Sound for Video Session: Live Q&A
In this Sound for Video Session, we covered your questions about production and post production sound for film and video:
- wav vs BWF file formats?
- How do you store, clean, and maintain your microphones?
- What boom operating tools do you recommend to help with booming since I'm not super strong?
- How do I compare the noise performance of various USB Audio interfaces?
- Timecode battery for Sound Devices 888?
- DaVinci Resolve 16.2 Fairlight can now handle 32-float audio!
Please consider taking my courses on audio production and post production including in-depth options for the Sound Devices MixPre and Zoom F series recorders.
Gear discussed in this episode. Most of the links below are affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Boom Hanger - Gotham Sound
- Boom pole holder for c-stands - B&H
- Apple box - B&H
- Shure SM-7B Microphone used to record this session - B&H
- Sound Devices MixPre II series recorder used as the preamp for this session - B&H
- Canon C200 camera used as the A-cam for this session - B&H
- Canon 24-105 f/4 IS II L lens used on the Canon C200 for this session - B&H
- Panasonic GH5 used as the B-cam for this session - B&H
- Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens used on the GH5 for this session - B&H
- Sound Devices 888 Audio Recorder/Mixer - B&H
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
Dante Digital Network Audio and Switch Back M8RX Demo
Today’s episode is an explanation and demonstration of Dante digital network audio and the Switch Back M8RX preamp/headphone mixer. What is Dante and why do you care? Dante can help solve several problems such as long audio cable runs and how to capture large numbers of audio channels in a single production. Even if you don’t have a need for it now, let’s show you how it works so you are aware and can solve these types of problems if you do find yourself running a larger production some day.
The hear Technologies Switch Back M8RX is a small, 4 input preamp (2 XLR mic/line inputs plus a 3.5mm line input) plus a 4 channel Dante headphone mixer. The preamps are very high quality, with Burr Brown converters and very little THD. This is one of the more affordable ways to get into Dante network audio and solves several potential problems for location and production sound mixing. It can also be very useful in dialogue replacement and foley studio recording. This is one of those devices that might make you might scratch your head at first, but once you get it, you quickly see its value.
You can learn more about Dante at the Audinate website.
Learn more about how Dante was used in the production of La La Land: https://www.audinate.com/meet-dante/dante-in-action/projects/la-la-land-on-set-sound-mixing-and-recording-with-dante
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 including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- hear Technologies Switch Back M8RX Dante preamp and headphone mixer - B&H
- Sound Devices 888 Mixer/Recorder - B&H
- Cisco SG350-10MP Gigabit PoE+ Network Switch - B&H
- Canon C200 Camera for talking head portion - B&H
- Canon 24 - 105mm f/4 L IS II lens - B&H
- Panasonic GH5 Camera for b-roll shots - B&H Amazon
- Aputure MC Mini LED RGB Light - B&H
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens for Pocket 4K - B&H Amazon
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
Which Timecode Cable Do I Need?
One question which comes up quite often is which timecode cable do I need for this shoot I have coming up? Ambient has put together a little site which helps make it a little easier to answer that question. Of course it assumes you’ll be using one of their timecode boxes with a 5-pin lemo connector, but it does identify the types of connectors you’ll find on all of the major cinema cameras. So just substitute the type of connector you need for your timecode generator whether Ambient, Tentacle Sync, Denecke, Timecode Systems, Moze Gear, or others.
Another thing to keep in mind is that timecode cables are sometimes uni-directional. So you will need to take care to choose the correct directionality for your purposes. I.e., you might need one cable to jam sync the timecode box to your mixer’s timecode generator, assuming that’s what you’re using as the master clock. Then you might need a different cable to feed the timecode from the generator to the camera.
Once you’ve sorted out which connectors you need on your cable, there’s a good selection of them available at B&H.
The link above is an affiliate link. As a B&H affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Sound for Video Session - Microphone Samples and Q&A
In this Sound for Video Session we sampled a few new mics including a budget supercardioid boom mic from Senal and two large diaphragm condensers from TZ Audio. We'll also covered your questions regarding how to create effects presets in Adobe Audition, the pros and cons of microdot connectors for lavalier microphones and others.
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 including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used or discussed in this session. Most of the links below are affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Senal SCI-3212 Small Diaphragm Condenser microphone with omni, cardioid, and super-cardioid capsules - B&H
TZ Audio Stellar X2 and X2 Vintage large diaphragm condenser microphones
Sound Devices MixPre II Series audio recorders - B&H
Canon C200 was used as our streaming camera - B&H
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini HDMI switcher and USB converter - B&H
Countryman B6 lavalier microphone - B&H
DPA 4160 lavalier microphone - B&H
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
Part 1: Dynamic Microphones for Podcasting
Today’s episode is part one of a two part series on microphones for podcasting, live-streaming, and voice over. In this part, we cover dynamic microphones which are often a good option for podcasting and live-streaming because they generally pick up less ambient sound when you’re recording in a space with some ambient noise or is not acoustically treated.
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 including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
Canon C200 Camera for talking head portion - B&H
Aputure MC Mini LED RGB Light - B&H
Sound Devices MixPre II Audio Recorder - B&H
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
RODECaster Pro Mobile Power Update - Power via USB Battery
In today’s episode, we have a look at the new USB power adapter cable from RODE which enables you to power your RODECaster Pro with a USB power source such as a compatible battery bank. The battery bank needs to be capable of supplying 5V, 2.4 amps.
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 including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
If you purchased a RODECaster Pro between November 2019 and February 29th 2020, you can claim your RODECaster Accessory Pack over at RODE.com. If you purchased before or after that date range, I am told that RODE will be selling the USB power adapter cable in the not-too-distant future.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- RODE USB Power adapter cable - Coming soon
- RAVPower PD USB Battery Bank - Amazon
- Decksaver Cover for RODECaster Pro - B&H
- Canon C200 Camera for talking head portion - B&H
- Panasonic GH5 Camera for overhead shots - B&H Amazon
- Aputure MC Mini LED RGB Light - B&H
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens for GH5 - B&H Amazon
- Sound Devices MixPre II Audio Recorder - B&H
- TZ Audio X2 Microphone - TZ Audio
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
Sound for Video Session: Live Q&A
In this live Sound for Video Session, the community helped me answer your questions about sound for film. A few links regarding topics we covered.
Many of the links below are affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases:
SMPTE website where you can find information on the specs for timecode as well as changes that are coming
RODE NTG-3 - B&H
RODE NTG-5 - B&H
Sennheiser ME66 - B&H
RODE NTG4 - B&H
Sennheiser MKH416 - B&H
Neumann KM184 MT - B&H
AKG C12 - B&H
Sennheiser MKH8050 - B&H
Audio Technica AT4053b - B&H
Sound Devices MixPre Series Recorders - B&H
Zoom F Series Recorders - B&H
Schoeps CMC641 - B&H
DEITY S-Mic 2 - B&H
Sennheiser MKE2 Lavalier Microphone - B&H
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
RØDE NT-USB Mini Microphone - First Impressions
In this live session, we used the RODE NT-USB Mini - an affordable USB condensder microphone which is simple to use, is small and easy to transport, and has a clever mounting system for the included stand or mic stands and booms. But how does it sound? Let's find out. We'll have a full review in the next few weeks. Thanks to everyone who dropped in for the livestream!
The following link is an affiliate link. I earn from qualifying purchases:
RODE NT-USB Mini - B&H
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
Sound for Video Session: Dante & Live Q&A
In this week's Sound for Video Session, we talked at a high level about Dante network audio, how it relates to sound for film and video, and then took live and pre-submitted questions.
Please consider my sound for video classes available over at my school.
Links to gear and topics discussed in this session. Most of the links below are affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases:
Audio DAW and video editing app 32 bit compatibility list
Sound Devices MixPre II Series recorders - B&H
Sound Devices 888 Mixer/Recorder - B&H
Sennheiser MKH416 Shotgun Microphone - B&H
Neumann U87 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone - B&H
Sennheiser MD46 Handheld Dynamic Interview Microphone - B&H
Audio Ltd A10 Wireless Microphone System - Gotham Sound
Countryman B6 Lavalier Microphone - B&H
Sennheiser MKE2 Lavalier Microphone - B&H
Shure Twinplex Lavalier Microphones - B&H
Sanken COS-11D Lavalier Microphone - B&H
hear Technologies Switch Back M8RX Dante enabled mixer with 2 XLR microphone inputs - B&H
Copyright 2020 by Curtis Judd
Pro Lavalier Microphones - My Impressions On Seven Pro Lavalier Mics
In today’s episode, I give you my impressions on seven different pro level lavalier microphones I’ve used, including the Sanken COS-11D, Voice Technologies VT500, Countryman B6, Shure TwinPlex TL-47, Shure TwinPlex TL-48, and the Sennheiser MKE2.
You can find audio samples from these microphones below.
Shure Twinplex (with samples of DPA and Countryman as well):
Voice Technologies VT500:
Sanken COS-11D: (The doctor’s voice)
Sanken COS-11D (used during review of Tascam DR-10L):
Countryman B6:
Sennheiser MKE2 (review of AVX with MKE2):
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 including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
Sanken COS-11D - B&H
Voice Technologies VT500 - B&H
Countryman B6 - B&H
Shure TwinPlex TL-47 - B&H
Shure TwinPlex TL-48 - B&H
Sennheiser MKE2 - B&H
Shure SM7B Dynamic Broadcast Microphone - B&H
Sound Devices MixPre II Series - B&H
Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Switcher - B&H
Panasonic GH5 Camera used for most B-Roll shots - B&H Amazon
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
