Auto Mix Discussion
Last week I had an interesting conversation with my new friend Allan Tépper about mixers and recorders under $1000 USD with an auto mix feature. Allen is a contributing author at ProVideoCoalition and also hosts Beyond Podcasting. You can listen to our conversation over at ProVideoCoalition.com.
For those not familiar with auto mixing, this feature is very helpful in situations where you're recording two or more people, each with their own microphone, for interviews, panel discussions, or podcasts. In such situations, it is common for one person's speech to bleed over into the other peoples' mics, at least a little bit. Also, the mics that are not currently in use will often pick up reverberation in the room as sound bounces off the walls. Auto mix helps solve this problem by fading back the microphones not currently in use and then quickly fading them back up when that person begins to speak.
Zoom F8n Review
The Zoom F8n is the latest F-series audio recorders from Zoom aimed at filmmakers. The F8n is an evolutionary upgrade from the original F8 with some useful hardware and software upgrades including advanced hybrid limiters, AutoMix, simultaneous recording to a computer as an audio interface and internally to the F8n, timecode generator that keeps time while the recorder is powered off for up to 2 hours, mic/line selectable inputs, pro line-level balanced outputs, and many more features that pros demand. And this is available at a groundbreaking price that makes it accessible to many independent filmmakers - $1000 USD at the time of this review. Let’s run through a few of the highlights in this video.
If you’d like to learn how to get the most out of the Zoom F8 or F8n, please consider my course over at our school.
Links to gear used in this video:
Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder
Orca OR-28 Sound Bag - I have the slightly larger OR-30. Great, sturdy bag. The OR-28 was made specifically for recorders the size of the F8/F8n
TA3F to XLRM Adapter - to adapt the outputs from mini to standard XLR. This allows you to run sound to pro-level cameras, wireless headsets for directors, producers, or script supervisors, or any other audio device with balanced XLR inputs.
JuiceBox V-mount Battery - 95 Watt Hour
Aputure COB120t - Key light for the talking head portions of this video
Aputure Light Dome II - Newer version of the big soft box with faster setup and gel holder
Lupo Superpanel Full Color 30 - RGBW 1x1 panel light for the funky background colors
LED GO E268C Bi-color Edge-lit LED Pad - super thin and light, making it a great soft light source for tight spaces
Vistek Canada (also ship to USA)
Sennheiser MKH 8050 - This is the boom mic used to record this episode
Panasonic GH5 Camera - Used for all of the product shots
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - this is the the lens I use more than any other on the GH5s
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.
RODE VideoMic Me-L Review: Better iPhone Audio
If you shoot video with your iPhone or iPad and are looking to improve the quality of your audio, the RODE VideoMic Me-L might be the solution for you. This little mic attaches to your phone via the lightning port and with its 1/2 inch capsule and directional pickup pattern, it helps focus the sound and reduce the noise you capture. Here we take a closer look at how it works in the difficult situations we often find ourselves such as windy outdoors, crowded, noisy spaces, and even in relatively quiet household rooms.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at my school including one that focuses on processing dialogue audio!
Links to gear some of the gear we used here:
RODE VideoMic Me-L for iPhone and iPad
Panasonic GH5s Camera - my favorite small camera for video, used for a couple of the b-roll shots
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - this is the the lens I use more than any other on the GH5s
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.
Sound for Video Session: MixPre 10T Power Options
What are the options for powering the Sound Devices MixPre-10T? Here we cover the main options to keep your recording sessions smooth and trouble free.
This is an excerpt from my course, Getting the Most From Your MixPre-3, 6, 10T. Please consider my sound for film classes available over at the school.
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio Recorder/Mixer
Sennheiser MKH 8050 Supercardioid Boom Microphone (used to record this segment)
AC to Hirose Adapter (B&H) If you’ve got AC power available, this will power the 10T for as long as you need.
12 Volt Battery Bank (Amazon): One of the more affordable powering options. There’s also a higher capacity version for twice the price.
DC Barrel to Hirose cable (Amazon): Required to connect the above battery bank to your MixPre-10T
JuiceBox V-mount (Amazon): Cinema style battery that will power the MixPre-10T for up to 10 hours, depending on how many mics and phantom powered channels you use.
D-tap to Hirose cable (Amazon): Use this cable to attach the V-mount battery to your MixPre-10T
Remote Audio BDS (Battery Distribution System - B&H): Pros use solutions like this - one battery will power everything in your bag, including wireless. Not for use with consumer grade wireless systems.
Hi-Q Style battery (B&H): Li-Ion battery with a microchip which optimizes the performance of the battery over time. This is the battery system I use.
Hi-Q Battery cup to BDS cable (B&H): I use this cup/cable to attach the Hi-Q battery to the BDS box.
NP1 Style battery. This is the “2nd option” I didn’t elaborate on in the video, very similar to the Hi-Q batteries, but without the microchip (B&H). If buying today, I’d go with the Hi-Q instead.
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Outro music licensed from Artlist: Call on Me by Kick Lee. Artlist provides high quality music tracks for your film and video projects. You can receive two months off an Artlist account by using our link.
Sound Devices MixPre 10T Timecode Setup
How do you set up timecode on a MixPre-10T? Let's take a look at free run timecode on the 10T where the 10T is the master clock.
This is an excerpt from my course, Getting the Most From Your MixPre-3, 6, 10T. Please consider my sound for film classes available over at http://school.learnlightandsound.com
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
Sennheiser MKH 8050 Supercardioid Boom Microphone (used to record this segment)
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Home Audio - An Evolution Through Time (Infographic) from VP Online
Thanks to Karen over at VP Online for this fun infographic outlining the history of home audio technologies.
Sound for Video Session: Zoom F8/F8n Basic Settings
What are the basic things you need to setup to get recording quickly with the Zoom F8 or F8n? We cover them here!
This is an excerpt from my upcoming course, Getting the Most From Your Zoom F8/F8n. Please consider my sound for film classes available over at the school.
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder
Sennheiser MKH 8050 Supercardioid Boom Microphone (used to record this segment)
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
MAONO AU-XLR20 Lavalier: Inexpensive XLR Lavalier Microphone
Are there any decent, low-self-noise, XLR based lavalier microphones you recommend? This question has come up quite often over the last several years. So in this episode, we have a look at and listen to the MAONO AU-XLR20, a very affordable XLR lavalier microphone which can be powered by the microphone input, or provide its own power.
You can access a sample wav file directly from the MAONO AU-XLR20 and Zoom F8n here.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at our school including one that focuses on processing dialogue audio!
Links to some of the gear used in this episode:
MAONO AU-XLR20 Lavalier Microphone
Zoom H4n Pro Audio Recorder
Zoom F8n - The audio for this episode was recorded with the F8n
Lupo Superpanel Full Color 30 RGBW LED Light - used for that crazy purple background. Review coming soon!
Panasonic GH5s Camera - my favorite small camera for video
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - this is the the lens I use more than any other on the GH5s
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music - Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd, used with permission
Sound for Video Session: Q&A
In this week's live Sound for Video Session, we'll take a shot at answering your sound for video questions. You can submit them live, or for future sessions, just sign up for free over at http://school.learnlightandsound.com and I'll email you when its time to submit.
Gear discussed in this episode:
dbx286s Vocal Channel Strip - an analogue preamp, compressor, de-esser which can be useful for live streaming
Oscar SoundTech Lavalier Microphones
Lavalier Microphones:
DPA 4160
Sanken COS-11D
Countryman B6
Voice Technologies VT500
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Zoom F8n iPad/iPhone App
If you use a Zoom F8 or F8n to record audio, there’s an iPad/iPhone app that allows you to wirelessly control your audio recorder. In this episode, we run through the features and settings available on the app to make setting up and operating your Zoom F8 and F8n easier and more convenient.
This is an segment from my upcoming course on the Zoom F8 & F8n which will be released in the next few weeks. If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at the school, including one that focuses on processing dialogue audio!
Links to gear discussed and used to shoot this episode:
Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder
Zoom F8 The older version released in 2015. Still great! (While supplies last) - This episode was recorded with the Zoom F8
Panasonic GH5s Camera - my favorite small camera for video
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - this is the the lens I use more than any other on the GH5s
Sennheiser MKH 8050 Boom Microphone
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music - MzA - Copyright 2017 by Cary Judd, used with permission
