Curtis Judd 5/20/18 Curtis Judd 5/20/18

Sound for Video Session: Microphone Preamp Self-Noise

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, Julian Krause joins us to talk about pre-amplifier self-noise and other places in the audio signal chain where self-noise can be generated. My hope is that this will help inform where you may want to invest in your audio gear to solve any self-noise issues you’re experiencing.

Julian’s videos on self-noise:

How to measure preamp self noise
Preamplifier noise explained
Comparison of self noise on 4 preamps

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:

Zoom H5 Audio Recorder
Sound Devices MixPre-6
Sound Devices MixPre-3
Zoom F8
Zoom F4
Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Microphone - used to record this session

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.

Curtis Judd 5/12/18 Curtis Judd 5/12/18

Sound for Video Session: Q&A Stretch Time & Pitch, Poly Wav, Balanced vs Unbalanced, Zoom F4n

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, we cover the following topics:

0:11 Retime & Pitch Shift to fix an old recording

1:35 Resompling

3:00 Poly Wav Files

6:40 Unbalanced vs Balanced Cables/Interconnects

9:03 Zoom F4n?

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:

Difference between balanced and unbalanced cables/interconnects

Wave Agent application from Sound Devices:

Zoom F8 Audio Recorder

Zoom F4 Audio Recorder

Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Microphone - used to record this session

Curtis Judd 5/6/18 Curtis Judd 5/6/18

Sound for Video Session: Headphone and Output Routing Demo - Zoom F8 Recorder

On your audio recorder, what is headphone routing? What about output routing? And why would you want to change it? In this session, we cover the purposes of routing and show a couple of examples of routing for specific production situations. We demonstrate this on the Zoom F8, but the same principles apply on the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders as well as the professional level recorders from Sound Devices, Zaxcom, and others.

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:

Zoom F8 Audio Recorder/Mixer

Zoom F4 Audio Recorder/Mixer

Sound Devices MixPre-3 Audio Recorder/Mixer

Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder/Mixer

Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio Recorder/Mixer

Sanken COS-11D Lavalier Microphone- used to record my voice in this session

Sennheiser G3 Wireless Microphone System (you will need to buy the right frequency block for your region - call B&H if you need help)

Sound Devices 633 Mixer/Recorder

Music - MzA by Cary Judd, used with permission

Curtis Judd 4/29/18 Curtis Judd 4/29/18

Sound for Video Session: Sound Devices MixPre Re-Mix Demo

In the V2.10 firmware for the MixPre-3, 6, and 10T, Sound Devices added a handy set of new features called re-mix and re-record. This allows you to create a new mix of a previously recorded sound clip. Here’s how it works.

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:

Sound Devices MixPre-3 - Audio Recorder & Mixer with 3 XLR and one 3.5mm inputs
Sound Devices MixPre-6 - Audio Recorder & Mixer with 4 XLR and one 3.5mm inputs
Sound Devices MixPre-10T - Audio Recorder & Mixer with 8 XLR and one 3.5mm inputs plus an integrated timecode generator
RODE Reporter Microphone - sounded really mid-range focused on this piece. This is the mic I used when explaining things.
Electrovoice RE-20 - Channel 1 microphone with high pass filter on the mic turned on
Shure SM57 - Channel 2 microphone
Audio Technica AT2005 - Channel 3 microphone, I’m always surprised at how well this holds up to much more expensive microphones. Can also be used as a USB mic in a pinch, though it doesn't sound as good with it's in-built analogue to digital converter.

Music - MzA by Cary Judd, used with permission

Curtis Judd 4/7/18 Curtis Judd 4/7/18

Sound for Video Session: Quality, iOS Mics, Limiters, Monitoring, G4, Lavaliers, Cameras Audio, & Quiet Voices

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, we answer your audio for video questions:

00:12 Quality Difference Between USB and SD
01:04 iOS Mics
05:37 Limiters and Quality
06:31 Getting Audio to Boom Op
09:20 Sennheiser G4
12:57 Lavalier microphones directly to Mixer
16:43 Camera Audio
21:51 Quiet Voices

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:

DPA d:vice - dual lavalier interface for iOS, Mac, PC

Sennheiser Clip-Mic Digital (Lightning)

Sennheiser MKE2 Digital Microphone (Lightning)

Shure MOTIV MV88 Stereo Microphone (Lightning)

Zoom iQ6 Stereo XY Microphone (Lightning)

Zoom iQ7 Stereo Mid-Side Microphone (Lightning)

RODE iXY Stereo Microphone (Lightning)

Sending wireless audio from your mixer with the Sennheiser G3 system:

WAV.REPORT’s First Look at the Sennheiser G4 wireless system:

Curtis Judd 3/30/18 Curtis Judd 3/30/18

Sound for Video Session: Questions for the Director When You're the Sound Mixer

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, we cover some of the questions and topics you can discuss with the director before a location sound job.

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:

Elvid slate/clapper board
At Amazon
At B&H

Sample gear packing list for location sound job.

Curtis Judd 3/23/18 Curtis Judd 3/23/18

Sound for Video Session: Q&A - Audio Interface, Upgrades, Headphones, Sync, & Giraffes

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, a Q&A session, we cover the following questions:

00:14 How to connect powered monitors/speakers to my Sound Devices MixPre?
02:37 Should I upgrade from the Zoom F4 to the Sound Devices 552 or save up for the 664?
05:44 What do you think of using noise cancelling headphones when recording location sound?
08:16 How do I sync 4 cameras and audio from 2 recorders?
11:13 How do I record giraffes in a hurricane with a Sony point-and-shoot camera?
14:26 Troubleshooting audio gear

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:

Sound Devices MixPre Course

Whirlwind pcDI - convert the unbalanced output of your MixPre to balanced XLR cables to connect your powered speakers/monitors
Sound Devices MixPre-3 Audio Recorder/Mixer
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder/Mixer
Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio Recorder/Mixer

Zoom F4 Audio Recorder/Mixer

Sound Devices 552 (2-Track Recorder, Cannot Record ISOs)
Sound Devices 664 (Records ISO Channels + Mix, But No AutoMix)
Sound Devices 633 (Record ISO Channels + Mix, also includes AutoMix)
Sennheiser PXC 550 Noise Cancelling Headphones
RODE NT1A Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone

Outro music licensed from Artlist: Awaken by Ethan Rank. 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.

Curtis Judd 3/18/18 Curtis Judd 3/18/18

Sound for Video Session: Camera Audio Return

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, we demonstrate camera audio return (camera return) - What it is, why you would use it, and how to set it up.

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:

RODE Reporter Microphone

Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio Recorder/Mixer

Remote Audio Break-away Cable - This is a set of cables often used in news shooting workflows which allows you to connect your mixer to camera (outputs, timecode, and camera return) and also usually have a quick and easy way to disconnect from the camera.

Curtis Judd 2/12/18 Curtis Judd 2/12/18

Sound for Video Session: FCPX to Audition - Sending Audio for Mixing

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, we look at one way to get audio out of Final Cut Pro X and over to Audition so that you can mix it with all of the tools that Audition and other plugins have to offer.

If you are aware of other ways to accomplish this, feel free to share in the comments!

Gear and links discussed in this episode:

XtoCC - app to help get audio from Final Cut Pro X to Adobe Audition. You can buy this in the Mac App Store or here.

Electrovoice RE20 Broadcast Microphone

Antelope Audio Orion Studio Audio - Computer Interface

Curtis Judd 2/3/18 Curtis Judd 2/3/18

Sound for Video Session: Q&A

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, I make my best effort to answer your sound related questions:

0:11 Which loudness target (LUFS) should I aim for when posting videos online?
2:24 Which Izotope RX plugins do you use most? I’m hoping to buy one of the less expensive options if it contains most of what you use.
11:56 How do I provide a director with a feed of the audio or do a “wireless hop” to a camera?
12:53 When recording sound effects, where should the peaks hit on my meter (Sound Devices 633 in this case)
14:28 Sound Devices MixPre questions - pre and post fader metering, gain staging for loud environments, setting camera levels using tone?
17:00 Advice on how to sync sound for a documentary project?
24:18 Should I position my speakers/monitors above my computer screens since I have 3 of them?
26:06 The recording clipped on my Zoom H1. What happened?
29:27 Liability insurance for location sound freelancers?
31:02 How do you round-trip audio from FCPX to Audition?
34:01 Sound Devices MixPre - How to configure it as an audio interface with a computer and with my iPhone?
37:45 Which blimp cover/shockmount do you use and what is your advice for combating distracting ambient sound?
44:35 ** non-sound related question, but interesting nevertheless: How do you avoid looking like a jittery, stuttering nervous wreck on camera?

Gear and links discussed in this episode:

Sound Devices 633 Audio Mixer/Recorder
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Field Recorder Review

Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio Field Recorder Review

Zoom H1n Audio Recorder

XtoCC (app to help get audio from Final Cut Pro X to Adobe Audition)

Rycote Modular Windshield with Windjammer (original style) Review:

Rycote Cyclone Windshield and Shockmount
RODE Blimp Windshield and Shockmount
Sound Devices ASIO Driver for MixPre Series Recorders for Windows:

Tentacle Sync E Review and Timecode Demo:

PluralEyes Audio Sync Software
Syncaila Audio Sync Software

Wireless Hop with Sennheiser G3 (Gregg Palmer):

Wireless Headphone Feeds (Comtek):

Izotope RX Elements
Izotope RX Standard
Izotope RX Advanced
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.