Azden SGM-3500 Series Shotgun Microphones
Azden has made microphones for video production for a number of years. About five years ago, I reviewed their SGM-250 which was a decent, entry level short shotgun microphone. But now it looks like Azden is moving up market and making some higher quality shotgun microphones. Let’s take a look at and have a listen to their new SGM-3500 and SGM-3500L shotgun microphones.
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 and mentioned in this episode:
Azden SGM-3500 Shotgun Microphone - B&H
Azden SGM-3500L Shotgun Microphone - B&H
Deity S-Mic 2 Shotgun Microphone - B&H
RODE NTG4+ - B&H
D&O 180W LED Panel Light used as a key light - Amazon
Aputure COB120DII LED light used for background - Amazon
Panasonic GH5 Camera - Amazon
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.
Zoom F4 Course Announced
If you work with the Zoom F4 or are planning to, this course will help you get up to speed and making great recordings quickly. You can see the details by clicking the School link above.
This one was the most requested course over the last 2 years. We finally managed to carve out enough time to put it together and I hope you find it useful if you work with the F4!
Sound for Video Session: Q&A 25 August 2019
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.
Video on Syncing Camera, MixPre, and ATOMOS recorders via HDMI:
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 the Learn Light and Sound School and I'll email you when its time to submit. You can also find all of our sound for video courses there.
MixPre setup video:
Mark Owens mentioned this combination for powering the Zoom F8n:
Sony BP-U60 Battery - B&H
Battery adapter plate - Amazon
Copyright 2019, Curtis Judd
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.
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.
LISTEN - Short Film Recap - Sound with Curtis Judd
Here’s a quick behinds the scenes interview on my work on the short film, “Listen.” This one focuses on the high-level lessons learned rather than the technical details of the production or post mix.
Oh, and about the start of the video, I was told to talk for a bit while they set the audio levels. Turns out our editor thought it would be funny to keep that part. I apologize for that. We were not sponsored by Goldfish crackers or the company which makes them.
If you haven’t seen Listen yet, you can see that here:
Sound for Video Session: Accusonus ERA 4 Cleanup Plugins
When it comes time to mix the sound for your film project, cleanup can be one of the more challenging parts. Accusonus just released their ERA 4 standard and pro bundles which include a series of easy to use VST plugins which work with most video editing and digital audio workstation apps: Noise Remover, Reverb Remover, Plosive Remover, De-Esser, De-Clipper, Voice Leveler, De-Esser Pro (Pro bundle only), ERA-D (Pro bundle only - advanced noise and de-reverb plugin). Here’s a demo of how severe of these work.
Please consider my sound for video classes.
Gear used to record this episode:
RODE TF-5 Cardioid Condenser Microphone - Used to record the reverb dialogue sample
Shure SM7B Dynamic Broadcast Microphone - My voiceover (Amazon)
Universal Audio Apollo X6 Audio Interface
Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd, Used with Permission
Sound for Video Session - Q&A 12 June 2019
In this session, we answer your questions about sound for video! The livestream starts at 3:13.
If you'd like to ask a question at a future Sound for Video Session, just enroll at our school (for free) over at the school at Learn Light and Sound. We'll email you before the session and you can submit your questions there. Or, if you can attend the session live, you can just ask your question in the chat while there.
Gear mentioned/used to record this session:
Nevaton MC-59 Microphone: http://nevaton.eu/product/nevaton-mc-59-super-small-condenser-microphone/
Deity D3 Pro Shotgun Microphone (Amazon)
Sanken CS-3e Shotgun Microphone
Sennheiser MKH416 Shotgun Microphone
Audio Technical's AT875r Shotgun Microphone
Oktava MK-012 Cardioid/Hyper Cardioid Microphone (depending on the capsule you use - Amazon)
AKG Blueline Hypercardioid Microphone
Audix SCXC1 Hypercardioid Microphone
Audio Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Microphone (Amazon)
Sound Devices MixPre Recorders
Zoom F Series Recorders
Shure SM7B Dynamic Broadcast Microphone (Amazon)
AKG C414 XLS Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Copyright 2019 by 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
