Sound Devices SCORPIO: Why do Pros Use Gear Like This?
In April 2019, Sound Devices announcement their new flagship audio mixer/recorder called Scorpio. Sound Devices caters to TV and film production sound mixers - the professionals working on large budget productions. The Scorpio has a lot of new features which are really exciting and help production sound mixers do things that they haven’t been able to do before or it simplifies things that were previously more complicated. But all this comes at what would seem like a hefty price from the perspective of a self-funded, passion project filmmaker: $8995 USD. In this episode, we run through the features of the Scorpio, and why for some pros working on the larger budget projects, the expense is easily justified.
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 F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used and mentioned in this episode:
Sound Devices Scorpio - B&H
Sound Devices 688 - B&H
Sound Devices 633 - B&H
Sound Devices MixPre - the more affordable line of high quality recorders for indie filmmakers - B&H
Allen & Heath DT168 Dante Stage Box - One example of a Dante device with 16 inputs and 8 outputs, all controllable by Scorpio - B&H
DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone - B&H
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - B&H
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - Amazon
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.
Packing for a Location Sound Job
We run through my sound kit for a reality TV shoot I have coming tomorrow, talk about whether you need to have a Sound Devices recorder to get jobs, and relying only on gear you know well for paid jobs. Also, an explanation on my current perspective on cameras.
Gear outlined in this video:
Sound Devices MixPre-10T B&H This is what I ended up using as my main recorder for the job
Sound Devices 633 B&H Backup recorder for the day
Audio Ltd A10 Wireless B&H The main wireless system for the job
Remote Audio Battery Distribution System B&H
Orca Sound Bags (OR-30 and OR-34) B&H
DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone B&H
Rycote Cyclone wind cover B&H
Comtek Wireless Transmitter/Receiver system for other crew B&H
Sennheiser MKH 8050 Indoor Boom Microphone B&H
DPA 4160 Lavalier Microphone B&H
Countryman B6 Lavalier Microphone B&H
Sanken COS-11D Lavalier Microphone B&H
Tentacle Sync E Timecode Generators B&H
Sony MDR-7506 Headphones B&H
Voice Technologies VT500 Lavalier Microphone B&H
Rycote Stickies for hiding lavalier microphones B&H
Moleskin - for hiding lavalier microphones Amazon
Joe's Sticky Stuff Amazon
Ursa Straps for hiding lavaliers and bodypack transmitters B&H
Basic Slate/Clapperrboard Amazon
Leatherman Tool Amazon
Boom Pole Holder B&H
C-stands B&H
Producer’s Choice Sound Blankets Vocal Booth To Go
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.
Mikme Pocket - Wireless Lavalier Microphone, Recorder, USB Mic
Mikme launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new Bluetooth wireless lavalier microphone/recorder/USB mic they call the Mikme Pocket. We got our hands on a prototype of the Pocket and run through the features in this episode, complete with unprocessed audio samples.
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 F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Links to gear used in this video:
Mikme Pocket (Kickstarter campaign, should start shipping in December 2019)
Falconeyes 120TDX - (Amazon) 4’ x 4’ LED roll-flex panel light used as a key light and for the table-top product shots
Lupo Superpanel Full Color 60 - Used for the background light
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - (Amazon) used on the Pocket 4K for the product shots
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - used to shoot the product shots
Nikon Z6 & 24-70 f/4 Lens- (Amazon) used to shoot the talking head shots
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Mikme Pocket & DISH.TC
Two quick audio for video gear Kickstarter campaigns: 1) Mikme Pocket - a wireless lavalier body pack recorder and bluetooth transmitter. 2) DISH.TC - a super-simple to use timecode generator which jams with satellite time.
See the DISH.TC kickstarter page.
See the Mikme Pocket kickstarter page.
Copyright 2019 Curtis Judd
Mikme Gold: Bluetooth, USB, Portable Microphone and Recorder
Large diaphragm condenser microphones are often used in recording studios for vocals and voice overs. But many consider them less practical for mobile or location recording. The Mikme Gold challenges that idea in an impressive way. The Mikme Gold is a portable, wireless, microphone and recorder. You can record to the Micme’s in-built memory. You can wirelessly record to your iPhone (and soon, Android phone), and you can also record to your computer when you connect via USB cable.
In addition to that, the Mikme sounds quite good - in my estimation, it rivals the sound of the AKG C414. That’a s recording studio staple microphone. Let’s have a closer look and a listen.
View my location sound gear packing list at Airtable.com.
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 https://school.learnlightandsound.com including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, 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:
Mikme Gold Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone and Wireless Recorder (Amazon)
Falconeyes 120TDX - (Amazon) 4’ x 4’ LED roll-flex panel light used as a key light and for the table-top product shots
Lupo Superpanel Full Color 60 - Used for the background light
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - (Amazon) used on the Pocket 4K for the product shots
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - used to shoot the talking head shots
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed.
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Zoom F6 Initial Impressions: Wide Dynamic Range Audio Field Recorder
Zoom announced their new F6 audio field recorder for film and video at NAB 2019. I was fortunate enough to borrow a pre-production copy for a couple of days and ran it through some initial tests. In particular, I wanted to see how well this dual analogue to digital conversion with 32 bit float WAV recording worked and whether it really prevented clipping. I was also curious as to how clean the recordings would be. To my delight, the F6 records extraordinary amounts of dynamic range so you don’t have to worry about clipping nor do you need to be terribly concerned with noise floor. This tiny recorder is impressive!
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 F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Links to gear used in this video:
Zoom F6 Audio Field Recorder
Zoom BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter - required to run the iOS control app
Lupo Superpanel Full Color 60 - Used for the blue background
Falconeyes 120TDX - (Amazon) 4’ x 4’ LED roll-flex panel light used as a key light and for the table-top product shots
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Lens - (Amazon) used on the talking head shots
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - (Amazon) used on the Pocket 4K for the product shots
Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - used to shoot the talking head and most of the product shots
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.
Sound for Video Session: Q&A 23 April 2019
This week we answer your questions about sound for video including recording, production, post, and gear.
Gear discussed in this session:
RODE WIRELESS GO - super convenient wireless microphone system for vloggers and solo shooters
DEITY Connect - dual channel wireless microphone system
Sennheiser XSW-D - super simple wireless microphone system for vloggers, solo shooters, musicians, etc.
RODE Filmmaker Kit - Wireless lavalier microphone system for indie filmmakers
Copyright 2019 - Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2017 - TVAC, Used with Permission
Sound Devices Scorpio - NAB 2019
As part of our coverage of the Nation Association of Broadcaster’s show in Las Vegas in April 2019, we talked with Paul Isaacs at Sound Devices about their new flagship mixer/recorder called Scorpio. This is a device which is aimed at larger budget, very demanding productions where lots of inputs and lots of outputs are required.
Please consider my sound for video classes available over at our school.
Gear discussed and used to record this episode:
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens
Electrovoice RE50L Dynamic Interview Microphone
Sound Devices 633 Mixer/Recorder
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2017 by TVAC. Used with permission
Zoom F6 - NAB 2019
Zoom just announced their new F6 field recorder for location sound audio recording. Rather than just tweak the form factor, which they did, they also moved to dual analogue to digital converters which record to 32 bit. So the way you record changes pretty dramatically. When recording to 32 bit, you don't set the gain trim (there is none), you simply adjust the fader for each input channel. If you missed the level, no problem, in post you can cleanly normalize to the levels you need with no degradation in audio quality.
They've also switched up a few other things: The screen is a slightly smaller version of the high resolution screen from the F8n, the back of the recorder is a Sony NP-F (L series) battery sled, and you can now power the F6 via its USB-C input. The same quality timecode generator from the F8n is on board, this time with a 3.5mm TRS input/output jack. The F6 has a single SD card slot for recording media and still includes the advanced hybrid limiter when you record in 24 bit.
Auto mix is included and the with an adapter, you can use the Zoom Control app for iOS. You can also use the Zoom F-Control control surface.
We'll have a full review after the F6 starts shipping, hopefully in June 2019. Pricing still to be announced.
Gear discussed and used to record this interview:
Zoom F6 at Amazon - Coming Soon
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens
Electrovoice RE50L Dynamic Interview Microphone
Sound Devices 633 Audio Field Recorder/Mixer
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2017 by TVAC. Used with permission.
Send Audio from Zoom F4 to Camera 3.5mm Mic Input
This is one segment from the upcoming Zoom F4 course which will be available soon at our school.
In this episode, I run through the process of feeding audio out of the Zoom F4 into the 3.5mm microphone input on your hybrid, mirrorless, or DSLR camera. Some cameras make this a little more difficult because their microphone inputs can only be “turned down” so far (lookin’ at your Panasonic), which is not enough. But we also show you how to work around this issue.
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 https://school.learnlightandsound.com including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, 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:
Zoom F4 (Amazon) - Audio Recorder and Mixer. Course on how to get the most of your Zoom F4 coming soon!
Juicebox 95Wh Cine Battery (Amazon) - I use this to power my F4 for 8 hours. Need the cable below as well.
And you’ll need this cable:
D-Tap to Hirose 4-pin cable (Amazon) to power the F4 with Cine Batteries
TalentCell 22,400mAh Battery (Amazon) - a less expensive rechargeable battery to power the F4 for many hours
And you’ll also need this cable:
DC Barrel to Hirose Cable (Amazon)
Aputure COB 120DII LED Light (Amazon) - this is my main workhorse light for 90% of my video work.
Nikon Z6 & 24 - 70 f/4 Lens - used in this video to demonstrate how to feed sound from the F4 to camera
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Lens - wow, super sharp, fast lens. Love this for product shots like this video
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2019 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.
