Help Please: GH5, ATOMOS, MixPre HDMI Timecode and Control
I'm hoping that our community might be able to solve this together.
I've received the same question 4 times this week alone: How do I get timecode and Record Start/Stop controls to work with the GH5, ATOMOS (Ninja V, Sumo, Shogun, etc.), and the MixPre (3, 6, 10T) via HDMI?
I was NOT able to get all of them working by routing and HDMI cable from the GH5 to the Sumo, and from the Sumo to the MixPre. However, I confirmed with the same cables that it works when you use just the GH5 and MixPre or just the GH5 and ATOMOS recorder.
One hypothesis is that an HDMI splitter might solve the problem: Route an HDMI cable from the GH5 to an HDMI splitter, and from there, one of the splitter outputs to the ATOMOS and the other output to from the splitter to the MixPre.
Has anyone had success with this?
If this works, there's still the problem of how to power the HDMI splitter as most of them require power. But I believe there are some which are USB powered so that might work.
Thanks if anyone has information on whether the HDMI splitter approach or any other approach works. I'll create another video if we are able to find a solution.
I know that this is a bit of a Frankenstein type of rig. I don't usually shoot this way but I used to and many others still do for various reasons.
Thanks!
Copyright 2019 - Curtis Judd
Audio Recorders for Filmmaking 2019: Choosing a Sound Recorder for Your Video Projects
In this episode, I explain my opinions on each of the sound recorders and mixers I’ve used for filmmaking. This includes the following. Click the links to jump ahead:
00:36 Zoom H1, H1n, and Tascam DR-05 Handheld recorders
03:00 Zoom F1 lavalier and on-camera recorder
05:17 Tascam DR-10L and Lectrosonics PDR mini body pack lavalier recorders
06:43 Tascam DR-60DmkII, Zoom H4n Pro, Zoom H5, Zoom H6
11:53 Centrance Mixerface R4R
12:50 Roland R-88 (Discontinued but can find used)
13:48 Zoom F4/F8/F8n, Sound Devices MixPre, Tascam DR-701D
32:21 Sound Devices 600 Series and Zaxcom Maxx, Nomad, & Deva
Recorder/Mixer Reviews - If you want more detail:
Zoom H1n: Handheld recorder which is a good option for using it like a wireless lavalier recorder
Zoom F1: Small recorder made for recording lavalier microphones or as a camera-top shotgun mic
Tascam DR-10L: This is my favorite tiny recorder for using in place of a wireless lavalier microphone
Lectrosonics PDR: Pro level lavalier microphone recorder.
Tascam DR-60DmkII: My favorite budget recorder with XLR inputs for recording on location
Zoom H4n Pro: Ok option if your XLR microphone has a strong output signal. Not a good option for mics like the RODE NTG2
Zoom H6: Much better option than the H4n Pro. But the screen is hard to see in direct sunlight
Centrance Mixerface R4R: Incredibly durable handheld recorder with 2 XLR inputs, great preamps, but no screen
Zoom F4: 4 XLR microphone inputs. Very good preamps and timecode generator
Zoom F8n: Probably the most value for money. 8 XLR inputs with great preamplifiers and durable build
Sound Devices MixPre-6: 4 XLR inputs, very good preamplifiers, analogue limiters, and durable build
Sound Devices MixPre-10T: 8 XLR inputs, very good preamplifiers, analogue limiters, timecode generator, and durable build. This is my backup recorder/mixer for paid jobs.
Zoom F8, Sound Devices MixPre-6, and 633 Sound Sample Comparison: Hear the difference between the Zoom F, Sound Devices MixPre, and Sound Devices 633. You’ll need some good headphones or speakers.
Zoom F vs Sound Devices MixPre - Which should you buy?: A little perspective on which might be best for you.
Sound Devices MixPre Control Surfaces: If you’re at a table, desk, or cart, these control surfaces can make mixing a little easier.
Zoom F-Control Control Surface: If you’re at a table, desk or cart, these control surfaces can make mixing a little easier.
Sound Devices 633: Why pros use expensive recorders/mixers like the 633
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 Fairlight and Audition, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Links to gear used in this video:
Tascam DR-05 (Amazon)
Tascam DR-60DmkII (Amazon)
Anker USB-C Battery Bank (Amazon)
Aputure COB 120DII LED Light (Amazon)
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 OIS Lens
Panasonic GH5 (Amazon)
Panasonic GH5S (Amazon)
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.
Sound for Video Session: Q&A 9 Feb 2019
Its time to answer your sound for video related questions! For those new to the channel here, as part of my online school, we have question and answer sessions every few weeks. If you’d like to be notified when a new Q&A session is coming up, sign up for free at Learn Light and Sound. You can also preview several segments from my online courses on sound for film.
Here are the questions we covered this week:
00:07 Wireless hop to camera with Sennheiser G3?
01:10 Microphones for recording a concert?
02:18 Plugins for cleaning up background noise?
04:42 Room tone and sound effects? M/S Recording?
06:24 Stereo microphones for recording concerts?
07:17 Timecode from Zoom F8n to Panasonic GH4?
08:53 Remote Audio Battery distribution system and powering Panasonic GH5?
11:47 Why hasn’t the perfect recorder and microphones been developed yet?
17:07 Can I de-noise as the last step in my post workflow?
22:35 Audio, sound, film book recommendations?
28:20 If I have 2 UltraSync 1s, should I use just one or both for 1 cam shoots?
32:10 If my video will be H.264, does it matter if I use 48kHz vs 96kHz?
34:30 What are microdot cavaliers?
37:32 Person moves in and out of mic sweet spot, what do I do?
39:55 Will the new version of ARRI Alexa come with a boom holder?
40:10 What’s the difference between trim and fader?
42:58 Order of operations when processing dialogue audio?
49:12 Should I upgrade from RODE NTG2 to NTG4?
51:03 I’m getting older and my hearing is not good. How do I compensate?
57:42 Izotope RX, Logic Pro, Audition, and changing sample rates?
1:00:20 Powering a recorder. I have a 20 hour battery vest!
1:02:20 Audio repair software suggestions?
1:04:22 How would you cleanup this audio recording?
Here are a few previous sessions we references in today’s Q&A session:
Wireless Hop to Camera with Sennheiser G3 with Gregg Palmer:
Recording Live Concerts with Mike Strands:
Accusonus ERA-D Noise Reduction Demo:
Gear we discussed in today’s session:
Sound Reinforcement Handbook, 2nd Edition (Amazon) - Dense but very good reference for anyone serious about sound
Location Sound Bible (Amazon) - one of my favorites on recording sound for film. Dated info re: specific gear, but otherwise very good info.
Sound Effects Bible (Amazon) - good reference on recording sound effects. Dated info re: specific gear, but otherwise very good info.
Hearos (Amazon) - Ear protection for loud locations
Zoom F8n Audio Recorder
Zoom F4 Audio Recorder
Ambient Recording Timecode Slate
Schoeps Super CMIT Shotgun Microphone - with real-time noise reduction. Not cheap, but very effective.
Cedar DNS - hardware real-time noise reduction. Not cheap, but very effective.
Universal Audio Apollo x6 - Thunderbolt 3 audio interface which can basically replace a full rack of analogue audio processing gear
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Outro music from Artlist: Sunday by Rich Young Pixies - Amazing Journey. You can receive a 2 month discount on a subscription to Artlist, a subscription service for stock music you can use with your videos. Check it out at Artlist.
Sound for Video Session: Desert Island Gear 2018
Cary Judd and I have an informal, unscripted discussion on the one microphone and one audio recorder we would each choose if we were stranded on a deserted island.
Please consider my sound for video classes available over at http://school.learnlightandsound.com
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
Sennheiser MKH416 Shotgun Microphone
DPA 4107b Shotgun Microphone
Sound Devices MixPre Recorders
Sound Devices 633 Audio Recorder/Mixer
Runners Up:
Sennheiser MKH8060 Short Shotgun Microphone
Zoom F Series Recorders
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Outro music licensed from Artlist: Sunday by Young Rich Pixies on Amazing Journey
Sound for Video Session: Control Surfaces for Sound Devices MixPre
For those of you who record with one of the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders, good news: You can now use a variety of MIDI controllers as a control surface with your MixPre. This will make it easier for you to make a quality stereo mix while still recording your isolated microphone channels. This is especially helpful when recording interviews, panel discussions, or lectures. Let’s give you a quick overview!
Please consider my sound for video classes available over at my school.
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
Novation LaunchControl XL (Amazon) - This is the controller we used in this demonstration.
Akai MIDIMix (Amazon)
Korg nanoKontrol Studio (Amazon)
Korg nanoKontrol 2 (Amazon)
Sound Devices MixPre Recorders
Blackmagic Pocket cinema Camera 4K - used to shoot this episode
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Outro music licensed from Artlist: Sunday by Young Rich Pixies on Amazing Journey
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.
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
Sound for Video Session: Zoom F8 Firmware Update - Most of the F8n Features!
In this week's live Sound for Video Session, we covered the new firmware 5.0 for the Zoom F8 that was announced just this morning!
Now, many of the software features in the new F8n are available to owners of the original F8:
Advanced Look-Ahead Hybrid Limiters
Zoom AutoMix™ function
Improved TC accuracy when powered off
Digital Boost for headphone monitor (up to +24dB)
Selectable headphone Volume Curve
New "Fader Mode" view for home screen
Maximum fader level increased from +12dB to +24dB
F8 Control iOS app can now work together with FRC-8
Ability to record to SD card and USB Audio Interface simultaneously
This is great news! Not only is Zoom taking good care of their existing customers by providing all of these new features for free, this gives potential buyers of their new F8n confidence that Zoom will continue to take care of them into the future.
See our initial impressions of the F8n video:
Gear Discussed/Used in this episode:
Zoom F8 Audio Field Recorder - This one is no longer being manufactured, but some retailers still have some and then you can probably pick up a used copy at a nice price.
Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder - The updated version of the F8 with all of these features plus some new hardware features.
Zoom F-Control - Hardware mixing control surface
Zoom F4 Audio Field Recorder - The "little brother" of the F8
Panasonic GH5s - my favorite small camera
Panasonic 12-35 f/2.8 OIS II Lens - one of the most versatile lenses I've ever owned
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
FetHead Phantom: Louder, Cleaner Audio for Condenser Microphones
Many consumer grade recorders like the Zoom H4n and even many cinema cameras have XLR microphone inputs that don’t provide enough amplification or gain. The result is that recordings can come out much quieter than you’d like. Sometimes it is also due to weak output levels from consumer grade microphones. Then in post production, you might boost the level only to find that there’s a bunch of hiss or self-noise.
The FetHead Phantom from Triton Audio solves this problem for condenser microphones like shotgun or boom microphones.
Links to gear discussed and used to shoot this episode:
Triton Audio FetHead Phantom In-line Microphone Pre-amplifier - for condenser microphones like shotgun or boom mics. Bonus - can also work with dynamic mics B&H (US) Amazon (EUR)
Triton Audio FetHead In-line Microphone Pre-amplifier - for dynamic microphones B&H (US) Amazon (US & EUR)
Deity S-Mic 2 Shotgun Microphone: Coming Soon
DPA 4017b Professional Shotgun Microphone
Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro cinema camera
Panasonic GH5 - My favorite small camera for video
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - incredibly versatile lens that is on the GH5 most of the time
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music - MZA by Cary Judd, used with permission
Sound for Video Session: Zoom F8/F8n Setting Gain Trim
In this week’s session, we share an excerpt from the upcoming online course, “Getting the Most From Your Zoom F8/F8n Recorder.” In this particular segment, we cover how to set the gain trim, the various track knob modes, and demonstrate how to optimize your gain in relation to the limiters. Lots of fun!
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder (2018)
Zoom F8 Audio Field Recorder (2015):
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Outro music licensed from Artlist: Keep an Eye by Back to Dream. 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.
