, i'd suggest you line that out to a recording device, and augment with you in camera sound.
If you're looking for some affordable equipment, pick up the zoom H4. The downside to the H4 is they use low quality quartz crystals for timing, which means that your audio drifts compared to the audio/video in camera. You'll have to manually compensate. The plus side is phantom power and low low cost.
Usually, because no one really cares about audio, the boom operator will just line his mics into his portable mixer/compressor, limit it there and line that back into the camera.
If you're looking for some affordable equipment, pick up the zoom H4. The downside to the H4 is they use low quality quartz crystals for timing, which means that your audio drifts compared to the audio/video in camera. You'll have to manually compensate. The plus side is phantom power and low low cost.
Usually, because no one really cares about audio, the boom operator will just line his mics into his portable mixer/compressor, limit it there and line that back into the camera.
MadWerewolfBoy
New member
Hey, ac, the H4 looks good.
But I don't get the part on "The downside to the H4 is they use low quality quartz crystals for timing, which means that your audio drifts compared to the audio/video in camera."
what audio drifts?
But I don't get the part on "The downside to the H4 is they use low quality quartz crystals for timing, which means that your audio drifts compared to the audio/video in camera."
what audio drifts?
MadWerewolfBoy
New member
Oh okay, did a search on PCM wav at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation
"As samples are dependent on time, an accurate clock is required for accurate reproduction. If either the encoding or decoding clock is not stable, its frequency drift will directly affect the output quality of the device. A slight difference between the encoding and decoding clock frequencies is not generally a major concern; a small constant error is not noticeable. Clock error does become a major issue if the clock is not stable, however. A drifting clock, even with a relatively small error, will cause very obvious distortions in audio and video signals, for example."
Is the H4 really bad? how about the new H2?
"As samples are dependent on time, an accurate clock is required for accurate reproduction. If either the encoding or decoding clock is not stable, its frequency drift will directly affect the output quality of the device. A slight difference between the encoding and decoding clock frequencies is not generally a major concern; a small constant error is not noticeable. Clock error does become a major issue if the clock is not stable, however. A drifting clock, even with a relatively small error, will cause very obvious distortions in audio and video signals, for example."
Is the H4 really bad? how about the new H2?
born
Hi there,
Normally for video shoots I use a portable 2-4 track mixer to provide phantom power and for basic EQing such as low frequency cut. Now a good preamp is vital for your sound quality and as such, quality always comes at it's respective price. Entry level portable mixers starts with the Shure FP33 and Wendt X2. These should cover your mikes (dynamic, condenser & 12t) and mixing (left-right-centre) since normally you'll have a stereo track to bounce to which brings us to the recorders.
Nowadays with the new digital handy recorders around, I suppose it's convenient to use one. I have not used a H4 and can't vouch for it's preamp quality but I use mini disc recorders and they just work. Period. I used to record on MZR-55. Back then it's using ATRAC that compress 70% data but trust me if your preamp is good then the audio is great as well. I can upload a sample of my recording if you want to check it out. Of course there's newer MD recorders such as Sony MZ-RH1 which records 44.1kHz WAV and I love the digital transfer to computer (no more realtime-listen-as-you-play bounce back to computer). You can also check out recorders such as Edirol R1 but I personally felt that MD recorders have the advantage over handy because most of these have their Mic input levels on those potentio-meter knobs/dials on the outside. It means you can accidentally change these settings and mess up your overall recording levels. MD recorders have these set up in their menus.
Lastly, you mentioned that it's external recording so I would suggest you use a slate to mark which track is for what video. You can just cue "band 1" and clap your hand in front of the camera so that later you can easily sync video and audio in post.
Have a nice shoot!
Hi there,
Normally for video shoots I use a portable 2-4 track mixer to provide phantom power and for basic EQing such as low frequency cut. Now a good preamp is vital for your sound quality and as such, quality always comes at it's respective price. Entry level portable mixers starts with the Shure FP33 and Wendt X2. These should cover your mikes (dynamic, condenser & 12t) and mixing (left-right-centre) since normally you'll have a stereo track to bounce to which brings us to the recorders.
Nowadays with the new digital handy recorders around, I suppose it's convenient to use one. I have not used a H4 and can't vouch for it's preamp quality but I use mini disc recorders and they just work. Period. I used to record on MZR-55. Back then it's using ATRAC that compress 70% data but trust me if your preamp is good then the audio is great as well. I can upload a sample of my recording if you want to check it out. Of course there's newer MD recorders such as Sony MZ-RH1 which records 44.1kHz WAV and I love the digital transfer to computer (no more realtime-listen-as-you-play bounce back to computer). You can also check out recorders such as Edirol R1 but I personally felt that MD recorders have the advantage over handy because most of these have their Mic input levels on those potentio-meter knobs/dials on the outside. It means you can accidentally change these settings and mess up your overall recording levels. MD recorders have these set up in their menus.
Lastly, you mentioned that it's external recording so I would suggest you use a slate to mark which track is for what video. You can just cue "band 1" and clap your hand in front of the camera so that later you can easily sync video and audio in post.
Have a nice shoot!
MadWerewolfBoy
New member
I like the "You can just cue "band 1" and clap your hand in front of the camera so that later you can easily sync video and audio in post."
Learnt something new today! haha Thanks pojam!
Learnt something new today! haha Thanks pojam!
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