Field recording equipment

[[email protected]]

Hi folks,

I have a semi-documentary film project and need to record some audio,
both indoors and outdoors.

Part of it will be voiceover-style, but I'm looking for a standup
comedy sound by using a dynamic mic up close to the mouth. This will
not be filmed so a handheld mic can be used. How much ambience/room
noise would this pick up?

The other part will be recording conversation, so either a directional
mic, or lavalier mics on the speakers.

What kit would you suggest? And would a basic digital recorder be
sufficient to then take the recordings into a studio for post-
production?


Cheers for you help,

Tony

[Mike Rivers]

wrote:

> I'm looking for a standup
> comedy sound by using a dynamic mic up close to the mouth. This will
> not be filmed so a handheld mic can be used. How much ambience/room
> noise would this pick up?

Very little if it's close to the speaker's mouth, more as it's moved
away. Adjust
the mic position for taste.

> The other part will be recording conversation, so either a directional
> mic, or lavalier mics on the speakers. What kit would you suggest?

It depends on what you're trying to get. Do you want room sound? Do you
want isolation? Does appearance matter? Do you have a mixer so you can
use two separate mics, or does it need to be a single mic setup?

> And would a basic digital recorder be
> sufficient to then take the recordings into a studio for post-
> production?

You mean something like a Zoom, M-Audio, Edirol, Sony, Marantz, Yamaha,
etc.?
Sure. What'cha got? Or would you buy one for this project? If the room
sound is
not a problem (or maybe even a good enhancement) you might be able to do
this
with something like a Zoom H2 on the table between the two speakers.



--
If you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring and reach
me here:
double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo -- I'm really Mike Rivers
)

[Scott Dorsey]

> wrote:
>
>I have a semi-documentary film project and need to record some audio,
>both indoors and outdoors.
>
>Part of it will be voiceover-style, but I'm looking for a standup
>comedy sound by using a dynamic mic up close to the mouth. This will
>not be filmed so a handheld mic can be used. How much ambience/room
>noise would this pick up?

As much as you want. You can get a wide mike or a tight mike, as you
see fit. You can supplement it with an ambience mike to get room sound
and audience.

>The other part will be recording conversation, so either a directional
>mic, or lavalier mics on the speakers.
>
>What kit would you suggest? And would a basic digital recorder be
>sufficient to then take the recordings into a studio for post-
>production?

I recommend you rent a kit with a good hypercardioid, a good shotgun, a
couple lavaliers, and the lightest boom you can afford. Talk to the
rental companies, see what you can get in your area at a good price.
Hire a good boom operator, they are worth their weight in gold.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[[email protected]]

On 2009-06-04 (ScottDorsey) said:
> wrote:
>>I have a semi-documentary film project and need to record some
>>audio, both indoors and outdoors.
>>Part of it will be voiceover-style, but I'm looking for a standup
>>comedy sound by using a dynamic mic up close to the mouth. This
>>will not be filmed so a handheld mic can be used. How much
<snip>
>>The other part will be recording conversation, so either a
>>directional mic, or lavalier mics on the speakers.
>>What kit would you suggest? And would a basic digital recorder be
>>sufficient to then take the recordings into a studio for post-
>>production?
>I recommend you rent a kit with a good hypercardioid, a good
>shotgun, a couple lavaliers, and the lightest boom you can afford.
>Talk to the rental companies, see what you can get in your area at
>a good price. Hire a good boom operator, they are worth their
>weight in gold. --scott
I would agree with him, but while you're renting the kit, I
would suggest you hire the operator to go along with it.
From what you've told us it sounds like the captured audio
is pretty important to your film. Get the expertise up
front, hire the kit Scott suggests, and bite the bullet with
it, hire that boom op, but hire the operator with the gear.
capturing good audio going in means less work in post, and
better sound.

Are you writing? PRoducing? DIrecting? Operating camera?

IF you're paying picture folks such as camera ops then you'd
best budget for sound as well, because from the sound of
things the presentation of these folks other than the pretty
faces is pretty important to the success of your project.
scott's right on the money with the kit he suggests, but
with the basic level of knowledge you would seem to have I'd
suggest hiring a professional. TIme in post isn't cheap
either. You'l pay for less of it capturing good audio, and
good picture.



Regards,




Richard webb,
replace anything before at with elspider

[[email protected]]

Thanks for all the help - I'm aiming to hire equipment so need to get
an idea about how much it will cost. I don't have funding for people
unfortunately, although I have a few contacts who may be able to help
out - it's amazing what beer will do. 8o)

[Scott Dorsey]

> wrote:
>Thanks for all the help - I'm aiming to hire equipment so need to get
>an idea about how much it will cost.

It depends entirely where you are located and what the production scene
is like in your area at that time. In NYC in the winter, you can get a
good deal that you can't get in the summer when there is a lot more production
work going on.

>I don't have funding for people
>unfortunately, although I have a few contacts who may be able to help
>out - it's amazing what beer will do. 8o)

All the better reason to get a good fishpole. If you're using volunteer
labour, you need to take good care of them and make their job easier
because there's that much less motivation for them to stay on the job.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."